GPS Data Network andIonospheric Monitoring inThailand
A. Mongkolkachit, P. Kenpankho and P. Supnithi
Faculty of Engineering
King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang,Bangkok , Thailand
Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 2011
August 8-12, 2011
Taipei International Convention Center, Taipei, Taiwan

Outline Background and Motivation
 Available GPS and Ionospheric stations in Thailand Chumphon and Nongkai Stations Setup Network Setup Thai GPS and Ionospheric Data Center Website
 Implementation and Future Plans

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Background and Motivation
Since 2005, KMITL and NICT have cooperated to install the ionosondes, magnetometer, all-sky
imager and the GPS receivers at several provinces of Thailand at Chiangmai, Chumphon, Bangkok
and Phuket. This is part of the SouthEast Asia Low-Latitude Ionospheric Observation Network(SEALION)

NICT, Japan

ChumphonKMITL, Thailand

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Background and Motivation
 GPS data collection is central to the research and study inmany areas such as ionospheric study, land movement
study, weather model, satellite communication, aeronauticalapplications and others.
 There exists a number of GPS stations /sites in Thailand,
whereby separate agencies are involved and responsible for.
 It is necessary to continue GPS and Ionospheric datacollection and make the data available to researchers andinterested domestic and international
agencies/organizations.

4Available GPS and Ionospheric Stations in Thailand
 SEALION KMITL + Chulalongkorn University + Kyoto University
 Chulalongkorn University (1 IGS station)
 Department of Public Works and Town and Country
Planning (11 stations) Department of Lands (11 stations) Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI) Royal Thai Navy (3 Ionosonde stations) Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI) + KMITL+ Stamford University+ AEROTHAI5Available GPS and Ionospheric Stations in Thailand
SEALIONKMITL+Chulalongkorn Univ. + Kyoto Univ.
Chiangmai

Bangkok

Chumphon

PhuketGPS data
Ionosonde data
Future stations to add in the network

More future additional locations but not shown on map
Department of Public Works and Town and Country
Planning (11 stations)
Department of Lands (11 stations)
Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (AEROTHAI)Royal Thai Navy (3 Ionosonde stations)
ENRI+KMITL+Stamford University+AEROTHAI

Chumphon Station
Location

LatitudeLongitude

Geomagnetic Latitude

Chumphon

10.72 °N

99.37 °E

3.00 °

Chumphon
Magnetic equator7

Chumphon Station Setup (Cont.)
Ionospheric irregularities

2-30 MHz.

Specification

The ionosondes continuouslytransmit radio waves from 2 to 30
MHz and receive echoes from theionosphere to provide the bottomside plasma density profile every 15
minutes
FM/CW

GPS measurement

Frequencies

ƒ1 = 1575.42 MHz
ƒ2 = 1227.60 MHz

Polarization

Right hand circular

Antenna

Microstrip antenna

LNA gain

26 dB

Receiver model

JAVAD-GPS

Antenna

AntennaTransmitter/
ReceiverIonosonde Data

ComputerrecordAmplifier

TEC Meter
JAVAD

Computer Unit

GPS Data8Nongkai Station

Nongkai Station BuildingServer and GPS receiverNetwork Setup
Ionosonde
Ionosonde
Ionosonde

GPS and Ionosonde station

Network Setup (Cont.)Thai GPS and Ionosperic Data Center Website

12Thai GPS and Ionosperic Data Center Website

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Implementation and Future Plans
Plans
Collaborate to other organizations,such as AEROTHAI, Stamford University

Time range
July – September 2011

Install GPS station at Ubolratchathani station October 2011
Analyze data (RINEX, ROTI, etc.)

November 2011

Implement 2D TEC map of Thailand

January 2012

Products (TEC/Ionospheric package analysis) Februrary 201214

Thank you very muchfor your kind attention