Optimizing VGOS observations using an SNR-based scheduling approach
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40623_2025_Article_2158.pdf
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22.33 MB
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Author(s)
Schartner, Matthias
Petrachenko, Bill
Titus, Mike
Krásná, Hana
Barrett, John
Hoak, Dan
Mondal, Dhiman
Xu, Ming H.
Soja, Benedikt
Date Issued
May 7, 2025
Journal
Earth, Planets and Space
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Citation
Schartner, M., Petrachenko, B., Titus, M. et al. Optimizing VGOS observations using an SNR-based scheduling approach. Earth Planets Space 77, 61 (2025).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The geodetic and astrometric very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) community is in the process of upgrading its existing infrastructure with the VLBI Global Observing System (VGOS). The primary objective of VGOS is to substantially boost the number of scans per hour for enhanced parameter estimation. However, the current observing strategy results in fewer scans than anticipated. During 2022, six 24-h VGOS Research and Development (R&D) sessions were conducted to demonstrate a proof-of-concept aimed at addressing this shortcoming. The new observation strategy centers around a signal-to-noise (SNR)-based scheduling approach combined with eliminating existing overhead times in existing VGOS sessions. Two SNR-based scheduling approaches were tested during these sessions: one utilizing inter-/extrapolation of existing S/X source flux density models and another based on a newly derived source flux density catalog at VGOS frequencies. Both approaches proved effective, leading to a 2.3-fold increase in the number of scheduled scans per station and a 2.6-fold increase in the number of observations per station while maintaining a high observation success rate of approximately 90 % to 95 %. Consequently, both strategies succeeded in the main objective of these sessions by successfully increasing the number of scans per hour. The strategies described in this work can be easily applied to operational VGOS observations. Besides outlining and discussing the observation strategy, we further provide insight into the resulting signal-to-noise ratios, and discuss the impact on the precision of the estimated geodetic parameters. Monte Carlo simulations predicted a roughly 50 % increase in geodetic precision compared to operational VGOS sessions. The analysis confirmed that the formal errors in estimated station coordinates were reduced by 40 % to 50 %. In addition, Earth orientation parameters showed significant improvement, with a 40 % to 50 % reduction in formal errors.
MIT Department
Haystack Observatory
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02158-0
