Precise Point Positioning Augmentation for Various Grades of Global Navigation Satellite System Hardware

The next generation of low-cost, dual-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS receivers, boards, chips and antennas are now quickly entering the market, offering to disrupt portions of the precise GNSS positioning industry with much lower cost hardware and promising to provide precise positioning to a wide range of consumers. The presented work provides a timely, novel and thorough investigation into the positioning performance promise. A systematic and rigorous set of experiments has been carried-out, collecting measurements from a wide array of low-cost, dual-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS boards, chips and antennas introduced in late 2018 and early 2019. These sensors range from dual-frequency, multi-constellation chips in smartphones to stand-alone chips and boards. In order to be comprehensive and realistic, these experiments were conducted in a number of static and kinematic benign, typical, suburban and urban environments. In terms of processing raw measurements from these sensors, the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) GNSS measurement processing mode was used. PPP has become the defacto GNSS positioning and navigation technique for scientific and engineering applications that require dm- to cm-level positioning in remote areas with few obstructions and provides for very efficient worldwide, wide-array augmentation corrections. To enhance solution accuracy, novel contributions were made through atmospheric constraints and the use of dual- and triple-frequency measurements to significantly reduce PPP convergence period. Applying PPP correction augmentations to smartphones and recently released low-cost equipment, novel analyses were made with significantly improved solution accuracy. Significant customization to the York-PPP GNSS measurement processing engine was necessary, especially in the quality control and residual analysis functions, in order to successfully process these datasets. Results for new smartphone sensors show positioning performance is typically at the few dm-level with a convergence period of approximately 40 minutes, which is 1 to 2 orders of magnitude better than standard point positioning. The GNSS chips and boards combined with higher-quality antennas produce positioning performance approaching geodetic quality. Under ideal conditions, carrier-phase ambiguities are resolvable. The results presented show a novel perspective and are very promising for the use of PPP (as well as RTK) in next-generation GNSS sensors for various application in smartphones, autonomous vehicles, Internet of things (IoT), etc

Multi-GNSS Precise Point Positioning Software Architecture and Analysis of GLONASS Pseudorange Biases

With expanding satellite-based navigation systems, multi-Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Precise Point Positioning (PPP) presents an advantage over a single navigation system, which improves position accuracy and enhances availability of satellites and signals. The York GNSS PPP software was developed using C++ in the Microsoft.Net platform to utilize the existing multi-GNSS satellite constellations based on the software processor used by the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) PPP online service. The software was built as a robust, scalable, modular tool that meets the highest of scientific standards compared to existing online PPP engines.There exists a correlation between receiver stations from heterogeneous networks, such as the IGS, in GNSS PPP processing and the increase in magnitude of the pseudorange and carrier-phase biases in both GPS + GLONASS and GLONASS-only PPP solutions. The correlation is due to mixed receiver and antenna hardware as well as firmware versions. Unlike GPS, GLONASS observations are affected by the Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) satellite signal structure, which introduces inter-frequency channel biases and other system biases. The GLONASS pseudorange inter-channel frequency biases show a strong correlation with different receiver types, firmware versions and antenna types. This research estimated the GLONASS pseudorange inter-frequency channel biases using 350 IGS stations, based on 32 receiver types and 4 antenna types over a period of one week. An improvement of 19% was observed after calibrating for the pseudorange ICBs, in the horizontal components respectively, considering 20 minutes convergence period

The “Made in USA poultry label” and consumer choice in Ghana

Market survey data from Ghana was used to gain understanding of consumers’ attitudes, preferences for foreign food products, and the role product country of origin plays in the demand for poultry. Intention to purchase poultry from the US was anchored on product packaging, quality, expiry date and country of origin.Country of origin, consumer preference, poultry demand, Ghana, US exports., Agribusiness, Industrial Organization, Marketing, Q13, Q17,

Assessing Rural Women Food Producers Capacity to Adopt Modern ICTs – A case Study of the Mfantsiman District of Ghana

The traditional way of information dissemination has been through people; the modern way is through the electronic media – improved information and communication technologies (ICTs). For effectiveness, modern ICTs should help women to improve on their income generating capacity. Issues of level of resource capacity of women, information needed, and current sources of such information become important. This study sought to investigate the issues above with respect to rural women food producers in the Mfantsiman District of Ghana. Simple descriptive statistics and econometric models were employed in the data analysis of 91 randomly selected respondents. The results of the study showed that: In general, the women food producers were aged, subsistence food crop farmers. They depended on the natural rainfall cycle and had inadequate funds, so they use traditional inputs for production and sell surpluses in the community. The most important agricultural information needed was on inputs, specifically, low cost in-kind or cash credit. Currently, the major information sources are relatives and other farmers in the locality, agricultural extension agents, the radio and television. This suggests that the women food producers have low resource capacity and this could limit the adoption of modern ICTs as a source of and media for information dissemination. Yet, the regression results show that the few (6) mobile phone users have a higher income generating capacity. In order to improve on capacity to use modern ICTs for increased access to other resources, women farmers’ should organize themselves into formidable groups so local institutions can assist easily.Adoption, Information and communication Technology, Ghana, Women, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Consumer/Household Economics, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Labor and Human Capital, Marketing, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

"Fufu" flour processing in Ghana: Costs, returns and institutional support expected to encourage young entrepreneurs

The introduction of "fufu" flour is an innovative business venture that young entrepreneurs should explore. However, the level of costs and returns as well as institutional support to sustain the industry is not well understood. This study was conducted to determine the profitability of "fufu" flour and the strength of the institutional framework. The criteria of Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Benefit-Cost Ratio (B-CR) were used for the investment analysis at 20 per cent discount rate. The results showed that the IRR was 57 per cent, and the NPV and BCR were positive. As the project appraisal indices show worthiness, it can be concluded that "fufu" flour processing is economically feasible. A fairly developed institutional framework already exists (policy, regulatory agencies, and input and output markets); this enabling environment needs to be strengthened

Factors that Influence Household Demand for Locally Produced Brown Rice in Ghana

Brown rice has a higher nutrient content than milled rice. This study determines the factors that influence the demand for local brown rice. The study achieves this by investigating the patterns of consumption of brown rice, attributes of the product that influence its consumption, factors that affect its consumption and the institutional support in the rice industry. Primary data on the attributes, factors and patterns of consumption of brown rice was obtained from respondents in the Volta and Greater Accra Regions using semi-structured questionnaire. Information on the functions of identified local institutions was obtained from the institutions. The data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, Tobit model and the Chi-square test. The results of the study showed that taste is the major attribute that influence people to consume brown rice. Brown  rice consumers are mostly those who have brown rice as a traditional diet. One of the attributes of brown rice that is keen as far as its consumption is concerned is its healthful benefits. The results of the Tobit regression model showed that the price of brown rice and the technical attributes of both brown rice and white rice (colour, taste, nutritional value, texture) and socioeconomic characteristics particularly (income) explain the share of brown rice in total rice consumption. Awareness creation of brown rice was found to be through friends and relatives. Acceptability ratio was found to be low.  The results obtained from the chi-square test indicate that the local institutions that were important in brown rice development were the University of Ghana Agric Research Station (UGARS), MoFA, GTZ, JICA, ACDI/VOCA, AgSSIP, FINATRADE, USAID, GAWU, MFCS Ltd., and FBOs. It is therefore recommended that the media should be used more in the awareness creation of brown rice. Advocacy groups should do more in order to sensitize people on the healthful benefits of brown rice. The research also showed that most of the service organizations perform their functions effectively and therefore the government should continue to partner the donor agencies to enhance cooperation among brown rice promoters. These institutions are to cooperate with each other in order to enhance their operations. The Local Governance institutions such as Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies should provide support to the Department of community development, cooperatives and advocacy groups to lift up the campaign. Keywords: brown rice, consumption pattern, nutritional content, demand, awareness creation, demand

Utilization of Information Communication Technology’s Components for Coordination of Marketing, Agricultural Commodities in Oyo State Nigeria

Base on the fact that ICT’s components are the fastest tools of disseminating information and Nigeria being an agrarian country that its utilization for marketing agricultural commodities (MAC) becomes pertinent. The study is a pilot project conducted in Oyo state because it is one of the food basket states in Nigeria. List of markets was the sampling frame work for the research; from where 8 markets were randomly selected. Sixty agricultural commodities marketers (ACM) were randomly selected from marketer’s list. Interview schedule was used to solicit for information from (ACM). Regression analysis was used to ascertain the level of contribution of each ICT’s components to MAC. Result revealed that mobile phone, radio, and television and automated teller machine awareness mean scores 3.5,3,4 .3. 3 and 2.5 respectively were higher than any other components put into consideration. Adoption rate of ICTs component for marketing agricultural commodities revealed that automated teller machine and mobile phone for marketing agricultural commodities adoption mean scores 2.5, and 2,8  were higher than any other ICT components However, very few 32.3 % 22.1% of the marketers made use of ICT components for recording of sales of farm commodities and saving money respectively. High cost of power and telephone services, poverty level of agricultural marketers and limited access to ICT components ranked first ,second and third respective as the constraints to marketing of agricultural commodities among other components Regression analysis results indicated that  mobile phone, radio, and automated money transferred machine are the most important ICT components in marketing of agricultural commodities. Despite the role of ICT’s in ACM the marketers have  not been able to make use of  facilities frequently  because of those constraints  identified  in this study  hence, a programme that will  provide solutions to those constrains    should be promoted. Keywords: Information, marketing, ICT components, agricultural commodity and utilizatio

Social Capital and Access to Credit by Farmer Based Organizations in the Karaga District of Northern Ghana

Farmer Based Organization (FBO) is one of the key support service actors in agricultural value chains in developing economies. The dimensions of the FBOs that constitute social capital and how they enhance access to credit are the concern of this study.  Information was collected from 210 FBO members and non-members in the Karaga district of Northern Ghana, where FBO activities and agricultural credit services have increased in the last decade. The analytical methods used include principal component analysis-PCA and logistic regression analysis (logit model). The major finding was that the dimensions of social capital such as homogeneity, network connection, level of trust, collective action and the respect for contract had positive significant effect on access to credit. Given the positive effect of the FBOs’ social capital on access to credit, it is recommended that FBO members should make conscious effort to strengthen their FBOs along the social capital dimensions. Officers of financial service organizations tasked to prime FBOs for agricultural credit programs should prime them based on these dimensions. Keywords: social capital dimensions, FBOs, access to credit, social network

Public Health in Colonial and Post-Colonial Ghana: Lesson-Drawing for The Twenty-First Century

Public health in twenty-first century Ghana is mired with several issues ranging from the inadequacy of public health facilities, improper settlement planning, insanitary conditions, and the inadequacy of laws and their implementation. This situation compared to the colonial era is a direct contradiction. Development in the pre-colonial era to the colonial era sought to make the prevention of diseases a priority in the colonial administration. This was begun with the establishment of the health branch in 1909 as a response to the bubonic plague that was fast spreading in the colony. From here public health policies and strategies were enacted to help the diseases prevention cause. Various public health boards, the medical research institute or the laboratory branch, the waste management department, the use of preventive medicine and maintenance of good settlement planning and sanitation were public health measures in the colonial era. This research seeks to analyse the public health system in the colonial era so as to draw basic lessons for twenty-first century Ghana. Archival data and other secondary sources are reviewed and analysed to help draw these lessons. Richard Rose’s lesson-drawing approach was used to draw the lessons