GNSS data formats | NMEA RINEX RTCM SP3 BINEX GPX
This page covers GNSS data formats used to transmit GNSS data to receivers. It covers various GNSS data formats viz. NMEA, RINEX, RTCM, SP3, BINEX and GPX.
Introduction: GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) covers various satellite systems viz. GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, GLONASS etc. used worldwide. These systems have been installed to provide positioning and timing informations to the receivers on the earth. The positioning and timing informations are transmitted using several data formats by these GNSS systems. They carry ephemeris data, almanac data and timing information.
GNSS data formats
Following table mentions various GNSS data formats used to encode navigation data from satellites used for GNSS receivers.
| GNSS data formats | Description |
|---|---|
| NMEA 0183 | NMEA stands for National Marine Electronics Association. It consists of ASCII strings which are transmitted as serial data. NMEA sequences provide GPS receiver's informations such as position, current time, velocity etc. There are different NMEA sequences used to carry different type of informations. These NMEA sentences include GPGGA, GPRMC, GPVTG, GPGSA, GPGSV etc. |
| RINEX | It is the short form of Receiver Independent Exchange. This format is used to store GNSS data collected by GNSS receivers. RINEX files contain various informations such as raw measurement data, ephemeris data, almanac data etc. These informations are used for post processing and analysis. |
| RTCM | It is the short form of Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services. This format carries correction data for GNSS receivers and are transmitted by ground stations. This data helps to improve accuracy of positioning information. |
| SP3 | It is the short form of Standard Product 3. It is used to store satellite orbit information. SP3 files contain precise orbit and clock data for each GNSS satellites. |
| BINEX | It is the short form of binary GPS data format. This format is used to exchange GPS data between GPS receivers and analysis centers. They are better than RINEX in terms of compactness and efficiency. BINEX contains various fields which include time of observation, Satellite ID, carrier phase measurements, pseudoranges etc. |
| GPX | It is the short form of GPS Exchange Format. This format is used to exchange GPS data which includes waypoints, tracks and routes. It contains various fields viz. latitude, longitude, elevation etc. |
GNSS data formats are related to GNSS signal codes as they contain the information necessary to extract positioning and timing information from the signals transmitted by the GNSS satellites.