Improving the accuracy and resolution of SINS/DGPS airborne gravimetry

This dissertation describes improvements made to a system for airborne mapping of the gravity field of the Earth. The research is carried out using an airborne gravity system that is based on a Strapdown Inertial Navigation System (SINS) and receivers of the Global Positioning System in differential mode (DGPS). The objective of the research is to optimize the performance of the system, especially for geodesy and geophysics. An introduction to the field of airborne gravimetry is given and the state of current research in the field is surveyed. Data from recent airborne gravity campaigns is used to provide a detailed analysis of the DGPS error budget for airborne positioning, providing a realistic evaluation of the accuracy of current kinematic carrier phase techniques. A fundamental consideration of the various processes of differentiation is given and particular differentiating filters are proposed for the determination of high precision velocity and acceleration. A detailed analysis...