Water level monitoring at SAPOS stations through GNSS-IR : a case study at the station Iffezheim

Abstract

The German SAPOS-Network comprises approximately 270 permanent GNSS receivers, capturing signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems such as GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. Primarily employed for generating kinematic, mathematical, and physical models within their respective regions, these receivers hold untapped potential for alternative applications. GNSS receivers capture multipath errors, typically considered unwanted interferences resulting from signal reflections off surfaces beneath the antenna. Despite their potential to adversely affect data precision, these interferences contain valuable information about the reflecting surface. As satellites pass through the receivers’ field of view at specific elevation angles, the interference between the direct and reflected signals leads to constructive and destructive patterns. This phenomenon occurs due to variations in signal phase between the direct and reflected signal, enhancing or dampening the signal strength. These variations in signal strength are captured in the satellites Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) data. Spectral analysis of the SNR data can be used to determine the frequency of the interference pattern. Combining this frequency with the corresponding signal wavelength and satellite elevation angles allows the calculation of the vertical distance between the antenna phase centre and the reflecting surface on Earth. This method, known as GNSS Interferometric Reflectometry (GNSS-IR), provides a valuable means of monitoring surface information, including soil moisture, snow depth, and water levels. At SAPOS stations near rivers and water bodies, GNSS-IR offers a cost-effective, accessible, and innovative opportunity to gather water level information using the already existing infrastructure. This research explores the potential of GNSSIR for water level monitoring at SAPOS stations focusing on the Iffezheim station along the Rhine River near the City of Karlsruhe in southern Germany.