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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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PRECISE GEODETIC INFRASTRUCTURE

National Requirements for a Shared Resource

Committee on the National Requirements for Precision Geodetic Infrastructure

Committee on Seismology and Geodynamics

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Division on Earth and Life Studies

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
500 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Award No. NNX-07AT39G, the National Science Foundation under Award No. EAR-0634914, the Department of Interior–U.S. Geological Survey under Award No. 06HQGR0183, the Department of Defense–National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency under Award No. HM158207P0006, the Department of Defense–United States Naval Observatory under Award No. NNG07HS32P (through NASA), and the Department of Commerce – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Geodetic Survey under Award No. NA08NOS4000319. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations contained in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.

International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-15811-4

International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-15811-7

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Cover: Design by Francesca Moghari. Image courtesy of Sean Swenson, The National Center for Atmospheric Research. The image depicts the mean annual amplitude of terrestrial water storage for the period 2002-2010 derived from GRACE time-variable gravity field data.

Copyright 2010 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine


The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.


The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.


The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.


The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.


www.national-academies.org

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PRECISION GEODETIC INFRASTRUCTURE

J. BERNARD MINSTER (Chair),

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

ZUHEIR ALTAMIMI,

Institut Géographique National, Paris France

GEOFFREY BLEWITT,

University of Nevada, Reno

WILLIAM E. CARTER,

University of Florida, Gainesville

ANNY CAZENAVE,

Centre National d’Études Spatiales, Toulouse, France

HERB DRAGERT,

Natural Resources Canada, Sidney, British Columbia

THOMAS A. HERRING,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

KRISTINE M. LARSON,

University of Colorado, Boulder

JOHN C. RIES,

University of Texas at Austin

DAVID T. SANDWELL,

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

JOHN M. WAHR,

University of Colorado, Boulder

Liaison from the Committee on Seismology and Geodynamics

JAMES L. DAVIS,

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York

National Research Council Staff

DAVID A. FEARY, Study Director

LEA A. SHANLEY, Postdoctoral Fellow

NICHOLAS D. ROGERS, Financial and Research Associate

COURTNEY R. GIBBS, Program Associate

ERIC J. EDKIN, Senior Program Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
×

COMMITTEE ON SEISMOLOGY AND GEODYNAMICS

MICHAEL E. WYSESSION (Vice Chair),

Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

J. RAMON ARROWSMITH,

Arizona State University, Tempe

EMILY E. BRODSKY,

University of California, Santa Cruz

JAMES L. DAVIS,

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York

STUART P. NISHENKO,

Pacific Gas and Electric, San Francisco, California

PETER L. OLSON,

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

NANCY L. ROSS,

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg

CHARLOTTE A. ROWE,

Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico

DAVID T. SANDWELL,

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California

BRIAN W. STUMP,

Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

National Research Council Staff

DAVID A. FEARY, Study Director

NICHOLAS D. ROGERS, Financial and Research Associate

ERIC J. EDKIN, Senior Program Assistant

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
×

BOARD ON EARTH SCIENCES AND RESOURCES

CORALE L. BRIERLEY (Chair),

Brierley Consultancy, LLC, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

KEITH C. CLARKE,

University of California, Santa Barbara

DAVID J. COWEN,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

WILLIAM E. DIETRICH,

University of California, Berkeley

ROGER M. DOWNS,

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

JEFF DOZIER,

University of California, Santa Barbara

KATHERINE H. FREEMAN,

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park

WILLIAM L. GRAF,

University of South Carolina, Columbia

RUSSELL J. HEMLEY,

Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, D.C.

MURRAY W. HITZMAN,

Colorado School of Mines, Golden

EDWARD KAVAZANJIAN, JR.,

Arizona State University, Tempe

ROBERT B. McMASTER,

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

CLAUDIA INÉS MORA,

Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico

BRIJ M. MOUDGIL,

University of Florida, Gainesville

CLAYTON R. NICHOLS,

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (retired), Ocean Park, Washington

JOAQUIN RUIZ,

University of Arizona, Tucson

PETER M. SHEARER,

University of California, San Diego

REGINAL SPILLER,

Allied Energy, Texas

RUSSELL E. STANDS-OVER-BULL,

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Billings, Montana

TERRY C. WALLACE, JR.,

Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico

HERMAN B. ZIMMERMAN,

National Science Foundation (retired), Portland, Oregon

National Research Council Staff

ANTHONY R. de SOUZA, Director

ELIZABETH A. EIDE, Senior Program Officer

DAVID A. FEARY, Senior Program Officer

ANNE M. LINN, Senior Program Officer

SAMMANTHA L. MAGSINO, Program Officer

MARK D. LANGE, Associate Program Officer

LEA A. SHANLEY, Postdoctoral Fellow

JENNIFER T. ESTEP, Administrative and Financial Associate

NICHOLAS D. ROGERS, Financial and Research Associate

COURTNEY R. GIBBS, Program Associate

JASON R. ORTEGO, Research Associate

ERIC J. EDKIN, Senior Program Assistant

TONYA E. FONG YEE, Senior Program Assistant

Page viii Cite
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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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Preface

“Ubinam sum?”—where in the world am I?1 This question—albeit a rhetorical one—sums up a central issue dealt with in this report. Since the advent of the space age, we have seen remarkable improvements in positioning, navigation, and timing of approximately one order of magnitude each decade with no indication that this rate of progress is abating. So we now know how to answer that question better than ever. This is the object of precise global geodesy. But the underlying infrastructure is at risk and its fragility a matter of serious concern.

The committee was asked to describe and assess the range of benefits to the nation that are dependent on high-precision geodetic networks, review high-priority scientific objectives that are dependent on geodetic networks, describe the infrastructure requirements for achieving these objectives and benefits, assess the opportunities for technological innovation that will arise from renewed investment in geodetic infrastructure, and recommend a national plan for the implementation of a precision geodetic infrastructure.

The committee gathered information from the scientific literature, numerous and extensive briefings by federal, academic, non-profit, and industry researchers, in addition to previous studies and reports. What seemed to us at the beginning to be a rather straightforward task was revealed to be a surprisingly complex one. This is because there seems to be no end to the list of scientific problems, technical endeavors, and societal activities that depend directly or indirectly on the global precise geodetic infrastructure. It was especially difficult to avoid duplicating the discussion of the Global Geodetic Observing System in the very complete volume edited by Plag and Pearlman (2009). We have restricted our focus to what we define in the report as “precise geodesy,” that is, measuring the position of any point on the Earth with millimeter accuracy, variations in the length of the day to a few millionths of a second, the orientation of Earth’s rotation axis in space to few billionths of a degree, and changes in the Earth’s gravity to a few parts per billion.

1

 Adapted from Cicero’s exclamation in his Catiline orations: “Ubinam gentium sumus?”—Where on Earth are we? (Cic. Cat. 1, 9)

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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Our recommendations aim at maintaining and improving this capability, mitigating the risk of infrastructure degradation, and supporting a long-term sustainable national infrastructure capable of serving the full range of existing and future users.

The committee thanks the following individuals for making presentations and providing background material, figures, and other input: Greg Anderson, Yoaz Bar-Sever, Terry C. Bills, Yehuda Bock, Rich Brancato, Elbert “Joe” Friday, Tim Fuller-Rowell, Paul Gunderson, Philippe Hensel, Ken Johnston, Russ Kelz, Nancy King, John LaBrecque, Deborah Lawrence, William Leith, Chopo Ma, Zsolt Nagy, Steve Nerem, Ericos Pavlis, Nikolaos Pavlis, Jim Ray, Chris Rocken, Anthony Russo, Jim Slater, Dru Smith, Lucia Tsasoussi, Shimon Wdowinski, Neil Weston, Jim Whitcomb, and Bobby Williams.

The committee also thanks the staff of the National Research Council for their patient support of this project. In particular Courtney Gibbs and Nicholas Rogers provided essential logistics and computer help throughout. As study director, David Feary brought together the funding, secured the critical participation of agency representatives to the four meetings of the committee, and helped the committee assemble most of the raw material for this report. The committee is particularly grateful to NRC Post-doctoral Fellow Lea Shanley for her skillful and enthusiastic coordination of final efforts to bring this study to a successful conclusion.


J. Bernard Minster

Chair

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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Acknowledgments

This report was greatly enhanced by input from the many participants at the public committee meetings as well as from other contributors—Greg Anderson, Yoaz Bar-Sever, Yehuda Bock, Rich Brancato, Elbert “Joe” Friday, Tim Fuller-Rowell, Paul Gunderson, Philippe Hensel, Ken Johnston, Russ Kelz, Nancy King, John LaBrecque, Deborah Lawrence, William Leith, Chopo Ma, Steve Nerem, Ericos Pavlis, Nikolaos Pavlis, Jim Ray, Chris Rocken, Anthony Russo, Jim Slater, Dru Smith, Lucia Tsasoussi, Shimon Wdowinski, Neil Weston, Jim Whitcomb, and Bobby Williams. The presentations and the ensuing discussions helped set the stage for the committee’s fruitful discussions in the sessions that followed.

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC’s Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:

Véronique Dehant, Royal Observatory Belgium, Brussels

Timothy Dixon, University of Miami, Florida

Goran Ekstrom, Columbia University, New York

Gary Johnston, Geoscience Australia, Canberra

Rowena Lohman, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

D. David Moyer, University of Wisconsin-Madison

R. Steven Nerem, University of Colorado, Boulder

Michael Pearlman, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Michael Sideris, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

David Szymanski, Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts

Paul Tregoning, Australian National University, Canberra

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2010. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure: National Requirements for a Shared Resource. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12954.
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Although the reviewers listed above provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Michael Goodchild, University of California, Santa Barbara. Appointed by the NRC, he was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.

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Geodesy is the science of accurately measuring and understanding three fundamental properties of Earth: its geometric shape, its orientation in space, and its gravity field, as well as the changes of these properties with time. Over the past half century, the United States, in cooperation with international partners, has led the development of geodetic techniques and instrumentation. Geodetic observing systems provide a significant benefit to society in a wide array of military, research, civil, and commercial areas, including sea level change monitoring, autonomous navigation, tighter low flying routes for strategic aircraft, precision agriculture, civil surveying, earthquake monitoring, forest structural mapping and biomass estimation, and improved floodplain mapping.

Recognizing the growing reliance of a wide range of scientific and societal endeavors on infrastructure for precise geodesy, and recognizing geodetic infrastructure as a shared national resource, this book provides an independent assessment of the benefits provided by geodetic observations and networks, as well as a plan for the future development and support of the infrastructure needed to meet the demand for increasingly greater precision. Precise Geodetic Infrastructure makes a series of focused recommendations for upgrading and improving specific elements of the infrastructure, for enhancing the role of the United States in international geodetic services, for evaluating the requirements for a geodetic workforce for the coming decades, and for providing national coordination and advocacy for the various agencies and organizations that contribute to the geodetic infrastructure.

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