Low-Cost BDS Reflectometry for Real-Time Water Surface Retrieval

The official launch of the Chinese BeiDou Navigation Satellite System with global coverage (BDS-3) presents significant opportunities for various applications, including precision agriculture and autonomous driving, among others. With its spatial hybrid space constellation comprising geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), inclined (IGSO), medium (MEO) satellites, BDS can significantly contribute to GNSS remote sensing applications that require real-time, precise water surface height measurements high temporal resolution, such as in tidal monitoring. In this paper, we propose a carrier-phase-based method Reflectometry (BDS-R) precisely retrieve real-time height. Firstly, BDS-R altimetry is introduced, along detailed explanation data processing procedures. Secondly, quality control tailored characteristics low-cost devices developed. Thirdly, land experiment conducted evaluate analyze specific contribution constellation. Finally, validates monitoring capabilities BDS-R. results indicate achieve centimeter-level level resolution 1 s lakefront environments. performance be improved by constellation, particularly IGSOs. It concluded has great potential promoting ground-based applications.