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Why Join the IGS?

DRIVEN BY INNOVATION

We strive to make sure that the service we deliver is not just a complete high quality service, but also an innovative solution that can assure return on investment for our clients and ourselves.

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WHY JOIN THE IGS?

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

Our Background

Providing openly available GNSS data and products that benefit science and society.

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Founded in Service to
the Geodetic
Community

Since the late 1980s, GNSS satellite constellations, starting with GPS, have come to play a major role in regional and global studies of Earth. In the face of continued growth and diversification of GNSS applications, the worldwide scientific community has made an effort to promote international standards for GNSS data acquisition and analysis, and to deploy and operate a common, comprehensive global tracking system.

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A Technical Service of the International
Association of Geodesy

As part of this effort, the IGS was formally recognized in 1993 by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), and began routine operations on January 1, 1994, providing GPS orbits, tracking data, and other data products in support of geodetic and geophysical research. The International GNSS Service (IGS) is a one of several complementary Space Geodesy Technique services of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), which itself is a component of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) a nongovernmental, scientific organization, established in 1919. IUGG is one of the 40 internationally recognized scientific Unions and Associations presently grouped within the International Science Council (ISC).

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Collaborating with IAG Sister Services

The other Space Geodesy techniques supported by IAG Services include Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), and Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) – each providing particular strengths or capabilities that complement the others. The services (IGS, IVS, ILRS, IDS) exist to foster international cooperation, collaboration, and an environment of healthy competition toward improving the reliability, availability, and usefulness of Space Geodesy products. In doing so, participating organizations benefit from the quality and quantity of internationally monitored and compared products from sites around the world.

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IGS Mission

The International GNSS Service provides, on an openly available basis, the highest quality GNSS data, products, services in support of the terrestrial reference frame; Earth observation and research; Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT); and other applications that benefit the scientific community and society.

In response to this Mission, the IGS strives to:

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Premier Source

Serve as the premier source of the highest-quality multi-GNSS related standards and conventions, data, and products, openly available to all user communities.

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IGS Integration

Facilitate the integration of IGS in to the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) and other broadly-based Earth observing and global navigation systems and services.

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Committed & Effective

Maintain an international federation with committed members, and with effective leadership management and governance.

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Value and Benefits

Promote the value and benefits of IGS to society, the broader scientific community, as well as policy makers and funding entities.

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Leading-Edge Expertise

Attract leading-edge expertise to pursue challenging, innovative projects in a collegial, collaborative, and creative culture. Incorporate and integrate new systems, technologies, applications, and changing user needs into IGS products and services.

Availability

IGS data and products are made openly available to all users for use without restriction, and are offered free of cost or obligation. Users are encouraged to participate within the IGS or otherwise contribute to its advancement. Data and products are offered on a best effort basis, and redundantly provided through duplicate, independent sources, making them very reliably available to users.

IGS Infrastructure: Supporting a
Resilient and Sustainable Service

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IAG GGOS Critical Component

The IGS is a critical component of the IAG’s Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), where it encourages and advocates for geometrical linkages of GNSS with other precise geodetic observing techniques, including satellite and lunar laser ranging, very long baseline interferometry and Doppler Orbitography and Radio Positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS). These linkages are fundamental to generating and accessing the ITRF.

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International Network

The IGS has several components: an international network of over 500 continuously operating geodetic-quality GNSS Stations, over 20 regional and operational data centers and six global data centers. Applications for IGS Network Station designation are evaluated by the IGS Network Coordinator, Infrastructure Committee, and Analysis Centers based on criteria such as dissemination of high-quality data, timeliness and regularity of data, uniqueness of location and/or function, and general adherence to IGS Site Guidelines.

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Continuous Tracking

IGS Network Stations provide continuous tracking using high-accuracy receivers, antennas (including those with multi-GNSS and real-time capability), and geodetic monumentation. They need to have data transmission facilities allowing for regular (at least once per day) data transmission to the data centers. The stations must meet physical and operational requirements as defined in the “IGS Site Guidelines” document available from the CB and published on the IGS website https://igs.org).

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Analysis Center Coordinator (ACC)

A two-organization Analysis Center Coordinator coordinates twelve analysis centers and over 20 associate or regional analysis centers. The Central Bureau for the service is located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which maintains the Central Bureau Information System (CBIS) and ensures access to IGS products and information. An international Governing Board oversees all aspects of the IGS.

Data and Products

IGS data and products include: multi-constellation GNSS ground tracking data from IGS global network; GNSS satellite ephemerides for available GNSS constellations; Earth rotation parameters; global tracking station coordinates and velocities; satellite and tracking station clock information; zenith tropospheric path delay estimates; and global ionospheric maps.

IGS Data Centers assist organizations in the capture, storage, curation, long-term preservation, discovery, access, retrieval, aggregation, to support disciplinary and multidisciplinary scientific research.

Community Collaboration at Heart

At the heart of the IGS is a strong culture of sharing expertise, infrastructure and other resources for the purpose of encouraging global best practices for developing and delivering GNSS data and products all over the world. The collaborative nature of the IGS community leverages this diversity to integrate and make full use of all available GNSS
technologies while promoting further innovation.

More than 15,000 geodetic community members, some of whom comprise the backbone of the worldwide geodetic community, ensure that new technologies and systems are integrated into operational IGS products. Responsive to this innovation, the IGS develops and publicly releases standards, guidelines and conventions for the collection and use of GNSS data and the aforementioned products.

The IGS strives to maintain an international federation with committed contributions from its members. Participation of individuals and organizations is often driven by user needs, a key characteristic of the inclusive culture within the IGS.

Why join the International GNSS Service?

Share and contribute to the IGS Vision of:

“a better understanding of the Earth through the application of GNSS.”

Be a Part of the ITRF

As a key component of the IAG’s global geodetic infrastructure, the IGS contributes to, extends and densifies the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). The ITRF provides an accurate and consistent spatial frame for referencing positions at different times and in different locations around the world.

Support Diverse Scientific and Geospatial Communities

Participants yield science benefits from the rich and timely data sets available and their inter-comparison with other space geodetic techniques. For some, the benefit is the ability to tie a national reference frame to the ITRF, for others it is the usefulness of a GNSS base station with available data for area survey purposes, or precision navigation and timing (PNT). an ever-increasing list of applications.

The full benefits of data sharing are only realized if someone initiates the sharing process as a matter of principle. In this way IGS Members and Contributing Organizations initiate a ‘win-win’ process that benefits not only themselves but also their partners in the scientific community and the scientific community at large. This is particularly useful in encouraging scientists and organizations, who are still unused to data sharing to participate in making their data available to the international community.

Bring your Organization into an International GNSS Community of Excellence

The main reasons for your organization to join this international ‘community of excellence’ under the auspices of IUGG/IAG are:

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Improved Local and
International Recognition

Heightened profile with the imprimatur of IGS and its Members, and worldwide exposure for your organization. Increased visibility and engagement in international activities, programs, and projects will improve your organization’s reputation and peer recognition, and will increase its user base.

Improved funding prospects with increased international recognition (i.e., IGS and WDS are ‘good names’). If you are hosted by a larger institution, IGS membership can increase the value of your organization in the eyes of the host institution’s leadership. Facilitated interactions and data exchange—which might not be possible otherwise— with other members of the international data community thanks to the non-governmental and collegial nature of the IGS.

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Demonstrated Commitment
to Open Data

Adherence to the IGS Open Data policy, will demonstrate to your stakeholders and users your commitment to data and service quality, and long-term stewardship. IGS Network station hosts are recognized by GNSS-related research stakeholders (funders, publishers, etc.) to have met international peer review regarding scientific relevance, data management, technical infrastructure and security, and quality assurance.

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Broad Global and Local Scientific
Uses of Data and Products

IGS data, products, and advocacy works for continuous and sustainable improvement and extension of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) – International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). IGS products support scientific activities such as monitoring deformations of the solid Earth and variations in the liquid Earth (sea level, ice sheets, etc.), and in Earth rotation, determining orbits of scientific satellites and monitoring the ionosphere.

For example, geodynamics investigators who use GPS in local regions can include data from one or more nearby IGS stations, fix the site coordinates from such stations to their ITRF values, and more importantly, use the precise IGS orbits without further refinement. Data from an investigator’s local network can then be analyzed with maximum accuracy and minimum computational burden. Furthermore, the results will be based in a well-defined global reference frame.

Extend your Organization’s Benefits to Society

IGS products are considered critical by surveying, geomatics and geo-information users around the world, who rely on them on a daily basis to improve efficiency. Many applications that require reliable, accurate GNSS positioning in construction, agriculture, mining, exploration and transportation also benefit from the IGS.

In addition, IGS products enable the use of GNSS technologies for scientific applications such as the monitoring of solid Earth deformations, monitoring of Earth rotation and variations in the liquid Earth, and for scientific satellite orbit determinations, precise timing, ionosphere monitoring and water vapor measurements.

Engage with United Nations Working Groups

The IGS engages with diverse organizations, outside of the immediate precise GNSS community, that have an interest in geodetic applications of GNSS. Notably, the IGS has supported the development of the Global Geodetic Reference Frame resolution, roadmap and implementation plan within the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM) Committee of Experts, Subcommittee on Geodesy.

The IGS also works with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) International Committee on GNSS (ICG) to develop common understandings of the requirements for multiple system monitoring through the joint pilot project with the ICG’s IGMA subgroup. The IGS also co-chairs ICG Working Group D, which focuses on reference frames, timing and applications.

Open Data

IGS data and products have been made openly available to all users for use without restriction, and continue to be offered free of cost or obligation. In turn, users are encouraged to participate within the IGS, or otherwise contribute to its advancement.

International research is increasingly dependent on access to quality-assured data across multiple scientific domains, in particular to tackle the pressing challenges of sustainability and the resilient management of our planet (an element of GGOS). In unison with the concept of Open Data, it is vital that the data underlying scientific research are properly preserved and fully and openly shared to facilitate scrutiny and reuse. The IGS meets these challenges via its internationally distributed Global Data Centers.

The IGS is a participating member of the ISC World Data System (WDS), established by the International Science Council (ISC; formerly ICSU) to create a common globally interoperable distributed data system that incorporates emerging technologies and multidisciplinary scientific data activities. WDS represents a worldwide ‘community of excellence’ for scientific data that ensures the long-term stewardship and provision of quality-assured data and data services to the international science community.

How to become a part of the IGS?

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Join Our Mailing Lists

Receive the latest news and information about the IGS, learn how to contribute to our work, and participate in upcoming events.
To sign up for an IGS Mailing List, visit Mailing Lists.

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Become an Associate Member

Fill out the IGS Associate Membership form to apply to become an Associate Member.
To view a list of current associate members, visit Associate Members.

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Register or Update your Organization’s Contributions

To register or update your organization’s contributions to the IGS, please fill out the Contributing Organizations form.
To view contributing organizations, visit our Contributing Organizations page.

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Interested in providing a station for the IGS?

To initiate the application, review the guidelines listed on IGS Web Proposing New Stations (Updated 2021) document and fill out the Propose a New IGS Site form.