Modeling Selective Availability of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System

As the development of the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) continues, there will increasingly be the need for a software centered signal model. This model must accurately generate the observed pseudorange which would typically be encountered. The observed pseudorange varies from the true geometric (slant) range due to range measurement errors. Errors in range measurement stem from a variety of hardware and environment factors. These errors are classified as either deterministic or random and, where appropriate, their models are summarized. Of particular interest is the model for Selective Availability which is derived from actual GPS data. The procedure for the determination of this model, known as the System Identification Theory, is briefly outlined. The synthesis of these error sources into the final signal model is given along with simulation results.