CORS

Guidelines for Establishing and Operating CORS


NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) invites organizations and individuals to share data from their permanent GPS base stations by including these stations in the National CORS network.  Each CORS must meet the specifications described in the CORS Guidelines (pdf) - August 2020

ATTENTION! CHANGES ARE COMING! GUIDELINES AND RULES FOR ESTABLISHING, OPERATING AND MAINTAINING CORS ARE BEING REVISED. PLEASE TALK TO A HUMAN AT CORS BRANCH BEFORE INSTALLING YOUR CORS --
JOHN GALETZKA (john.galetzka@noaa.gov) OR DON HAW (don.haw@noaa.gov)

Joining the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) Network

Key Requirements

  • Site is at least 70 km from an existing NGS CORS
  • Receiver/Antenna is at least dual frequency (L1 and L2)
  • Receiver tracks at least ten satellites above 0 degrees
  • Receiver provides L1 C/A-code pseudorange or P-code pseudorange
  • Receiver provides L1 and L2 full wavelength carrier phase
  • Receivers must have a code in this list
  • Antenna code (antenna model + radome) must be in this list
        Note: This antenna code list is a subset of the list available on the NGS ANTCAL page. The list of antenna codes listed here have a full absolute antenna calibration and not a converted relative to absolute calibration
  • Antenna and monument must be coupled by an orienting/leveling device
  • Antenna oriented to TRUE north (Calculate Magnetic Declination)
  • Equipment metadata including photographs and station log must be provided
  • Data are freely available for distribution
  • Data are recorded at 1-second, 5-second, 15-second, or 30-second interval
  • Provider has on-site Internet access
  • Provider maintains all equipment
  • Provider agrees to adopt coordinates published by NGS

Status of Future or Proposed CORS