Multi-path simulation for satellite-based positioning systems using 3D digital map of urban area

Recently, DGPS or RTK-GPS techniques enable us to use satellite based positioning systems with high accuracy. But in urban area, navigation systems suffer from problems such as signal blockage by high-rise buildings, multi-path problems, and so on. So we have to know numbers of visible satellites and quality of signals received at the ground level in urban area as accurate as possible. In this paper, we developed a simulation system called LoQAS [Location service Quality Assessment System, 2002, the University of Tokyo] which can simulate numbers of visible satellites and DOP values using accurate satellite orbital data and 3-D digital map. In this time, we evaluated this system and extended it to deal with reflected signals to assess multi-path problems.