GINS: a new tool for VLBI Geodesy and Astrometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces GINS, a software tool capable of integrating multiple space geodetic techniques, including VLBI, to improve the determination of Earth's reference frames and orientation parameters, with results comparable to existing IVS solutions.

Contribution

The paper presents the GINS software for combined analysis of VLBI and other geodetic data, demonstrating its effectiveness in Earth parameter determination.

Findings

GINS achieves 0.2 mas agreement with IVS results.

GINS effectively processes VLBI data for Earth orientation parameters.

The combined approach enhances geophysical studies of the Earth system.

Abstract

In the framework of the "Groupe de Recherches de G\'eod\'esie Spatiale" (GRGS), a rigorous combination of the data from five space geodetic techniques (VLBI, GPS, SLR, LLR and DORIS) is routinely applied to simultaneously determine a Terrestrial Reference Frame (TRF) and Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP). This analysis is conducted with the software package GINS which has the capability to process data from all five techniques together. Such a combination at the observation level should ultimately facilitate fine geophysical studies of the global Earth system. In this project, Bordeaux Observatory is in charge of the VLBI data analysis, while satellite geodetic data are processed by other groups. In this paper, we present (i) details about the VLBI analysis undertaken with GINS, and (ii) the results obtained for the EOP during the period 2005-2006. We also compare this EOP solution with the IVS (International VLBI Service for geodesy and astrometry) analysis coordinator combined results. The agreement is at the 0.2 mas level, comparable to that of the other IVS analysis centers, which demonstrates the capability of the GINS software for VLBI analysis.