PACIFIC ISLANDS APPLIED GEOSCIENCE COMMISSION
SPSLCMP IV Field Survey Visit
Republic of Marshall Islands
26th March to 6th April 2009
SOPAC Trip Report 469
Andrick Lal
Ocean & Islands Programme
INTRODUCTION
The South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project of Phase IV aims to help the
Pacific Island Countries understand the implications and scale of sea level and climate
changes. The duties of the “Senior Project Officer – Surveying” in this project concentrates
on the objectives stated below. But overall this project is established to: a.
Set up high-resolution monitoring stations in the South Pacific region to compute relative
motions of land and sea at each station based in each of the twelve countries.
b.
Carry out a geodetic survey program (Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys) to
measure movements of the crust at the other strategic sites in each country with respect
to the reference stations in collaboration with Geoscience Australia.
c.
Help identify changes to sea levels with reference to a similar network of stations in
Australia and elsewhere in the world, whether these changes are due to thermal
expansion of the ocean, contributions from the land ice or changing properties of water
from different ocean zones.
d.
Provide a measure of regional vertical controls and exchange information and data with
national, regional and international climate change centres in relation to the ongoing
international geodetic programs, which incorporate satellite altimetry and radio
astronomy.
OBJECTIVE
1.
To carry out the Precision Levelling Survey Program and the CGPS Monitoring Survey
as part of the geodetic levelling survey component of the South Pacific Sea Level &
Climate Monitoring Project using the Total Station and the Prism Pole in collaboration
with Mr Manoj Deo of Geoscience Australia.
2.
To monitor and identify changes to sea levels in the South Pacific that is due to thermal
expansion of the ocean, glaciations from the land ice or changing properties in the
continental plates between zones.
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[2]
LIST OF PEOPLE INVOLVED/CONSULTED
Field Survey Team Members
Andrick Lal (Ocean & Islands Programme – Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission)
Manoj Deo (Geodetic Operations – Geoscience Australia)
Republic of Marshall Islands
Mr Reginald White, Director – Weather Service Office (WSO), Majuro.
Mr Lee Jacklick, Assistant Director – Weather Service Office (WSO), Majuro.
Mr Hackney Wase (wasehackney@yahoo.com), Director – Surveys, Majuro.
Mr Rod Reimers, NAPA Auto Parts Manager, RRE, Majuro.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The South Pacific Sea Level & Climate
Monitoring Project commenced in Majuro,
Republic of Marshall Islands in 1993. The
project personnel from the Geoscience
Australia and South Pacific Applied
Geoscience Commission have successfully
completed the ninth precise differential
leveling survey of the deep benchmark array.
The last field survey was completed in
October 2007. The leveling run was made Mr Manoj Deo of Geoscience Australia carries out the Precision
from the SEAFRAME Station at the wharf to Levelling Monitoring Survey using Total Station in the auto parts
the deep benchmark at the National shop getting access (line of sight) to the fixed deep benchmark,
Telecommunications Authority building (NTA) MAR3 in Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands.
compound and then from the SEAFRAME Station at the wharf to RITA NTA compound
where the CGPS Station is located.
Along the levelling run, connections were made
to all the seven deep benchmarks. The
Precision Levelling Monitoring Survey (PLMS)
Program was completed in six (6) days. The
geodetic survey program was carried out
successfully. The four kilometre of survey array
with the EDM Height Traverse method was
carried out as part of the Geodetic Survey
Component 2 of the SPSLCMP; Precision
Levelling Survey using Leica TCA2003 Total
Station with Prism and Poles.
The
Mr Andrick Lal of SOPAC uncovers the fixed deep
benchmark, MAR3, which got covered with concrete
flooring and a building over it constructed in Majuro,
Republic of Marshall Islands.
MAR3
(fixed)
was
the
only
deep
benchmark that has an extension of an auto
parts building constructed on top and covered
by the concrete floor. Fortunately the deep
benchmark was not pulled out but through
relocation, the mark was found undisturbed and
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[3]
temporary benchmarks (holding points) were found from the previous survey. One deep
benchmark (MAR107) and eight temporary benchmarks along the survey array were also
installed.
The PLMS methods achieved the standard of accuracy and precision as per first order
geodetic levelling within the limits of 1√k.
As per field schedule survey visit, the survey team arrived in Majuro on the 27th March 2009.
The field survey visit concluded on the 3rd April 2009.
During the geodetic survey visit, maintenance to the CGPS Station such as computing (data
transfer to GA and internet links to the CGPS Station) and the reference mark monitoring
survey was also completed.
Itinerary
Time
Date
Activity Name – South Pacific Sea Level & Climate
Monitoring Project Phase IV (O.I.P 2.2.1)
ACTION
26/03/09
0600
0705
0740
0915
1115
1600
1950
2210
2230
- Checked in at the Nausori Airport.
- Left Suva for Nadi.
- Checked in at the Nadi Airport.
- Left Nadi for Brisbane.
- Arrived at the Brisbane Airport.
- Checked in at the Brisbane domestic terminal.
- Left Brisbane for Cairns.
- Arrived at the Cairns Airport.
- Checked in at the Cairns International Airport (Met with Manoj Deo of
Geoscience Australia).
OIP/AL
27/03/09
0010
0435
0520
- Left Cairns for Guam.
- Arrived at the Guam International Airport.
- Checked in at the Guam Airport for Majuro, Republic of Marshall Islands
(RMI).
- Left Guam for Majuro, (RMI).
- Arrived at the Majuro International Airport.
- Checked into Robert Reimers Hotel.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
- Picked up the rental vehicle from Elm Motors in Majuro.
- Met up with Mr Lee Jacklick from the Weather Service Office and picked
up the survey gear from their office in Laura.
- Carried out acquisition of the essentials (hand tools, drinking water and
spray can paint, premix concrete) for the survey visit.
- Assembled all the survey gear (put together the starves and struts;
prism poles and bi-poles; setting up survey gear).
- Installation of deep benchmark (MAR107 - 2.44 m of 13 mm diameter
stainless steel capped rod driven to refusal) in front of the RMI Court
House.
- Reconnaissance Survey
- Located all the temporary survey marks and deep benchmarks that
are part of the survey array (reference stations) for the Precision
Levelling Monitoring Surveys.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
0820
1910
2000
28/03/09
0900
0930
1030
1130
1400
1530
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[4]
Itinerary
Time
Date
29/03/09
0800
1000
1030
1120
1150
1415
1530
1630
1930
30/03/09
0700
0800
0845
0940
1105
1600
31/03/09
0700
0750
0815
0905
0950
1100
1330
1405
1430
1515
1645
1930
Activity Name – South Pacific Sea Level & Climate
Monitoring Project Phase IV (O.I.P 2.2.1)
ACTION
- Marking off the survey bays from the temporary benchmark MAR25 to
deep benchmark MAR51.
- Collimation test for the Total Station (TCA2003).
- Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Temporary benchmarks MAR25 to MAR104.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR104 to deep benchmark MAR50.
- Deep benchmark MAR50 to temporary benchmark MAR36.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR36 to MAR40.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR40 to MAR105.
- Temporary benchmark MAR105 to deep benchmark MAR51.
- Digital survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
- Marking off the survey bays from MAR51 to MAR52.
- Collimation Test for the Total Station (TCA2003).
- Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Deep benchmark MAR51 to Temporary benchmark MAR44.
- Temporary benchmark MAR44 to deep benchmark MAR52.
- Temporary benchmark MAR25 to deep benchmark Mar15.
- Digital Survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
- Marking off the survey bays from MAR25 to MAR54.
- Collimation Test for the Total Station (TCA2003).
- Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Temporary benchmarks MAR25 to MAR103.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR103 to MAR106.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR106 to MAR54.
- Digital survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
- Marking off the survey bays from MAR54 to MAR13; MAR54 to
MAR107; MAR54 to MAR31.
- Made arrangement with the Manager of the NAPA Auto parts to dig the
deep benchmark, MAR3 and explained them of the importance of the
survey mark in Majuro, Mr Rod Reimers was very helpful to get the
concrete floor cut open and the survey mark dug out for the SPSLCMP
Survey Team.
- Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Temporary benchmark MAR54 to deep benchmark MAR107.
- Temporary benchmark MAR54 to Tide Gauge benchmark MAR13.
- Tide Gauge benchmark MAR13 to Sensor benchmark MAR14.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR54 to MAR31.
- Digital Survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe.
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[5]
Itinerary
Time
Date
01/04/09
0700
0800
0820
1015
1110
1205
1515
1615
1710
1900
02/04/09
0800
0900
0930
1015
1145
1500
1645
03/04/09
0700
0745
0815
0930
1100
1200
1530
Activity Name – South Pacific Sea Level & Climate
Monitoring Project Phase IV (O.I.P 2.2.1)
ACTION
- Marking off the survey bays from MAR108 to MAR102.
- Collimation test for the Total Station (TCA2003).
- Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Temporary benchmarks MAR31 to MAR108.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR108 to MAR109.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR109 to MAR101.
- Temporary benchmark MAR101 to deep benchmark MAR100.
- Deep benchmark MAR100 to temporary benchmark MAR110.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR110 to MAR102.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR108 to Fixed deep benchmark, MAR3.
- Digital survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
- Marking off the survey bays from MAR102 to MAJUBM (CGPS Station).
- Collimation Test for the Total Station (TCA2003).
- Precision Levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Temporary benchmarks MAR102 to MAR111.
- Temporary benchmarks MAR111 to CGPS benchmark MAJUBM.
- Precision Re-levelling Monitoring Surveys using Total Station with Prism
and Poles: - Deep benchmark MAR100 to temporary benchmark MAR110.
- Digital Survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe.
- Precision Levelling Surveys using Total Station with Prism and Poles
from MAJUBM to the three reference marks, RM1, RM2 & RM3.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
- Collimation Test for the Total Station (TCA2003).
- Precision Levelling Surveys using Total Station with Prism and Poles
from MAJUBM to MAJU (CGPS).
- Reference Mark Surveys from the CGPS Pillar (MAJU) to the three
reference marks using the Total Station.
- Digital Survey data closure check and accuracy standards using Survey
Program; Levelling.exe (All the survey closed within the error of limits
1√k); all the field survey completed.
- Covered all the deep benchmarks.
- Packed up all the survey gear and freighted it off via DHL to SOPAC.
- Completed the locality diagram pages for the temporary benchmarks
(MAR104 to MAR111) and deep benchmark (MAR107).
OIP/AL
GA/MD
04/04/09
0830
1055
1720
- Checked in at the Majuro Airport, RMI.
- Left Majuro for Guam.
- Arrived at the Guam International Airport.
- Checked into Tamuning Plaza Hotel, Guam.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
05/04/09
1630
1835
2300
- Checked in at the Guam International Airport.
- Left Guam for Cairns, Australia.
- Arrived at the Cairns International Airport.
- Checked into Fig Tree Lodge, Cairns.
OIP/AL
GA/MD
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[6]
Itinerary
Time
Date
06/04/09
0400
0530
0900
1130
1700
1800
2015
2045
Activity Name – South Pacific Sea Level & Climate
Monitoring Project Phase IV (O.I.P 2.2.1)
- Checked in at the Cairns Domestic Airport.
- Left Cairns for Brisbane.
- Checked in at the Brisbane International Airport.
- Left Brisbane for Nadi.
- Arrived at the Nadi International Airport
- Checked into Nadi Domestic Lounge.
- Left Nadi for Suva.
- Arrived in Suva
ACTION
OIP/AL
Any Additional Notes / Comments:
Additional Notes and Comments
The survey report with all the survey computations, adjustments and results will be prepared
into survey technical reports (Reference Marks Survey and Levelling Survey Report)
Reference Documents
SOPAC Work Plan: - Ocean & Islands Task Activity 2.2.1
South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Monitoring Project Phase IV 2008 – 2009 Work plan.
Annexes:
Annex 1: Some photographic events
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
Action
AL/SOPAC
MD/GA
[7]
Deep benchmark (fixed) uncovered and found undisturbed under the concrete floor.
Deep benchmark (MAR107) installed in front of the Court House.
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[8]
New satellite dishes installed on the side the CGPS pillar.
Prism on a tripod setup very low to get good line of sight from RM2.
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]
[9]
Ladder used to access the CGPS station survey mark during the reference mark monitoring surveys.
The extension to the NAPA auto parts building where deep benchmark MAR3, is now in the building.
[SOPAC Trip Report 469 – Lal]