hide
Free keywords:
-
Abstract:
The GFZ VLBI working group develops, maintains and supports the VLBI data analysis software "PORT", the Potsdam Open Source Radio Interferometry Tool. PORT development commenced in August 2018 with the initial import of the existing code base into a "Git" version-controlled software repository. Following its antecedent software packages "VieVs" and "VieVS@GFZ", PORT is focused on the timely processing of VLBI sessions, as well as post-processing activities supporting the generation of celestial and terrestrial reference frames; notably, GFZ contributed to the most recent ITRF realization, the ITRF2020. Furthermore, PORT provides a framework for research and development projects and is part of the educational tool set used in training and promotion of young researchers. Within its activities as an IVS analysis centre, GFZ employs PORT to estimate Earth orientation parameters, radio source, VLBI station positions, and tropospheric parameters using standard least squares adjustment and, in future, Kalman filter techniques. A refined graphical interface allows the user to manually insert clock breaks and to flag outlier data points. Weighting of group/phase delays, amplitudes and position constraints can be applied to stations, radio sources and baselines on an individual basis. Results are displayed on screen, written to disk for later usage (e.g. as input to global solutions) and the corresponding normal equations are stored in PORT-specific and SINEX data formats. Current PORT development activities focus on both, consolidation of the legacy code base and revision of its design, code structure and implementation in order to improve robustness, modularity, readability, maintainability and facilitate innovation.
