gdcov2sinex: a Python conversion tool from GipsyX’s gdcov file to SINEX file

The Solution INdependent EXchange (SINEX) file format, an international standard for the exchange of information, is essential in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) processing strategies that integrate different software applications. GNSS data processing using Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) GipsyX software, which employs the Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technique, generates positions and covariance matrices in gdcov files, a GipsyX file format specific for storing this information. GipsyX software provides a tool, named mkDailySinex.py, to convert from gdcov file to SINEX file, but it is designed specifically for creating daily JPL SINEX files and does not function properly for non-JPL GipsyX users. I have developed a Python 3 program, named gdcov2sinex.py, which solves this problem, enabling any user to perform the SINEX conversion and, therefore, apply the processing strategies that integrate GipsyX with other software, such as GAMIT/GLOBK. The new python tool presented herein takes advantage of the capabilities of mkDailySinex.py and provides all its default options, but also expands the number of selectable options, which can be useful to the user. The source code, user manual, and a sample dataset of gdcov2sinex.py are provided as electronic supplementary material of this paper.