Data analysis

The data analysis was performed in three steps :

• Each individual solution was compared to the ITRF94 in order in one hand to estimate the transformation parameters of the system attached to the solution with respect to ITRF94 and, on the other hand, the level of agreement with the ITRF94 values.
• In order to assess the relative quality of the individual solutions, and their behaviour with respect to each other independently from the influence of local ties, a combination within each technique was also performed.
• A global combination was finally performed. Matrix Scaling Factors have been rigorously estimated during this combined adjustment which was iterated.

The ITRF96 global combination is achieved with the following properties :

• It includes the 17 selected space geodetic solutions provided by the IERS analysis centers and 70 constructed SINEX files containing positions and covariances, derived from local ties
• The reference frame definition (origin, scale, orientation and time evolution) of the combination is achieved in such a way that ITRF96 is in the same system as the ITRF94
• Velocities are constrained to be the same for all points within each site.

Result Analysis

$$\global\def\fig#1{\scriptsize\textcolor{E83E8C}{fig.#1}}$$ $$\global\def\tab#1{\scriptsize\textcolor{E83E8C}{tab.#1}}$$

The ITRF96 adjusted coordinates at epoch 1996.0 and velocities were split into several tables and SINEX files. The subsets are :

• VLBI technique
• SLR technique
• GPS technique
• DORIS technique
• EUREF GPS stations
• EUREF points (GPS and others in Europe)

Moreover, compressed ITRF96 SINEX files for the following networks are also available via FTP :

• host: itrf-ftp.ign.fr

• folder: pub/itrf/itrf2005

• ITRF96 SINEX file

• ITRF96 VLBI

• ITRF96 SLR

• ITRF96 GPS

• ITRF96 DORIS

• ITRF96 EUREF Perm. GPS

• ITRF96 EUROPE

A file ITRF96.TSG contains the adjusted transformation parameters at the epoch of each individual solution as well as the corresponding rates. The transformation parameters are from each individual solution to the ITRF96 and should be used with the equation ($\fig1$). The rates have to be considered as annual variations to the transformation parameters. So for a given transformation parameter T provided at an epoch ts, its value at an epoch t in years could be obtained by equation ($\fig2$).

With, $X,Y,Z$ are the coordinates in the ITRF96, and $Xs,Ys,Zs$ are the coordinates in the individual system.

The quality analysis of the ITRF96 results is based more specifically on global residuals per solution ($\tab2$) as well as per site. All residuals on a site-by-site basis resulting from the combination are available in the file ITRF96.RESIDUALS.