UNAVCO GPS Support to the National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs

RECOMMENDATIONS

Support:

1. Data Processing - UNAVCO feels that it is appropriate to add full data processing support to the services offered. (See section on data processing.) As much as possible, all data processing should be completed before the field team leaves McMurdo Station. When this is not practical, follow up support should be provided after return from the field. Geodetic data should be processed upon return from the field to provide coordinates for the next season's work.

2. Data Archiving - All project data should be copied into the UNAVCO Boulder archive in repository mode for safe storage and easy accessibility. All geodetic data should be fully archived, including meta-data.

3. 3. GPS Information - UNAVCO should act as the primary information clearinghouse for GPS support and information available to Polar investigators. Such information would include what support is available and information on how to access geodetic data.

4. 4. Laboratory Space Requirements - UNAVCO should continue to receive sufficient space in the Crary Science and Engineering Center (CSEC) to adequately support GPS operations. Minimum space requirements include a dedicated office, 150 square feet of receiving area space, GPS base station bench space, and equipment testing and repair bench space. The laboratory space, facilities, and support provided by ASA in CSEC Phase II during the first two UNAVCO field seasons has been excellent.

5. 5. Navigational GPS - UNAVCO should be involved in the development of a differential GPS navigation system for the McMurdo region. Such a system, if properly configured, would also provide scientifically valuable GPS data for field party use.

6. 6. Unattended GPS Site Development - Preliminary discussions have indicated a potential future demand for unattended, easily deployable, continuously operating GPS sites for use in remote locations. UNAVCO has substantial experience developing such sites for other projects, and should be directly involved in such developments for Polar applications.

1. Optical Disk Drive - A dedicated optical disk drive should be purchased to support in-field data management.

2. Radio Modems - More powerful radio modem transceivers should be purchased to realize the full capability to the RTK system.

3. Handheld GPS Receivers - Handheld GPS receivers with a data averaging option may provide a simple, low cost alternative to differential GPS for users interested in meter level accuracy. The purchase of one or two such receivers may be of value. (A recent U.S. policy change is likely to further improve the GPS signal accuracy for general GPS use, although this change may still be several years off.)

Last modified Monday, 26-Nov-2007 22:31:07 UTC

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