RTK TIDES for HYPACK 2013

by Pat Sanders

In an attempt to make it easier to understand and configure the RTK TIDE function in
HYPACK®, we have made modifications to the GEODETIC PARAMETERS program and the
display of the GPS device driver. Our support group had talked with many customers who
had difficulty explaining exactly how they had set up the program to compute RTK TIDES.

SIMPLE EXAMPLE
FIGURE 1. Simple Example—RTK Tide Measurements, No Dynamic Draft:

Figure 1 has actual values for a test case run in Connecticut. (One of the nice changes we
made to the GPS driver is that it now displays all of the components used in computing the
RTK TIDE in the same units as the user’s survey projection. Previously, you could have
Ellipsoid Height in meters, Antenna Height in feet, etc.)
The Height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Chart Datum can be computed from N (Height
of Geoid Above WGS-84 Ellipsoid) and K (Height of Geoid Above Chart Datum). K – N gives
the height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Chart Datum. In our case it is 1.93’ - (-99.07’)
= 101.00’

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The Height of the WGS-84 Ellispoid Above the Water Level is obtained by adjusting A (the
height of the GPS Antenna Above WGS-84 Ellipsoid) by the value of H (the Height of the
GPS Antenna Above the Static Waterline. Since vertical offsets are positive downward, we
can compute the height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Static Waterline by using -H - A
(-(-4.00) - (- 96.07)) = 100.07’.
The HYPACK® Tide Correction is negative when the water level is above the chart datum
and positive when the water level is below the chart datum. We can compute the HYPACK®
Tide Correction by taking the Height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Static Waterline
(100.07’) and subtracting the Height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Chart Datum
(101.00’). This gives a HYPACK® Tide Correction of -0.93.
So, the entire formula can be expressed as:
T = -H – A – ( K – N)
T = -H – A – K + N
T = -(-4.00) –(-96.07) – 1.93 + (-99.07) = -0.93
If you look at the real values captured from the GPS.DLL, you see the following:
FIGURE 2. GPS Device Window Shows Values Used to Computer RTK Tide Corrections

EXAMPLE WITH DYNAMIC DRAFT

Let’s use the same example, but say the vessel undergoes a little dynamic draft and sinks
into the water column by 0.50’ (D = 0.50)

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 FIGURE 3. RTK Tide Measurements With Dynamic Draft

The formula for the Height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Chart Datum remains
unchanged:
(= K – N) = 1.93 – (-99.07) = 101.00’
The formula for the Height of the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Water Level now has to be
modified to include the Dynamic Draft. It will now equal -H -A - D = (-(-4.00) – (-96.07) –
0.50) = 99.57’
The difference between the two, is the HYPACK® Tide Correction. 99.57’ – 101.00’ = -1.43’
So, to include the Dynamic Draft, our formula is updated to:
T = -H – A – K + N - D
When I start up SURVEY, the resulting Tide Correction is correct:

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 FIGURE 4. GPS Device Window Shows a Tide Correction of 1.43;

GEODETIC PARAMETERS IN HYPACK® 2013

In order to clarify the RTK TIDE configuration, Mircea Neacsu has modified the GEODETIC
PARAMETERS section that relates to how RTK TIDES are configured.
FIGURE 5. RTK Tide Calculation Parameters in GEODETIC PARAMETERS

If you aren’t using RTK TIDES, just leave the ‘Not Using RTK Tide’ option checked. If you
are using RTK TIDES, there are five methods from which you can select:
• (K – N) from KTD File
• Create a KTD file with the WGS-84 Ellipsoid Above the Chart Datum (K – N)
values. This is consistent with implementations in HYPACK® 2012 and earlier.
• Enter the name of the KTD file in GEODETIC PARAMETERS. (The VDatum Zone
label changes to KTD File when this method is selected.) This way, you know exactly

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 what KTD file is being used when there are multiple KTD files in a project. In previous
versions, you had to enable the KTD file from the Project Files listing in the HYPACK®
SHELL. This will no longer be the case!
• N from Geoid Model, K from KTD File
• Select a Geoid Model file.
• Create and enter a KTD file that contains the height of the Geoid above the
Chart Datum (K). The routine will get N from the Geoid file and K from the KTD file.
This is consistent with the HYPACK® 2012 release and previous versions.
• N from Geoid Model, K from VDatum.
• Specify a 2009 USA Geoid file. The routine will take N from this file.
• Specify the VDatum Zone and Chart Datum. The routine will obtain K from this
selection and compute K – N.
NOAA has just released a 2012 version of their Geoid Model. You should then use the
2012 version of VDATUM files. We’re going to try to distribute both sets to US users in
HYPACK® 2013.

Important:Use the latest version of VDatum with the Geoid 2012 model or use the previ-
ous version of VDatum with the Geoid 2009 model. Don’t mix and match.

• N from Geoid Model, K from Height of Geoid Above Chart Datum.

• Enter a fixed ‘K’ value as the Height of Geoid Above Chart Datum in the
GEODETIC PARAMETERS (lower right text box).
• N from the selected Geoid Model.
• (K – N) from Height of Height of Ellipsoid Above Chart Datum.
After selecting this method, the text ‘Height of Geoid Above Chart Datum’ will convert to
‘Height of Ellipsoid Above Chart Datum’.
• Enter a fixed K – N value in the Height of Ellipsoid Above Chart Datum text box.

Important: If you are on a metric grid, enter all values in your KTD file or the Height of Geoid/
Ellipsoid Above Chart Datum in meters. If you are on a foot grid, enter all the values
in feet.

GPS.DLL
There is no change in the configuration of the GPS.DLL. The only thing that has changed is
the GPS.DLL device window in SURVEY.

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 FIGURE 6. Sample GPS Device Window

All elements used to compute RTK TIDE are now displayed in the bottom of the window (in
the red box). They are also displayed in the appropriate units (all metric or all feet, depending
on your survey grid parameters).
Hopefully, we will be able to make all of these changes backward-compatible, so your
existing set-ups will need little or no modifications.