ANALYSIS OF THE EGNOS IONOSPHERIC MODEL AND ITS IMPACT ON THE INTEGRITY LEVEL IN THE CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE REGION

Abstract. The demand for Global Navigation Satellite System in safety-related applications has rapidly increased in the last few years. The foreseeable release of self-driving cars is already showing the importance of the integrity concept of satellite-based navigations. Correction services as EGNOS can actively improve the integrity assurance build up. The paper aims the examination of the EGNOS ionospheric model concerning integrity. The focus is on the Eastern European area are close to the east edge of the EGNOS coverage area. We processed the available EGNOS data from 2018 and compared the performance of the ionospheric correction with a profoundly credible model. The paper presents the basic statistical properties of the comparison focusing on deviances, which could lead to navigation integrity. The article has an additional focus on how the quality of the EGNOS ionosphere model can influence the Protection Level in the eastern region. Satellites with low elevation angle may be out of the EGNOS coverage area, and the absence of these transmitters can negatively affect the Protection Level. The paper shows the quality and quantity of the above mentioned negative impact with the help of real life and simulated data.