The International GNSS Service is committed to providing the highest quality data and products as the standard for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in support of Earth science research, multidisciplinary applications, and education. These activities endeavor to advance scientific understanding of the Earth system components and their interactions, as well as to facilitate other applications benefiting society. The Service also develops the necessary standards and specifications and encourages international adherence to its conventions.

Goals and objectives

The IGS strives to :

  • Provide the highest quality, reliable GNSS data and products, openly and readily available to all.
  • Promote universal acceptance of IGS products, standards and conventions.
  • Continuously innovate by attracting leading-edge expertise and pursuing challenging projects and ideas.
  • Seek and pursue new growth opportunities while responding to changing user needs.
  • Sustain and nurture the IGS culture of collegiality, openness, inclusiveness, and cooperation.
  • Maintain a voluntary organization with effective leadership, governance, and management.

The IGS collects, archives and distributes GNSS observational data sets of sufficient accuracy to satisfy the objectives of a wide range of applications and experimentation. These data sets are used by the IGS to generate the following data products :

  • High accuracy GPS satellite ephemerides and related information
  • Earth rotation parameters
  • Coordinates and velocities of the IGS tracking stations
  • GPS satellite and tracking station clock information, timescale products
  • Ionospheric information
  • Tropospheric information

The accuracies of these products are sufficient to support scientific objectives including :

  • Realization of global accessibility to, and the improvement of, the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)
  • Monitoring deformation of the solid Earth
  • Monitoring earth rotation
  • Monitoring variations in the hydrosphere (sea level, ice sheets, etc.)
  • Scientific satellite orbit determination
  • Ionosphere monitoring
  • Climatological research, eventually weather prediction models
  • Time and frequency transfer

The IGS accomplishes its mission through the following components :

  • Networks of tracking stations
  • Data Centers (DCs)
  • Analysis and Associate Analysis Centers (AACs)
  • Analysis Center Coordinator (ACC)
  • Working Groups, Pilot Projects, Pilot Services (WG, PP, PS)
  • Coordinators for special products or components: e.g. Reference Frame, Network, Timing
  • Central Bureau (CB)
  • Governing Board (GB)