Where does the Geoid information in a GPS unit come from?












3














In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?










share|improve this question





























    3














    In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



    Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?










    share|improve this question



























      3












      3








      3


      2





      In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



      Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?










      share|improve this question















      In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



      Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?







      gps nmea geoid






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Nov 28 '18 at 15:42









      Dan C

      10.1k74576




      10.1k74576










      asked Nov 28 '18 at 15:29









      Håkon K. Olafsen

      1163




      1163






















          2 Answers
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          active

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          5














          GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



          On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



          When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






          share|improve this answer































            2














            Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 2




              Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
              – mkennedy
              Nov 29 '18 at 0:37






            • 1




              @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
              – hobbs
              Nov 29 '18 at 0:52






            • 1




              Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
              – Håkon K. Olafsen
              Dec 3 '18 at 11:34











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            2 Answers
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            2 Answers
            2






            active

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            active

            oldest

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            active

            oldest

            votes









            5














            GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



            On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



            When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






            share|improve this answer




























              5














              GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



              On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



              When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






              share|improve this answer


























                5












                5








                5






                GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



                On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



                When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






                share|improve this answer














                GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



                On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



                When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Nov 30 '18 at 17:10

























                answered Nov 28 '18 at 15:58









                Dan C

                10.1k74576




                10.1k74576

























                    2














                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






                    share|improve this answer



















                    • 2




                      Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:37






                    • 1




                      @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:52






                    • 1




                      Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
                      – Håkon K. Olafsen
                      Dec 3 '18 at 11:34
















                    2














                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






                    share|improve this answer



















                    • 2




                      Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:37






                    • 1




                      @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:52






                    • 1




                      Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
                      – Håkon K. Olafsen
                      Dec 3 '18 at 11:34














                    2












                    2








                    2






                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






                    share|improve this answer














                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Nov 29 '18 at 0:51

























                    answered Nov 28 '18 at 20:18









                    hobbs

                    1213




                    1213








                    • 2




                      Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:37






                    • 1




                      @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:52






                    • 1




                      Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
                      – Håkon K. Olafsen
                      Dec 3 '18 at 11:34














                    • 2




                      Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:37






                    • 1




                      @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 '18 at 0:52






                    • 1




                      Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
                      – Håkon K. Olafsen
                      Dec 3 '18 at 11:34








                    2




                    2




                    Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                    – mkennedy
                    Nov 29 '18 at 0:37




                    Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                    – mkennedy
                    Nov 29 '18 at 0:37




                    1




                    1




                    @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                    – hobbs
                    Nov 29 '18 at 0:52




                    @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                    – hobbs
                    Nov 29 '18 at 0:52




                    1




                    1




                    Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
                    – Håkon K. Olafsen
                    Dec 3 '18 at 11:34




                    Do you have any source for this? I don't doubt you, but it would be handy for future reference and reading.
                    – Håkon K. Olafsen
                    Dec 3 '18 at 11:34


















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