Performance of Atlas GNSS Global Correction Service for High-Accuracy Positioning

In the last decade, a number of correction services for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) precise positioning have been developed, mainly for offshore applications, based on a precise point positioning (PPP) real-time processing. These allow receiving corrections without the need for an internet connection or reference benchmarks around the survey area. In the paper, we tested the Atlas correction service implemented in a Stonex S900A machine (Monza, Italy), with the purpose to verify its performances under optimal operational conditions and in the practical case of a land survey on several benchmarks along the Adriatic coast. The data analysis focused on: accuracy with respect to the reference frame, repeatability of the coordinates considering short and long acquisition periods, time to initialize the survey, and reliability of the formal errors provided by the instrument. The system confirmed the declared performances in most cases and is shown to be a viable alternative to other GNSS techniques also for land surveys where no obstacles affect the sky visibility.