WGS84 and GNSS for UK Marine Navigation

摘要

For the last two years a large collaborative project has been taking place at the University of Nottingham to investigate novel strategies for the implementation of GNSS within all phases of marine navigation in UK waters. The project, which has recently been completed, was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The project has also received financial support from a prestigious team of collaborators which include the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO), Trinity House Lighthouse Service, Northern Lighthouse Board, Commissioners for Irish Lights and the Port of London Authority. The overall aim of the project was to develop strategies to harmonise the different positioning and display systems used in marine navigation, ashore and afloat which will ultimately lead to safe and seamless navigation at sea. The project covered a number of distinct aspects of marine navigation, including chart datum transformations, the implementation of WGS84 in a port environment, the integration of GNSS with LORAN-C, optimisation in coordinating aids to navigation and the provision of RAIM for marine operations. A series of specific case studies addressing different aspects of the project have been carried out in different parts of UK. This project is now completed, and this paper presents the rationale, the approach and the main findings from these studies.