Consumer-grade GPS Measurement Accuracy in Open and Urban Settings
Consumer-grade GPS Measurement Accuracy in Open and Urban Settings
Anonymous
Version 1/3/08
ABSTRACT: Consumer-grade GPS receivers are available for several hundred dollars or less and can be used for many measurement applications including collecting data for information systems provided that acceptable accuracies are achieved. We examined the measurement accuracy and reliability of six identical contemporary consumer-grade GPS receivers that collected data simultaneously at two distinct test courses. One test course was located in an open field while the other test course was placed under tree canopy and had several buildings blocking a view of the horizon. We also varied data collection techniques by using one, ten, and 30 point averaging intervals to examine the influence of different intervals on measurement accuracy and precision. Measurement accuracies for all GPS receivers averaged 1.8 m from true position at the open field course and 3.8 m from true position at the tree canopy course with variations depending on when the courses were visited. We also found that although six identical receivers were used to collect measurements simultaneously and in close proximity to one another, there were statistically significant differences in the measurement accuracies of the receivers. No statistically significant influence of different point averaging intervals (1, 10, and 30) on measurement accuracy was detected.