Training materials - GNSS

How to predict satellite

availability for a site

Version 1.0
Introduction
This is a step-by-step tutorial in which you learn how to make a prediction for available satellites over
a new or an imported site.

A GNSS measurement campaign is typically preceded by defining the station sites. Satellite availability
is probably the most important criterion for determining the position of each site. In this tutorial, a
new site is created and the satellite availability is predicted for a defined period. Satellite availability is
also checked for an imported point.

The functionality discussed in this guide requires the Basic license.

The data from the following folders will be used in this tutorial:
Data\static-cs-s2_1683_0816_141627

Table of Contents
1. Create a new site............................................................................................................................................................ 4
2. Predict satellite availability and create a report ................................................................................................ 6
3. Predicting satellite availability for an imported site ........................................................................................ 9

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 3

1. Create a new site
1.1 Start Infinity and create a new project.

1.2 To access the tools for creating a new site,

select GNSS Manager from the
Processing ribbon bar.

1.3 To create a new site, select New Site from

the ribbon bar of the GNSS Manager.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 4

 · The Satellite Availability tab
opens.

1.4 Edit the name and the coordinates of the

New Site as follows:
Site Id: CP01
Latitude: 47° 24' 17.61" N
Longitude: 9° 37' 34.00" E
Ellip. Height : 404m
To accept the input and create the site,
select Create.

· The site CP01 is created and

shown in the Map View and the
Navigator.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 5

 You can zoom in/out and pan the
map view, by using the mouse
wheel.
You can zoom to/center to the
created site, by selecting it and
then by using the context menu.

2. Predict satellite availability and create a report

2.1 To create a satellite availability prediction

for the site CP01, highlight the site and
select New Prediction from the ribbon
bar.

You can also create a new

prediction from the Site context
menu.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 6

2.2 In the New Prediction tool, input the
following information:
Start Date: the date and time the
prediction starts at
End Date: the date and time the
prediction ends at
Cut-Off Angle: the integer value of the
desired cut-off angle
Leave Almanac and Satellite System
options unchanged.
Check the Show Report option.

To calculate the prediction, select Create.

· A new prediction is calculated and

a GNSS Availability Report is
created.

With Almanac default settings, an

Almanac file is automatically
requested on-line. Alternatively,
an imported almanac file can be
used.

The GNSS Availability Report

includes information on the
following:
ü Site location
ü Satellite Count
ü Satellite Visibility
ü Azimuth and Elevation
tracks
ü DOP values
ü Skyplot
ü Available and Unhealthy
satellites.

The report can be saved or

printed for further use.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 7

 If the report closes, it can be
opened again, either by selecting
the prediction from the
Navigator and then Report from
the ribbon bar, or via context
menu.

Use the Hide map/Show map

toggle button to replace the map
with the prediction results.

Switch within tabs to display

different plots of the prediction
results.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 8

3. Predicting satellite availability for an imported site
3.1 To demonstrate the procedure of
predicting satellite availability for an
existing site, import the file “static-cs-
s2_1683_0816_141627” from the data
folder.

· Point CP05 is imported in the

project.

3.2 To access the settings for calculating a

satellite availability prediction for CP05,
highlight it from the Features tab in the
Inspector and select Satellite
Availability from the context menu.

· The GNSS Manager opens and

point CP05 is already shown in
the map.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 9

3.3 You can now follow the steps described in
Chapter 2 to calculate a satellite
availability prediction for CP05.

Leica Infinity, How to predict satellite availability for a site 10

Heinrich-Wild-Strasse
CH-9435 Heerbrugg
Switzerland