article · Journal of Applied Geodesy
This research assesses the spatial and temporal precision of static multi-GNSS Precise Point Positioning across twelve African International GNSS Service stations covering varied geographic and ionospheric environments. Evaluating multi-epoch observations from 2013, 2018, and 2023 through the PPP-A software package, the investigation analysed coordinate residuals within a local topocentric frame. The results show that apparent positional discrepancies across the ten-year span are heavily driven by tectonic movements of the Nubian and Somalian plates, accumulating up to several decimetres, rather than genuine algorithmic processing errors. Once long-term geophysical motion and terrestrial reference frame updates are taken into account, static positioning maintains sub-decimetre precision. Statistical modelling indicates that regional atmospheric tracking conditions and spatial environmental variations exert a stronger influence on positioning quality than temporal drift, confirming that accurate regional geodesy requires separating tectonic signals from data processing errors.
Accurate satellite positioning underpins regional mapping, infrastructure development, and natural hazard monitoring. In regions with sparse sensor networks, understanding whether positional discrepancies stem from equipment errors or actual ground movement is crucial. Ensuring that measurements properly account for continental tectonic shifts allows engineers and geoscientists to rely on satellite positioning data for large-scale planning and accurate earth observation.
The findings support applied use cases in regional land surveying, geodetic infrastructure management, and large-scale civil engineering. The primary users are surveying professionals, mapping agencies, and geodetic network operators working across Africa. The underlying methodology applies existing software and established networks to validate processing protocols, indicating applied research that can immediately inform operational best practices for satellite positioning workflows without requiring new commercial software development.
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Abstract This study evaluates the spatial and temporal performance of static multi-GNSS Precise Point Positioning (PPP) solutions across twelve selected African International GNSS Service (IGS) stations representing diverse geographic and ionospheric environments. Using observations from the years 2013, 2018, and 2023, data were processed via the PPP-A software package (v2024.1) using dual-frequency ionosphere-free linear combinations. Coordinate differences were transformed into a local topocentric East, North, and Up (ENU) frame to accurately assess the impact of regional atmospheric delay and reference frame consistency on positioning precision. The empirical results reveal that the apparent coordinate residuals are heavily contaminated by long-term tectonic displacements of the Nubian and Somalian plates – accumulating up to several decimeters over the ten-year baseline – rather than reflecting pure PPP algorithm stochastic errors. True static PPP residuals maintained sub-decimeter geodetic precision once geophysical plate motion and terrestrial reference frame evolutions (IGS14/IGS20) were properly aligned. Statistical assessments using non-parametric Friedman tests and linear mixed-effects models confirm that spatial environmental variations and station-specific atmospheric tracking conditions significantly override temporal drift across the evaluated epochs. While multi-constellation PPP remains a highly reliable tool for geodetic infrastructure in sparse networks, this study highlights that isolating geophysical signals from operational processing artifacts is essential for meaningful accuracy assessments in the African continent.
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DOI: 10.1515/jag-2026-0050
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