The realization and maintenance of a Galileo Terrestrial Reference Frame (GTRF) is one of the components contributing to the system performance of Europes Global Navigation Satellite System Galileo. The GTRF shall be compatible with the latest International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) within a precision level of 3 cm (2 sigma). To achieve this, a Galileo Geodetic Service Provider (GGSP) has been defined by the project already in the early stages of the programme.

The main objective of this project is to evaluate systematically the long-term impact of the combination of ground and space-based observations of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) on station coordinates, satellite orbits, and the terrestrial reference frame.

In the future, ultra-stable clocks will be available on the ground and in space, as well as high-precision time and frequency transmission systems. The goal of this project is to integrate data from these new tools into GNSS geodetic data analysis and to analyse their potential for computing global geodetic precision products derived from GNSS.

The IGS as a service of the IAG provides GNSS data and products with highest quality. GFZ contributes to this service by operating about 30 globally distributed Multi-GNSS reference stations and hosting one Analysis Centre (AC).

The GEMOP consortium monitors the operational capabilities of Galileo and EGNOS from the user perspective. The GFZ contribution includes dedicated Galileo and EGNOS data provided from our global station network and an SLR-based assessment of the Galileo orbits via dedicated laser-ranging campaigns.

GFZ operates five Galileo Experimental Reference Stations (GESS) on behalf of GMV and the European Space Agency (ESA). The GESS network is specifically designed to independently monitor, validate, and assess the performance and service quality of the Galileo navigation system.

TectoVision is building an end-to-end workflow that transforms raw GNSS observations into deep geophysical insight, capturing transient tectonic deformation across timescales from minutes to decades. Within this effort, the GFZ contributes both advanced GNSS infrastructure and targeted scientific analyses to push the limits of high-resolution deformation monitoring.

Real-time positioning and navigation are used on an everyday basis by most people in devices such as smartphones, cars, and sports watches. This project is focused on improving such positioning solutions to achieve geodetic precision on the (sub-)centimeter level.

The ionosphere is a highly variable medium that can hardly be captured with ground stations. Satellites can provide valuable measurements, especially for higher altitudes. In this project we analyze GNSS measurements recorded on board the satellites to improve ionospheric models.

For ESA’s Genesis Mission, launch is planned for 2028. The co-location on board the satellite will enable a combination of the four space geodetic techniques—VLBI, SLR, GNSS, and DORIS—through the consistent determination of orbit parameters. In our project GENESIS-D we establish a consortium of leading geodetic organizations in Germany with the aim of jointly and comprehensively carrying out preparatory work for innovative geodesy with Genesis.

The project aims to support the European Space Agency’s (ESA) analysis capabilities of processing Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) solutions.

The project supports the highly precise alignment of the Gaia satellite mission data products through VLBI data analysis by delivering a state-of-the-art and consistent realization of ICRF based on VLBI data of IVS (International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry) during the entire duration of the mission.

The project assesses the benefits of Next-generation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (NextGNSS) constellations beyond current GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, or Beidou for various key geodetic objectives, all of them meeting the requirements defined by the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS).

The research project focuses on the impact of GNSS tropospheric gradients and their effective use for operational forecasting of severe weather.

AI4GNSS-R aims to deliver novel, high-quality geophysical data products and to refine existing physical models, thereby expanding GNSS-R’s potential for global atmosphere and Earth’s surface monitoring.

GNOSAR project uses signals from global navigation satellites after they bounce off Earth’s surface to monitor ocean and atmospheric conditions such as sea-surface roughness, wave height, wind speed and rainfall over the ocean. GNOSAR offers a cost-effective remote-sensing pathway that complements traditional remote sensing methods, enabling frequent and robust observations even in cloudy or stormy conditions for improved ocean and weather monitoring.

The Warm‑Green project uses GNSS Reflectometry analysing navigation-satellite signals reflected off Earth to detect water stress in vegetation and to improve our understanding of plant hydraulics under drought conditions.

The ArGID project explores ice observations gathered by a GNSS reflectometry setup, run by GFZ, during a dedicated ship expedition, lead by the Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI). The expedition of the Norwegian research vessel “R/V Lance” collects data of ocean and sea ice properties in Fram Strait, at the major link between the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean.

As part of the GNSS-RSS activities, the innovative application of GNSS remote sensing measurements aboard small satellites is being investigated. Such measurements enable a wide range of geophysical applications, particularly in climate research and for the detection and prediction of natural hazards.