On the Role of Glonass for the Development of the Russian Geodetic Reference Network

The combined use of GPS and GLONASS satellite systems is a main technology for the development of the fundamental geodetic network in Russia and for crust movement studies along the North Eurasian tectonic plate. All permanent stations of the state fundamental geodetic network will be provided with the two frequency GPS and GLONASS receivers. A collocation of these stations with the existing Russian sites of the international GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) network is foreseen. The GLONASS state program foresees to come to 18 satellites in constellation in 2007-2008, and full operation capability (24 satellites) will be reached by 2009. The second generation of satellites: GLONASS-M have the L2 civil signal, extended lifetime and improved clock stability. GLONASS-K satellites are expected by 2009 with the L3 civil signal and Synthetic Aperture Radar function. A combination of GPS and GLONASS will benefit the scientific geodynamic research and practical users, especially in the urban, mountain and near polar areas. Results of the experimental GLONASS data analysis performed. Comparison of mean values of coordinates from only GLONASS solution, obtained at the Institute of Astronomy (Moscow) with the use of GIPSY-OASIS2 software, with the mean values from the GPS PPP solution for the IGS sites showed that differences are mainly within a few cm, provided that incomplete configuration of GLONASS satellites have been observed.