Radio Technical Commission for Marine Services (RTCM) standardised messages play an important
role in real time Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) applications such as navigation,
positioning, civil engineering, surveying, and cartographic or cadastral production. One of the latest
agreements on RTCM definitions contains the data fields for real time geodetic reference frame
transformation and orthometric heights computation by received geoid undulations via internet
protocol. These parameters can be generated dynamically by a GNSS data centre in a network of
reference stations, encapsulated in RTCM messages and broadcasted to the rover location so they
are centrally administered and the same frame transformations and geoid model are available to
every user in the field, obtaining results in a local reference frame in real time. This paper summarises
the functionality of the new RTCM 3?1 transformation messages, describes limitations and provides
ideas about the possible use for solving specific problems. Test field campaigns are used to
describe the real performance and usefulness of these new RTCM 3?1 messagesCapilla Roma, R.; Martín Furones, ÁE.; Anquela Julián, AB.; Berné Valero, JL. (2012). Frame transformation and geoid undulation transfer to GNSS real time positions through the new RTCM 3.1 transformation messages. Survey Review. 44(324):30-36. doi:10.1179/1752270611Y.0000000010S303644324Benciolini, B., Biagi, L., Crespi, M., Manzino, A. M., & Roggero, M. (2008). Reference frames for GNSS positioning services: Some problems and proposed solutions. Journal of Applied Geodesy, 2(1). doi:10.1515/jag.2008.006González-Matesanz, J., Dalda, A., & Malpica, J. A. (2006). A RANGE OF ED50-ETRS89 DATUM TRANSFORMATION MODELS TESTED ON THE SPANISH GEODETIC NETWORK. Survey Review, 38(302), 654-667. doi:10.1179/sre.2006.38.302.654Soler, T., & Marshall, J. (2003). A note on frame transformations with applications to geodetic datums. GPS Solutions, 7(2), 148-149. doi:10.1007/s10291-003-0063-
