Project Title

UNAVCO high-precision GPS and ground-based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) support

Summary

Event Number:
T-295-M
NSF / EAR Award 1724794

Program Director:
Dr. Michael Jackson

ASC POC/Implementer:
John Rand / Jenny Cunningham

Principal Investigator(s)

Mr. Joseph R Pettit
joe.pettit@earthscope.org
UNAVCO Inc.

Project Web Site:
https://www.earthscope.org/

Location

Supporting Stations: McMurdo Station
Research Locations: McMurdo Station

Description

Earthscope GAGE (formerly UNAVCO) provides geodetic observations support and equipment. Survey-grade GPS, terrestrial laser scanners, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and power and communications systems for high-precision campaign surveying and continuous data collection are available. GAGE operates a network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations on Ross Island and in the Dry Valleys. Support infrastructure includes a real-time kinematic differential GPS broadcasting station covering McMurdo Sound, a Mount Erebus repeater for GPS data retrieval from the Transantarctic Mountains, and an Iridium satellite hub in Colorado. Support is also provided for Palmer Station’s GPS survey system. Operation and maintenance are provided for NASA's GNSS service stations MCM4 and PALM, POLENET (ANET), West Antarctic Ice Sheet Divide, South Pole GPS stations, and as-yet-unplanned support, as feasible.

Field Season Overview

Field team members will work out of McMurdo Station for much of the field season to provide technical and field engineering support to incoming grantees, as well as to manage the on-Ice UNAVCO equipment pool. UNAVCO staff will occasionally travel into the field as support requirements dictate. At least one member of the UNAVCO team will be attached to the G-079 ANET team this year, contingent on the availability of deep field operations this coming season. Helicopter time is requested to visit and provide maintenance and repairs to McMurdo area community GPS sites. The McMurdo team requests use of the MK4 (pickle) forklift for cargo movements.

Deploying Team Members