For the Instructor
This material supports the High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS GETSI Module. If you would like your students to have access to this material, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing GETSI teaching materials.Student Materials
Welcome Students!
- Design and conduct static and/or kinematic GPS/GNSS surveys to address a geologic research question.
- Apply the findings of GPS/GNSS surveys to issues important to society.
- Justify why different high-precision positioning techniques are appropriate in different situations.
Your instructor may choose to use all the units or just select a subset based on time or available field sites. In some courses, the prepared data sets collected by others will be used instead of actual field surveying.
Unit 1: GPS/GNSS Fundamentals
In the introductory unit, you will learn the basics of designing and conducting a GNSS survey. GNSS systems work through a constellation of satellites that emit time-encoded signals, which travel through space, are detected by antennas, and transmitted to user-controlled receivers. GNSS receivers simultaneously collect signals from multiple satellites, calculate distances between the satellite and the antenna, which results in a three-dimensional position of the antenna in space. With careful execution, these positions can be used to measure an object with extremely high accuracy and precision. These positions can then be used to measure a variety of processes, which will be visited in later units.
- Unit 1 Accuracy-Precision-Error Student Exercise PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 434kB Apr23 18)
- A short field activity that demonstrates application of accuracy, precision, and error to GNSS positioning using multiple grades of positioning instruments
- Unit 1 Concept Sketch Student Assessment PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 392kB Apr9 18)
- Assessment of student understanding of the basics of a GNSS system through a diagrammatic illustration
- EarthScope GPS/GNSS Campaign Handbook PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 1.1MB Oct6 23)
- A primer for design, set up, and troubleshooting of a GNSS station and survey. This is given to students in the introduction so that they can understand the depth of the material, take notes as necessary, and reference it when necessary.
Unit 2: Kinematic GPS/GNSS Methods
In this unit, you will learn the specifics of kinematic GNSS surveys. Kinematic surveys utilize two separate GNSS antennas and receivers, which simultaneously collect positions to correct or reduce many of the errors in the satellite signal. These corrections can be applied either in real-time (RTK) or in post-processing (PPK), but both systems allow you to rapidly collect many positions over a short time, while maintaining a high accuracy of +/- 2 cm or less. Additionally, RTK systems provide many assurances in time-critical missions, such as real-time navigation and position quality assurance. You will learn how to utilize kinematic surveys and justify whether a kinematic system is appropriate for a given application. Then you will have the opportunity to use what you have learned in your own survey, an introduction to the applied surveys in Units 2.1 and 2.2.
- Kinematic GPS/GNSS Survey Methods Manual PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 5.3MB May18 21)
- Student reading: guide for setting up, executing, and processing data for a kinematic survey
- Unit 2 Introductory Kinematic Survey Student Exercise PDF (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 13.8MB Oct6 23)
- Summative assessment: integrated field survey, assignment, and assessment. Checks for student comprehension of kinematic system principles before moving to the applied uses in Unit 2.1 and 2.2.
- Field Notebook Example (Acrobat (PDF) 1.4MB Dec2 16)
- Example field book layout suggested for students while taking notes for a GNSS survey.
Unit 2.1: Measuring Topography with Kinematic GPS/GNSS
In this unit, you will use your knowledge of kinematic surveys to design, conduct, and analyze results from a survey of your design. You will be tasked with recreating a topographic or other surface that serves to benefit a research question. This could include mapping a hillslope, the profile of a riverbed, terraces along a fault scarp, etc. You will learn to consider how sampling design will best benefit your research question and properly capture the surface you want to represent. You will then execute your survey and process the GNSS data. You will then import positions and turn them into an interpolated surface, a three-dimensional model of the object you collected. You will then reflect on the learning process, justify the methods that you used, and consider how you could improve this or other projects in the future.
- Unit 2.1 Student Reading: Creating Topographic Surfaces from Measured Points PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 541kB Apr8 18)
- Student reading: guide for creating topographic surfaces from kinematic GNSS data
- Unit 2.1 Student Exercise: Creating Topographic Surfaces in ArcMap PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 227kB Aug23 23)
- Student exercise: students learn the basics of creating a 3D surface interpolated from GNSS point data. Covers several potential interpolation techniques.
- Unit 2.1 Summative Assignment: Measuring Topography with Kinematic GNSS PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 245kB Aug23 23)
- Summative assessment: students design and conduct a kinematic survey in order to create a topographic surface.
- Kinematic GPS/GNSS Survey Methods Manual PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 5.3MB May18 21)
- Guide for setting up, executing, and processing data in a kinematic survey
Unit 2.2: Kinematic GPS/GNSS Methods
In this unit, you will use your knowledge of kinematic surveys to design, conduct, and analyze results from a survey of your design. You will be tasked with measuring change in the position of an object(s) or topographic surface that serves to benefit a research question. Common applications of change detection include analyzing hazards such as landslides and volcanic inflation or tracking objects such as logjams moving downriver or rocks migrating down a slope. You will learn the principle behind change detection and some considerations for the accuracy and precision of these techniques. You will then execute your survey and process the GNSS data. You will then import positions, measure change between your objects of interest, and analyze the results. Afterward, you will reflect on what you have learned and how you can use these new skills to benefit projects in the future.
- Unit 2.2 Student Exercise: Calculating Change PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 1.7MB Apr18 18)
- Student exercise: students learn the basics of differencing two data sets of topographic surfaces (or point data) and analyze the precision of the resulting change.
- Unit 2.2 Summative Assignment: Change Detection with Kinematic GNSS PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 217kB Dec22 23)
- Summative assessment: students design and conduct a kinematic survey in order to detect topographic change.
- Kinematic GPS/GNSS Survey Methods Manual PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 5.3MB May18 21)
- Guide for setting up, executing, and processing data in a kinematic survey
Unit 3: Static GPS/GNSS Methods
In this unit, you will learn the specifics of static GNSS surveys. Static surveys use long observation times in temporary permanent installations to average positional observation and reduce error in measurements. Rapid static or campaign style deployments are used in measuring tectonic rates across mountain belts or in watching subsidence from aquifer withdrawal, or other applications where higher accuracy, but fewer points are needed. With longer occupations, such as in the Plate Boundary Observatory's permanent installations, movements as small as 1 mm/yr can be resolved and rates of tectonic motion can be observed. You will learn how to utilize rapid-static surveys and justify whether a static system is appropriate for a given application. Then you will have the opportunity to use what you have learned in your own survey, where you will expand upon a current data set with your own campaign.
- Unit 3 Introduction to GNSS Time Series - Borah Fault, Idaho PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 1.7MB Oct6 23)
- Student exercise: students gain familiarity with time-series of GNSS positions, learn to interpret signals and noise, and apply this interpretation to a scientific question.
- Unit 3 Introduction to Static GNSS Surveys Student Exercise PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 435kB Apr16 18)
- Student exercise: students complete an introductory static survey. Students get hands on time with equipment to become familiar with its methods before applying skills in the summative assessment.
- Unit 3 Summative Assignment Leveling Line Analysis with Static GNSS PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 222kB Oct6 23)
- Summative assessment: students design and conduct a GNSS survey which adds new data to a previous static occupation. Students then interpret their results in light of historical data.
- Static GPS/GNSS Survey Methods Manual PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 1.1MB Oct6 23)
- Guide for setting up, executing, and processing data a static survey
- Static GPS/GNSS Data Processing with OPUS Manual PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 563kB Apr8 18)
- Guide for post-processing static occupations with the online tool OPUS.