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 -- ngs.proposed.cors@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
- Photos (Description) (Sample)
- Logs (Blank Log) (Log Instructions) (Log Checker)
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