Development of QZSS

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The ENRI has been participating Japanese national project developing QZSS (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System) since FY 2003. The first space vehicle for QZSS named "Michibiki" has been launched successfully in September 2010, and since then, various experiments are conducted by participating organizations.


QZSS Functions

The QZS (quasi-zenith satellite) is circling on the inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) which draws ground track of "8"-figure. Employing such an orbit, the QZS is able to broadcast navigation signals from just above Japan as shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates that users under conditions which GPS and GEO signals are blocked by tall buildings and trees still can receive QZS signals broadcast from the zenith.

A combination of three QZS space vehicles makes it possible to broadcast navigation signals over the whole Japan from the zenith at all times. The QZSS means this combination of satellites and QZS-1 "Michibiki" launched in September 2010 is planned to be the first satellite of this system.

Ground track of QZS
Figure 1: Ground Track of QZS
Signals from QZSS
Figure 2: Signals from QZSS

The QZSS will provide roughly two functions as follows:

In order to achieve these functions, "Michibiki" broadcasts navigation signals listed in Table 1. All of these signals are broadcast simultaneously.

Table 1: Navigation Signals Broadcast by "Michibiki"
Name Center Freq. Bandwidth Modulation PRN Code Supplement to GPS Augmentation to GPS Comment
Supplement Signals QZS-L1-C/A 1575.42MHz 24MHz BPSK(1) 193 to 202 Yes No Slightly modified from GPS-L1-C/A
QZS-L1C 1575.42MHz 24MHz BOC(1,1)* 193 to 202 Yes No Modified from GPS-L1C
QZS-L2C 1227.6MHz 24MHz BPSK(1) 193 to 202 Yes No Slightly modified from GPS-L2C
QZS-L5 1176.45MHz 24MHz BPSK(10) 193 to 202 Yes No Slightly modified from GPS-L5
Augmentation Signals QZS-L1-SAIF 1575.42MHz 24MHz BPSK(1) 183 to 192 Yes Yes Slightly modified from SBAS-L1-C/A
QZS-LEX 1278.75MHz 42MHz BPSK(5) 193 to 202 Yes Yes Original signal
*May be changed for QZS-2 and later.

QZS-L1-C/A, QZS-L1C, QZS-L2C, and QZS-L5 are supplement signals. Each of them is very similar with a GPS signal of the same name, however, existing GPS receivers cannot receive QZS signals.

Both augmentation signals, QZS-L1-SAIF and QZS-LEX, offer supplement function as well as augmentation function. QZS-L1-SAIF (submeter-class augmentation with integrity function) signal broadcasts augmentation information of submeter-class accuracy. The RF specification of QZS-L1-SAIF signal is identical with the SBAS (satellite-based augmentation system) which is the international standard augmentation system defined by the ICAO (international civil aviation organization). However, PRN code is different from the SBAS, so existing GPS and/or GPS/SBAS receivers do not receive QZS-L1-SAIF signal. On contrast, QZS-LEX (L-band experiment) signal is defined originally for QZSS and of course existing GPS receivers do not aware of this signal. The purpose of this augmentation signal is enabling highly accurate positioning for survey application.

All signals broadcast from "Michibiki" are defined and explained by the IS-QZSS (interface specification) document issued by JAXA.


L1-SAIF Augmentation Signal

L1-SAIF (submeter-class augmentation with integrity function) signal is designed to broadcast augmentation information of submeter-class accuracy. The RF specification of QZS-L1-SAIF signal is identical with the SBAS (satellite-based augmentation system) which is the international standard augmentation system defined by the ICAO (international civil aviation organization). However, PRN code is different from the SBAS, so existing GPS and/or GPS/SBAS receivers do not receive QZS-L1-SAIF signal. The ENRI has been responsible of development of L1-SAIF signal.

Augmentation information of L1-SAIF is broadcast as a sequence of messages. L1-SAIF carries one message per one second. Each message is idenified by Message Type which is a number between 0 to 63. The order of messages is not defined. Each message consists of 250 bits and synchronizes with beginning of every seconds of GPS time. Figure 3 illustrates the structure of the message which contains preamble of 8 bits, Message Type of 6 bits, data contents of 212 bits, and CRC parity of 24 bits. Meaning of each bit within data contents is defined with respect to message type, see IS-QZSS here.

Message structure
Figure 3: Message structure for L1-SAIF

There are two kinds of L1-SAIF messages: SBAS-compliant messages (Message Types 0 to 28, 62, and 63) and extended messages (Message Types 52 to 60). SBAS-compliant messages are identical with the messages defined in SBAS standard. Submeter-class augmentation is achieved by using only SBAS-compliant messages. Extended messages are used for advanced augmentation and receivers may or may not apply extended messages. We are conducting experiments and validation of extended messages and their formats are, so far, tentative.

Existing receivers need to be modified to receive and process L1-SAIF messages. If you already have SBAS-capable receivers, you need very small software modification to make it also capable of L1-SAIF because basic augmentation information is carried by SBAS-compliant messages.

Example of L1-SAIF augmentation
Statistics of Position Error
SystemHorizontal ErrorVertical Error
Without L1-SAIF 95%2.90m5.84m
Max6.02m8.45m
With L1-SAIF 95%0.58m0.78m
Max1.56m2.57m

Note: This result is based on survey-grade receiver and antenna.

Location:GEONET 940058 (Takayama)
Period:2008-01-19 to 23 (5 days)


Figure 4: Example of L1-SAIF Augmentation

Figure 4 shows example of statistics of user position error with and without L1-SAIF augmentation (Only SBAS-compliant messages and no use of supplement function of "Michibiki"). Red plots indicate results of GPS standalone positioning while Green ones associate with L1-SAIF augmentation. Large errors which appear frequently in case without augmentation are reduced within roughly 1 meter by applying augmentation information. Note that this result is obtained with survey-grade receiver and antenna, and generally the performance of augmentation depends upon the surrounding environment and characteristics of receiver and antenna.


Schedule of L1-SAIF Experiment

L1-SAIF broadcast capability of "Michibiki" is shared by ENRI

Table 2 lists experiment periods assigned for ENRI. On the usual operation, broadcast of L1-SAIF begins before noon of the first day of each experiment period and stops in the evening the last day. However, broadcast may stop frequently whenever necessary due to needs of the experiment. Note that broadcast information is generated for experimental purpose and there is not any guarantee on the augmentation performance.

Table 2: Schedule of L1-SAIF Experiment by ENRI (As of 2013-10-18)
IDStart DateStop DateStatusComment
E10-12010-12-132010-12-24 Complete Confirm L1-SAIF transmission
E10-22011-01-112011-01-21 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E10-32011-02-072011-02-18 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E10-42011-03-142011-03-25 Cancel Canceled due to earthquake
E11-12011-04-112011-04-15 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-22011-05-092011-05-13 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-32011-06-202011-06-24 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-42011-07-182011-07-22 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-52011-08-152011-08-19 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-62011-08-292011-09-02 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-72011-10-102011-10-14 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E11-82011-11-052011-11-11 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E11-92011-12-122011-12-19 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E11-102012-01-092012-01-13 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E11-112012-01-232012-01-25 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E11-122012-02-062012-02-10 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E11-132012-03-052012-03-10 Complete Observe position accuracy with L1-SAIF augmentation
E12-12012-04-022012-04-06 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-22012-04-202012-04-27 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-32012-05-072012-05-11 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-42012-05-212012-05-25 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-52012-06-042012-06-08 Complete Timing alignment of L1-SAIF transmission
E12-62012-06-182012-06-22 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-72012-07-022012-07-06 Complete Timing alignment of L1-SAIF transmission
E12-82012-07-162012-07-23 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-92012-07-302012-08-03 Complete Timing alignment of L1-SAIF transmission
E12-102012-08-132012-08-17 Cancel Summer vacation
E12-112012-08-202012-08-24 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-122012-09-032012-09-07 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-132012-09-172012-09-21 Cancel SPAC uses L1-SAIF signal
E12-142012-10-012012-10-05 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-152012-10-152012-10-19 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-162012-10-292012-11-02 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-172012-11-122012-11-16 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-182012-11-262012-11-30 Cancel Autumn vacation
E12-192012-12-112012-12-14 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-202012-12-222013-01-09 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E12-212013-01-122013-01-18 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E12-222013-02-042013-02-07 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-232013-02-082013-02-15 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E12-242013-02-252013-03-01 Complete Broadcast ephemeris information by L1-SAIF
E12-252013-03-112013-03-15 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E12-262013-03-252013-03-29 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-12013-04-222013-04-26 Cancel Administrative issue
E13-22013-05-272013-05-31 Cancel Administrative issue
E13-32013-06-242013-06-28 Cancel Administrative issue
E13-42013-07-082013-07-12 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-52013-07-222013-07-26 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-62013-08-052013-08-09 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-72013-08-192013-08-23 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-82013-09-022013-09-05 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-92013-09-302013-10-04 Complete GPS+GLONASS+QZSS Augmentation
E13-102013-11-202013-11-22 Tentative TBD
E13-112013-11-252013-11-29 Tentative TBD
E13-122013-12-092013-12-13 Tentative TBD
E13-132013-12-232013-12-27 Tentative TBD
E13-142014-01-062014-01-10 Tentative TBD
E13-152014-01-202014-01-24 Tentative TBD
E13-162014-02-032014-02-07 Tentative TBD
E13-172014-02-172014-02-21 Tentative TBD
E13-182014-03-032014-03-07 Tentative TBD
E13-192014-03-172014-03-21 Tentative TBD
E13-202014-03-312014-04-04 Tentative TBD

Recording format is idential with $FRMA record NovAtel OEM-3 receivers.

Format: $FRMA,week,time,prn,data...*sum
week Week number (10 LSBs)
time Time of week (Reception time of the first bit of the message) [s]
prn PRN number by which the message is broadcast
data... Message contents (64 hexadecimal chars for 250 bits; The first bit of the message is stored as MSB of the first char)
sum Checksum (XOR of chars between next of '$' and just before '*')

Directory QZS-1 L1-SAIFiPRN183j


Observation of QZS-1 "Michibiki"

ENRI just began continuous observation of "Michibiki" as well as other GNSS satellites including GPS and GLONASS with triple frequencies. Raw observation is converted into the RINEX format and stored here. Equipment and conditions of observation are described below.

ReceiverJAVAD ALPHA-G3T
Antenna LocationTop of the tower of No.6 Building, ENRI
35.679518936N 139.560964491E 109.1971m from ellipsoid
X=-3947737.9910 Y=3364428.7640 Z=3699428.9764
AntennaTrimble Zephyr Geodetic 2 (L1/L2/L5)
Target SVGPS, GLONASS, SBAS, QZSS

In addition, navigation messages broadcast on ranging signals of L1 frequency are decoded and stored here. This information is archived in EMS format explained below.

Format: PRN YY MM DD HH MM SS TT data...
PRN PRN number by which the message is broadcast
YY MM DD Date
HH MM SS Time (Transmission of the first bit of the message)
TT
GPS/QZSS: Subframe ID (1 to 5)
GLONASS: String ID (1 to 15)
SBAS/SAIF: Message Type (1 to 63)
data... Message contents (Hexadecimal; The first bit of the message is stored as MSB of the first char)
Message length = GPS/QZSS: 300 bits (6s), GLONASS: 100 bits (2s), SBAS/SAIF: 250 bits (1s)

Directory RINEX Files (Range measurements)
Directory EMS Files (Broadcast message)

Note 1: Sometimes there is missing data due to some reason such as power outage.
Note 2: Before 2012-01-23, a little part of data may be missing due to some limitation of the receiver. This problem is fixed on data collected after 2012-01-23.


Precautions on Using Data Available on This Site


Copyright (C) 2011-13, ENRI - For comments or suggestion, please contact: sakai@enri.go.jp