Precise Point Positioning (PPP)

Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is a GNSSGNSSGlobal Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is the umbrella term for satellite-based positioning systems that provide a... processing technique that achieves centimeter-level accuracy using a single dual-frequency receiver combined with precise satellite orbit and clock products provided by organizations such as the International GNSS Service (IGS). Unlike RTK, which requires corrections from a nearby base station, PPP applies globally valid corrections derived from a worldwide network of tracking stations. How PPP worksA PPP receiver processes dual-frequency carrier-phase and pseudorange observations from GNSS satellites, applying precise orbit ephemerides and clock corrections to eliminate the largest error sources. Additional models correct for solid Earth tides, ocean loading, phase wind-up, and tropospheric delay. Convergence to centimeter accuracy typically requires 15-30 minutes of continuous observation, though PPP-RTK approaches using regional atmospheric corrections can reduce this to minutes. ApplicationsPPP is used in geodetic surveys, offshore positioning (where no base station infrastructure exists), precision agriculturePrecision AgriculturePrecision Agriculture uses geospatial data, remote sensing, and IoT sensors to optimize farming practices at a sub-fi..., scientific research, and post-processing of survey data. Cloud-based PPP services make high-accuracy positioning accessible worldwide without local infrastructure investment. PPP is transforming high-precision positioning by removing the dependence on local base station infrastructure. As real-time PPP correction services expand and convergence times shorten, the technique is becoming increasingly practical for a broad range of surveying and mapping applications.