Where does the Geoid information in a GPS unit come from?











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In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?










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    In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



    Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?










    share|improve this question









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    Håkon K. Olafsen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



      Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Håkon K. Olafsen is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      In the NMEA GGA-message the 11th field is Geoid separation. How does the GPS-unit "know" this separation?



      Are GPS units preloaded with an EGM (Earth Gravitational Model)?







      gps nmea geoid






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      edited Nov 28 at 15:42









      Dan C

      10k74575




      10k74575






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      asked Nov 28 at 15:29









      Håkon K. Olafsen

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          GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



          On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



          When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






          share|improve this answer






























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            Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






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            • Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
              – mkennedy
              Nov 29 at 0:37










            • @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
              – hobbs
              Nov 29 at 0:52











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            2 Answers
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            active

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            active

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            up vote
            5
            down vote













            GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



            On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



            When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






            share|improve this answer



























              up vote
              5
              down vote













              GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



              On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



              When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                5
                down vote










                up vote
                5
                down vote









                GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



                On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



                When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.






                share|improve this answer














                GPS units can be pre-loaded with one or more geoids, which can be used to calculate elevations by geoid separation. But support for this feature varies by manufacturer and by device.



                On many Trimble GPS units (and probably units from other manufacturers who make higher-end GNSS hardware for professional surveying), the geoid is stored on the device. Trimble uses a .GGF file. You can add new geoids and decide which one your unit will use. Geoids can be refined over time so the ability to add new ones helps keep your hardware up to date.



                When it comes to a consumer GPS handheld like a Garmin or whatever, my guess is that they have one geoid and/or ellipsoid (another abstraction of the earth's surface that is used to calculation elevations) pre-loaded on the device which can't be updated. But you'd need to check the specs for your device and maybe contact the manufacturer to find out for sure.







                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited yesterday

























                answered Nov 28 at 15:58









                Dan C

                10k74575




                10k74575
























                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote













                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






                    share|improve this answer










                    New contributor




                    hobbs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                    • Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 at 0:37










                    • @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 at 0:52















                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote













                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






                    share|improve this answer










                    New contributor




                    hobbs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                    • Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 at 0:37










                    • @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 at 0:52













                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    1
                    down vote









                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.






                    share|improve this answer










                    New contributor




                    hobbs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    Unless otherwise specified, a GPS unit is probably using the WGS84 ellipsoid and EGM96 geoid, and the separation it reports is the vertical distance between those two surfaces at the present latitude and longitude. Yes, it's usual to have that data baked into the firmware.







                    share|improve this answer










                    New contributor




                    hobbs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.









                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Nov 29 at 0:51





















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                    answered Nov 28 at 20:18









                    hobbs

                    1113




                    1113




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                    hobbs is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                    Check out our Code of Conduct.












                    • Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 at 0:37










                    • @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 at 0:52


















                    • Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                      – mkennedy
                      Nov 29 at 0:37










                    • @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                      – hobbs
                      Nov 29 at 0:52
















                    Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                    – mkennedy
                    Nov 29 at 0:37




                    Can you clarify whether you mean EGM84 or EGM96?
                    – mkennedy
                    Nov 29 at 0:37












                    @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                    – hobbs
                    Nov 29 at 0:52




                    @mkennedy sorry, corrected. 96. Unless it's terribly old equipment, of course :)
                    – hobbs
                    Nov 29 at 0:52










                    Håkon K. Olafsen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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