Rinex converter

Purpose and audience: Rinex converter solves the need to convert numeric values, time representations, and basic units within Rinex GNSS workflows. Target users include geodesists, surveyors, GNSS engineers, and GIS analysts who ingest Rinex data from different manufacturers or archives. It is used when harmonizing measurements (length, time, velocity), aligning time references (GPS time, UTC, leap seconds), or normalizing epoch representations across Rinex 2.x and 3.x. Core Logic & Features: The tool implements version-aware parsing, strict numeric validation, and deterministic results. Required features include: value (numeric), from_unit and to_unit (strings with known aliases), Rinex_version (2.x or 3.x), and precision. Optional/advanced features include: time_scale selection (GPS, UTC), leap-second awareness, locale-aware formatting, and handling of scientific notation. Advanced features enable batch-style conversions and chaining of multiple unit transforms in a single session. Supported conversions cover distance (meters, feet, kilometers), time deltas (seconds, days, hours), velocity (m/s, km/h, knots), and time representations (epoch in decimal year, GPS seconds). Output is a structured result: converted_value (numeric), unit (string), and formatting (precision, scientific or fixed). Algorithms & Calculations: Core formulas rely on SI base conversions; time scale logic includes conversion constants and leap-second corrections; epoch normalization uses Rinex epoch patterns. Error & Edge Cases: Invalid or unknown units, incompatible unit pairs, missing inputs, or unsupported Rinex version raise explicit errors; if leap-second data is unavailable, UTC alignment falls back to GPS time with a warning in logs. Industry/Region & Localization: Units follow SI norms; time scales reflect standard GNSS practices; decimal separators and thousand separators can adapt to locale. Assumptions & Exclusions: Input is numeric and tagged with a Rinex version; the tool does not parse full Rinex files, perform coordinate system transformations, or interpret sensor metadata beyond unit conversions.