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Dear colleagues,

Below is the Call for Participation in support of the International GLONASS Service Pilot Project. Please contact igscb@igscb.jpl.nasa.gov should you have any trouble with this document.

Table of Contents

1.	IGLOS-PP: Description of the Pilot Project
1.1.	Background
1.2.	Goals and Objectives
1.3.	Organizational Aspects
1.4.	Project Committee
2.	Call for Participation
2.1.	Observing Stations
2.2.	Data Centers
2.3.	Analysis Centers
2.4.	Associate Analysis Centers
3.	Instructions for Submitting Proposals
4.	Proposal Form

The International GLONASS Service - Pilot Project (IGLOS-PP) is a pilot service of the International GPS Service (IGS) to track and analyze data from the Russian GLONASS satellite constellation. The primary products of the service are dual-frequency observations from the global tracking network and precise orbits computed for each satellite. These are made available to support and encourage other applications and studies. In particular, the products from the Service facilitate the use of combined GLONASS and GPS observations for scientific and engineering applications, and allow users to experiment with the combined systems as a prototype Global Navigation Satellite System. The pilot service will operate for a period of up to four years, from 2000-2003.

1.2. Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of the IGLOS Pilot Service are as follows:

1. Establish and maintain a global GLONASS tracking network
   a. Collocate dual-frequency, combined GPS/GLONASS receivers with dual-frequency GPS receivers or upgrade existing dual-frequency GPS receivers to dual-frequency, combined GPS/GLONASS receivers at existing IGS sites and at new sites
   b. Apply International GPS Service (IGS) network operations standards
   c. Calibrate and evaluate combined GPS/GLONASS receivers and antennas

2. Produce precise (10-cm level) orbits, satellite clock estimates, and station coordinates
   a. Evaluate microwave-derived orbits using SLR observations and orbits
   b. Incorporate SLR observations in routine orbit processing
   c. Obtain initial operational capability of 20-50 cm orbits at Analysis Centers
   d. Receive independent orbit/clock/station solutions from Analysis Centers within three weeks of observations

3. Monitor and assess GLONASS system performance

4. Investigate the use of GLONASS to improve Earth Orientation Parameters

5. Improve atmospheric products of the IGS

6. Fully integrate GLONASS into IGS products, operations and programs.

1.3. Organizational Aspects

The Pilot Service will utilize the existing infrastructure of the IGS as much as possible without disrupting activities supporting GPS data collection and processing. It will take advantage of the operational experience gained from the International GLONASS Experiment (IGEX-98) carried out in 1998-99. The Call for Participation is being issued to officially enlist the participation of current IGS network stations, analysis centers, and data centers, as well as to solicit the participation of new stations, analysis centers, and data centers. The IGS Central Bureau will take responsibility for including the pilot service within the IGS operations. The pilot service will include SLR stations, GLONASS stations, and combined GPS/GLONASS stations that meet IGS network requirements and additional GLONASS-specific requirements.

1.4. Project Committee

An IGLOS Pilot Project Committee is responsible for establishing and managing the service during the pilot period. The members are:

• Vladimir Glotov, Mission Control Centre, Russian Space Agency
• Ramesh Govind, Australian Surveying and Land Information Group
• Werner Gurtner, University of Berne, Astronomical Institute, ILRS Liaison
• Arne Jungstand, EC Joint Research Centre, Space Applications Institute, and DLR
• Angelyn Moore, IGS Central Bureau
• Ruth Neilan, IGS Central Bureau, Director (ex officio)
• Carey Noll, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Data Center Coordinator
• James Slater, National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Chair
• Tim Springer, University of Berne, IGS Analysis Center Coordinator (ex officio)
• Robert Weber, University of Technology, Vienna, GLONASS Analysis Center Coordinator
• Pascal Willis, Institut Géographique National.

The IGLOS Pilot Project Committee will review and approve proposals for establishment of new stations, analysis centers, and data centers, taking appropriate actions as necessary. The description and responsibilities of these fundamental IGS components are located in the IGS Terms of Reference at http://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/organization/bylaws.html. Technical specifications for stations, analysis centers and data centers are included in this Call for Participation. The Committee will develop operational guidelines for incorporating the GLONASS operations into the IGS. Liaisons are maintained with the International Laser Ranging Service, the International Association of Geodesy, and the GLONASS Coordination Scientific Information Center of the Russian Federation Ministry of Defense as appropriate.

2. Call for Participation

The IGLOS Pilot Project Committee is seeking participants in the International GLONASS Service Pilot Project in the following categories:

• IGLOS Observing Stations
• IGLOS Data Centers
• IGLOS Analysis Centers
• IGLOS Associate Analysis Centers

This call goes to individual stations willing to operate combined GPS/GLONASS receivers and to "Operational Centers" currently in charge and control of several IGS stations as part of a special-purpose or local permanent GPS or GLONASS network.

2.1.1. Receivers

Only geodetic-type receivers (capable of collecting pseudorange and carrier phase observations) may be used in IGLOS. Receivers must be able to track at least four GPS and four GLONASS satellites simultaneously.

Receivers should be able to track the satellites of both systems on both frequencies. For special purposes, as for example, time transfer experiments, receivers with lower performance might be proposed, too.

One of the goals of IGLOS is the total incorporation of the high-end dual-system receivers into the IGS network. Such GPS/GLONASS receivers should either be collocated on IGS sites (with the expectation of eventually replacing the GPS receiver) or on sites complementing the existing IGS network.

The local ties between the antennae of existing IGS receivers, ILRS systems and the collocated dual-system receivers should be known with an accuracy of about 1 mm (in ITRF).

A GPS/GLONASS Site Information Report must be submitted to the IGS Central Bureau prior to the start of the pilot project (available at the IGS Central Bureau Information System (see ftp://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/igscb/resource/blank.log).

If the dual-system receiver is driven by an accurate external clock (rubidium, cesium or hydrogen standard), this information should be included in the proposal and the site log.

2.1.2. Operational Considerations

The sites participating in the IGLOS Pilot Project will have to observe the same guidelines and rules as the official IGS sites. Guidelines and check lists can be found at
http:/igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/network/guide_igs.html and
http:/igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/network/join_igs.html.

Observing stations are requested to forward their data to an IGS data center within 2 hours from the end of the UT day on which the data were collected. Currently, many sites of the IGS and other permanent networks are upgrading their data submission procedures to enable hourly uploads. We encourage IGLOS stations to use hourly data collection and upload, if possible.

The exchange file format is the RINEX format (see ftp://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/ igscb/data/format/rinex210.txt).

The following naming conventions will be followed:

A 4-character acronym for each receiver operated as part of the pilot service should be proposed to and approved by the IGS Central Bureau (igscb@igscb.jpl.nasa.gov).

For each marker, a DOMES number (a globally unambiguous marker number used by ITRF) has to be requested from the ITRF Section of the IERS Central Bureau (see http://lareg.ensg.ign.fr/ITRF/domesreq.html, e-mail contact: domes@ensg.ign.fr).

The following file naming convention will be observed (see also recommendation in the RINEX 2.10 documentation ftp://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov/igscb/data/format/rinex210.txt):

		---------Compressed File----------
File Type	ASCII File	UNIX	VMS	DOS
Observation	ssssdddf.yyO	ssssdddf.yyD.Z	ssssdddf.yyD_Z	ssssdddf.yyE
GPS Navigation	ssssdddf.yyN	ssssdddf.yyN.Z	ssssdddf.yyN_Z	ssssdddf.yyX
GLONASS Navigation	ssssdddf.yyG	ssssdddf.yyG.Z	ssssdddf.yyG_Z	ssssdddf.yyV
Met Data	ssssdddf.yyM	ssssdddf.yyM.Z	ssssdddf.yyM_Z	ssssdddf.yyW

• ssss: 4-character station code
  
• ddd : day of the first record
  
• yy : year of the first record
  
• f : file sequence number within the day
  (0: containing all data of the day)
  Hourly files use 'a' for 00:00:00 - 00:59:30 UT
  'b' for 01:00:00 - 01:59:30 UT
  .
  .
  'x' for 23:00:00 - 23:59:30 UT
  
• The extension yyD (or yyE in DOS) indicates Hatanaka-compressed files.

The local geodetic ties between the GLONASS equipment and all geodetic equipment in the vicinity (GPS, DORIS, SLR, VLBI, PRARE,..) must be performed, documented in the site log and made available before the start of the Pilot Project. The ties have to be reported as Cartesian coordinate differences (delta X/Y/Z) parallel enough to the Earth-centered ITRS to maintain the accuracy of a few millimeters.

2.2. IGLOS Data Centers

One of the final goals of IGLOS is the total incorporation of the GLONASS data into the IGS data flow.

Therefore we ask the existing IGS Data Centers (Global, Regional, Local) to confirm their intentions to extend their activities to the handling of the GLONASS data following the IGS guidelines with necessary adjustments according to decisions to be taken by the IGLOS-PP Committee and the IGS Central Bureau.

The proposal should describe the maximum number of additional stations from which data can be received, stored and made available for anonymous ftp access.

2.3. IGLOS Analysis Centers

Analysis Centers will process tracking data of the IGLOS-PP network in order to calculate and make available products which facilitate the use of combined GPS and GLONASS observations for scientific and engineering applications. Initially, the list of products should cover

   a. precise satellite orbits
       (initial operational capability 20-50cm /10-cm level in the long run)
   b. satellite clock estimates
   c. station coordinates.

Two types of Analysis Centers are defined in this Call for Participation:

• Type 1 IGLOS Analysis Centers should produce orbit, clock, and station solutions in the same time frame as the IGS Analysis Centers.

• Type 2 IGLOS Analysis Centers should produce orbit, clock, and station solutions within 3 weeks of observations (with the goal of approaching the time frame of Type 1 IGLOS Analysis Centers within the period of operation of IGLOS-PP).

Data Analysis has to follow as far as possible recommendations given in the IERS Standards. The full integration of GLONASS into IGS products, operations and programs is an important goal of this Pilot Project.

2.4. IGLOS Associate Analysis Centers

In the IGLOS Pilot Project, we are seeking groups to perform independent routine analyses and evaluations of orbits, clocks, receivers, baselines, regional networks or other entities including specifically:

   a. Comparison of results (obtained by the various Analysis Centers) similar to those routinely performed by the IGS and IGLOS Analysis Coordinators

   b. Evaluations based on independent techniques, e.g., SLR observations.

Proposals from SLR Analysis Centers and other analysis groups are encouraged.

3. Instructions for Submitting Proposals

Proposals submitted in response to the Call for Participation should contain:

a. the completed proposal form signed by an authorized official representative of the organization

b. a detailed plan describing the activities proposed by the organization

Send proposals to:

iglos-proposals@igscb.jpl.nasa.gov (ASCII preferred)

and

Ruth Neilan
Director, IGS Central Bureau
Jet Propulsion Laboratory MS 238-540
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109, U.S.A.

For proposals submitted by e-mail, please send a copy of the completed proposal form with the original signature page by regular mail.

Questions can be sent to:

Jim Slater
National Imagery and Mapping Agency
Mail Stop D-68
4600 Sangamore Rd.
Bethesda, MD 20816-5003, U.S.A.
Phone: 301-227-4549
Fax: 301-227-4749
E-mail: slaterj@nima.mil

4. Proposal Form

PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR PARTICIPATION - INTERNATIONAL GLONASS SERVICE PILOT PROJECT (IGLOS-PP)

Proposing Organization:

Point of Contact:

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

FAX:

E-mail:

Authorizing Official:

Name:

Address:

Telephone:

FAX:

E-mail:

Signature:

Proposal for:

IGLOS Observing Station

IGLOS Data Center

IGLOS Analysis Center

IGLOS Associate Analysis Center

For Joint proposals:

Collaborating institutions:

Contacts:

Detailed Proposal: