Loran-Based Buoy Position Auditing Systems - Analytical Evaluation

Details

• Creators:
  Wolfson, J. A. ; Engels, P. D. ; Poppe, M. C., Jr. ; Foltz, J. M. ; DePalma, L. M.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, (U.S.)
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Coast Guard
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Accuracy Buoys Digital Computers Errors Helicopters Loran Mathematical Models Position Fixing Radio Receivers Radio Transmitters Rangefinders Variables

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  TSC-USCG-80-2 ; USCG-D-09-80
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Coast Guard
• NTL Classification:
  NTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION ; NTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Planning and Policy ; NTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Safety ; NTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-U.S. Coast Guard
• Abstract:
  An analytic evaluation and comparison of the following candidate Buoy Position Auditing System (BPAS) configurations is presented in this report: transmission of digital Time Difference (TD) data from a Loran-C receiver on the buoy, retransmission of Loran-C pulses from the buoy, and combination of helicopter Loran-C data and helicopter-to-buoy microwave ranging data in a variable geometry solution. The candidate BPAS configurations utilize Loran-C in the differential mode. A model is developed to characterize differential Loran-C errors, accounting for the expected effect of the land/sea water conductivity interface. The error model is utilized alone, or with a microwave ranging system error model, to estimate buoy position-fix accuracy afforded by each BPAS configuration. Accuracy estimates and data on cost, complexity, and technical risk are employed to recommend a BPAS configuration for testing. It is concluded that Loran-C pulse retransmission is not a viable BPAS configuration. The variable geometry BPAS configuration is highly accurate, due to calibration of Loran-C errors by processing of redundant data, but is not presently cost-effective. The digital TD transmission BPAS configuration is recommended for testing, due to its simplicity and low cost.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:98e067ee95c559830f8410366399c25c39c475f59366dd8083e85148325720fd
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/11741/dot_11741_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.67 MB ]