ISO 17123-11:2025
(Main)Optics and optical instruments — Field procedures for testing geodetic and surveying instruments — Part 11: GNSS instruments
Optics and optical instruments — Field procedures for testing geodetic and surveying instruments — Part 11: GNSS instruments
This document specifies a field procedure for the verification that a given Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-based system and measurement procedure meets a required measurement uncertainty at the location and time of interest. The field procedure uses three-dimensional coordinates which are compared to reference coordinates. It is designed to be applicable to the technically versatile geodetic and surveying GNSS systems on the market and can be used for any kind of GNSS-based applications to determine coordinates. It is independent of the technology used in the GNSS measuring instrument, the satellite data streams, and any correction data used. The procedure is applicable to GNSS instruments under operating condition in the field in such a way that the main parameters affecting the determination of coordinates are included in the result of the test. This document defines several delimitation criteria, which allows for versatile applicability. As a result, the verification procedure can be regularly performed in the field with limited economic impact.
Optique et instruments d'optique — Méthodes d'essai sur site des instruments géodésiques et d'observation — Partie 11: Instruments GNSS
General Information
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International
Standard
ISO 17123-11
First edition
Optics and optical instruments —
2025-07
Field procedures for testing
geodetic and surveying
instruments —
Part 11:
GNSS instruments
Optique et instruments d'optique — Méthodes d'essai sur site des
instruments géodésiques et d'observation —
Partie 11: Instruments GNSS
Reference number
© ISO 2025
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviations . 3
4.1 Symbols .3
4.2 Abbreviated terms .4
5 Delimitation . 4
5.1 Reason for delimitation .4
5.2 Quantitative delimitation by measurement uncertainty classes .4
5.3 Qualitative delimitation through multistage test procedure .5
5.4 Functional delimitation related to GNSS measuring instrument .6
5.5 Qualitative delimitation through the test criterion .6
5.6 Qualitative delimitation in the consideration of influencing factors .7
6 GNSS field test procedure . 8
6.1 Prerequisites for all procedure stages .8
6.2 Procedure stage 1 — Simplified GNSS field test procedures .9
6.2.1 Objective and scope .9
6.2.2 Test requirements .9
6.2.3 Test procedure.9
6.2.4 Calculation and interpretation .10
6.3 Procedure stage 2 — Full test procedure .10
6.3.1 Objective and scope .10
6.3.2 Test requirements .10
6.3.3 Test procedure.11
6.3.4 Calculation . 12
6.3.5 Interpretation and cause indications . 12
6.4 Procedure stage 3 — Extended test procedure . 15
7 Further recommendations in case of exceeding measurement errors .16
Annex A (informative) Procedure stage 3 — Extended test procedure — Methodology of a test
with isotropy or antenna property tests (example of antenna diagnostics).18
Annex B (informative) Examples of test procedures and their results . 19
Annex C (informative) Establishment of a reference point by long-term static GNSS
measurement .25
Annex D (informative) Exemplary assignment of applications to the measurement uncertainty
classes .27
Bibliography .28
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172, Optics and photonics, Subcommittee SC 6,
Geodetic and surveying instruments.
A list of all parts in the ISO 17123 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
The ISO 17123 series specifies field procedures for adoption when determining and evaluating the
uncertainty of measurement results obtained by geodetic instruments and their ancillary equipment, when
used in building and surveying measuring tasks. Primarily, these tests are intended to be field verifications
of suitability of a particular instrument for the immediate task. They are not proposed as tests for acceptance
or performance evaluations that are more comprehensive in nature.
These field procedures have been developed specifically for in situ applications without the need for special
ancillary equipment and are purposely designed to minimize atmospheric influences.
[1]
ISO 17123-8 provides a standard which exclusively covers Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) test
[1]
procedures for real-time kinematic applications. Since the creation of ISO 17123-8 , GNSS-based geodetic
measurement and instrumentation techniques have evolved in many ways:
[1]
— in addition to the classical real-time kinematic measurement procedures on which ISO 17123-8 is
based, other GNSS-based geodetic measurement procedures have become established;
— complementary to classical base-rover measurement arrangements and the instrument morphology by
means of separation of antenna and receiver, which was widely used at the time, versatile integrated
measurement instrument types are currently available;
— correction data services play an essential role in the analysis.
This document therefore has the following objectives:
— provision of GNSS field test procedures to achieve the highest possible reliability in the use of GNSS-
based geodetic measurement techniques;
— far-reaching consideration of technological advancements both in instrument technology and morphology
as well as in data streams;
— extensive independence from the accuracy class of the measuring equipment;
— consideration of the measuring equipment as a complete system;
— qualitative and quantitative multistage nature of the field test procedure in order to be able to meet
different requirement profiles;
— inclusion of the user’s expertise.
The implementation of these objectives is limited by the following framework conditions:
— a GNSS measuring instrument is not a measuring device in the narrower sense that can be tested
independently of external infrastructure on its own as well as without target specifications. Instead,
GNSS measuring instruments are subcomponents of an overall system;
— GNSS measuring instruments are perceived as black box systems. A large group of these systems is
designed by the manufacturer in such a way that no, or only little, influence can be exerted on important
instrument parameters;
— another group of GNSS measuring instruments follows an open-box strategy and allows a large number
of parameter settings in the positioning algorithm, the changes of which have a direct influence on the
determined position;
— GNSS-based measurement techniques are always based on an estimation algorithm, the result of which
depends on a very large number of possible influencing factors;
— the quality of satellite geodetic measurements and the positional accuracies that can be achieved with
them depend directly on the measurement conditions on site;
v
— a metrologically correct, and at the same time, procedurally simple consideration of a multitude of the
possible influencing factors on the achievable measurement accuracy is not possible according to the
current state of the art, in contrast to other geodetic instruments and measurement principles.
The field test procedure presented in this document therefore focuses on the visualization of a three-
dimensional coordinate, inherent to all GNSS measuring instruments, as the primary measurement result
value, which is compared to a nominal value. It is a daily perfo
...
FINAL DRAFT
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 17123-11
ISO/TC 172/SC 6
Optics and optical instruments —
Secretariat: SNV
Field procedures for testing
Voting begins on:
geodetic and surveying
2025-04-15
instruments —
Voting terminates on:
2025-06-10
Part 11:
GNSS instruments
Optique et instruments d'optique — Méthodes d'essai sur site des
instruments géodésiques et d'observation —
Partie 11: Instruments GNSS
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
Reference number
ISO/FDIS 17123-11:2025(en) © ISO 2025
FINAL DRAFT
ISO/FDIS 17123-11:2025(en)
International
Standard
ISO/FDIS 17123-11
ISO/TC 172/SC 6
Optics and optical instruments —
Secretariat: SNV
Field procedures for testing
Voting begins on:
geodetic and surveying
instruments —
Voting terminates on:
Part 11:
GNSS instruments
Optique et instruments d'optique — Méthodes d'essai sur site des
instruments géodésiques et d'observation —
Partie 11: Instruments GNSS
RECIPIENTS OF THIS DRAFT ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT,
WITH THEIR COMMENTS, NOTIFICATION OF ANY
RELEVANT PATENT RIGHTS OF WHICH THEY ARE AWARE
AND TO PROVIDE SUPPOR TING DOCUMENTATION.
© ISO 2025
IN ADDITION TO THEIR EVALUATION AS
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
BEING ACCEPTABLE FOR INDUSTRIAL, TECHNO-
LOGICAL, COMMERCIAL AND USER PURPOSES, DRAFT
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MAY ON OCCASION HAVE
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF THEIR POTENTIAL
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
TO BECOME STAN DARDS TO WHICH REFERENCE MAY BE
MADE IN NATIONAL REGULATIONS.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: +41 22 749 01 11
Email: copyright@iso.org
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland Reference number
ISO/FDIS 17123-11:2025(en) © ISO 2025
ii
ISO/FDIS 17123-11:2025(en)
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Symbols and abbreviations . 3
4.1 Symbols .3
4.2 Abbreviated terms .4
5 Delimitation . 4
5.1 Reason for delimitation .4
5.2 Quantitative delimitation by measurement uncertainty classes .4
5.3 Qualitative delimitation through multistage test procedure .5
5.4 Functional delimitation related to GNSS measuring instrument .5
5.5 Qualitative delimitation through the test criterion .6
5.6 Qualitative delimitation in the consideration of influencing factors .7
6 GNSS field test procedure . 8
6.1 Prerequisites for all procedure stages .8
6.2 Procedure stage 1 — Simplified GNSS field test procedures .9
6.2.1 Objective and scope .9
6.2.2 Test requirements .9
6.2.3 Test procedure.9
6.2.4 Calculation and interpretation .10
6.3 Procedure stage 2 — Full test procedure .10
6.3.1 Objective and scope .10
6.3.2 Test requirements .10
6.3.3 Test procedure.11
6.3.4 Calculation . 12
6.3.5 Interpretation and cause indications . 12
6.4 Procedure stage 3 — Extended test procedure . 15
7 Further recommendations in case of exceeding measurement errors .16
Annex A (informative) Procedure stage 3 — Extended test procedure — Methodology of a test
with isotropy or antenna property tests (example of antenna diagnostics).18
Annex B (informative) Examples of test procedures and their results . 19
Annex C (informative) Establishment of a reference point by long-term static GNSS
measurement .25
Annex D (informative) Exemplary assignment of applications to the measurement uncertainty
classes .27
Bibliography .28
iii
ISO/FDIS 17123-11:2025(en)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through
ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee
has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations,
governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely
with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described
in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the different types
of ISO document should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the
ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent
rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not] received notice of (a)
patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that
this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at
www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions
related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 172, Optics and photonics, Subcommittee SC 6,
Geodetic and surveying instruments.
A list of all parts in the ISO 17123 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
ISO/FDIS 17123-11:2025(en)
Introduction
The ISO 17123 series specifies field procedures for adoption when determining and evaluating the
uncertainty of measurement results obtained by geodetic instruments and their ancillary equipment, when
used in building and surveying measuring tasks. Primarily, these tests are intended to be field verifications
of suitability of a particular instrument for the immediate task. They are not proposed as tests for acceptance
or performance evaluations that are more comprehensive in nature.
These field procedures have been developed specifically for in situ applications without the need for special
ancillary equipment and are purposely designed to minimize atmospheric influences.
[1]
ISO 17123-8 provides a standard which exclusively covers Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) test
[1]
procedures for real-time kinematic applications. Since the creation of ISO 17123-8 , GNSS-based geodetic
measurement and instrumentation techniques have evolved in many ways:
[1]
— in addition to the classical real-time kinematic measurement procedures on which is based, other
GNSS-based geodetic measurement procedures have become established;
— complementary to classical base-rover measurement arrangements and the instrument morphology by
means of separation of antenna and receiver, which was widely used at the time, versatile integrated
measurement instrument types are currently available;
— correction data services play an essential role in the analysis.
This document therefore has the following objectives:
— provision of GNSS field test procedures to achieve the highest possible reliability in the use of GNSS-
based geodetic measurement techniques;
— far-reaching consideration of technological advancements both in instrument technology and morphology
as well as in data streams;
— extensive independence from the accuracy class of the measuring equipment;
— consideration of the measuring equipment as a complete system;
— qualitative and quantitative multistage nature of the field test procedure in order to be able to meet
different requirement profiles;
— inclusion of the user’s expertise.
The implementation of these objectives is limited by the following framework conditions:
— a GNSS measuring instrument is not a measuring device in the narrower sense that can be tested
independently of external infrastructure on its own as well as without target specifications. Instead,
GNSS measuring instruments are
...
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