Wisconsin Height Modernization Program (WI-HMP)

1
Wisconsin Height Modernization Program (WI-HMP)

• Improving the Vertical Component of the Geodetic
  Network
• Colorado Height Modernization Forum
• 1 December 2006
• Paul J. Hartzheim, P.E.

2
WI-HMP Early Development

• Wisconsin Height Modernization Program (WI-HMP)
  was started by WisDOT in 1998 to improve the
  vertical component of Geodetic Control in
  Wisconsin
• As part of the growing development of WI-HMP, a
  Wide Area Global Positioning System (GPS)
  Real-Time Kinematic Network is being established.

3
Height Modernization Objectives

• Eliminate inconsistencies between horizontal and
  vertical control data and supplemental control
  where marks have been destroyed or are deemed
  unusable
• Utilize GPS technology as a cost effective
  positioning tool (achieve 2-cm positional
  accuracy)
• Decrease the cost of surveying required for
  transportation related projects
• Provide a much more accurate vertical database to
  a wide variety of data users throughout the state
• Complete initial efforts by 2011

4
Example of WI-HMP BenefitState Agency

• WisDOT compared a static GPS survey and
  conventional leveling (before WI-HMP) verses a
  RTK GPS survey (after WI-HMP) for the
  establishment of photogrammetric targets for a
  highway improvement project
• Horizontal and Vertical (elevations) positions
  were all within 2 cm (.07)
• Static GPS w/Leveling 280 staff hours
• RTK GPS 30 staff hours
• WI-HMP with RTK provided over a 91 time savings!

5
Example of WI-HMP BenefitCounty Agency

• Digital Orthophotography field survey for
  accuracy check
• A survey was needed by a County to verify 10
  horizontal and vertical positions derived from
  digital orthos in one 36 square mile township
• It was estimated (from past projects) to take 24
  hours to perform these checks using conventional
  (static GPS, total station, and leveling)
  procedures before WI-HMP
• With WI-HMP in place, RTK GPS procedures were
  utilized to perform these checks in just 4 hours
• WI-HMP with RTK provided 61 time savings!

6
Funding and Management

• Funding
• State Transportation Funds
• FHWA State Planning Research Funds
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  (NOAA) - Federal Congressional Earmark Funds
• Resource Structure
• DOT Program Manager
• Three Geodetic Specialists (all Project
  positions)
• Two Limited Term Employees
• Up to 32 consultant staff personnel

7
Height Modernization Layout
HARN station Primary Base Network Secondary
Base Network Local Base Network
Existing NGS Level line Decimated NGS Level
line New WI-HMP Level line
8
WI-HMP Phases
9
Status of WI-HMP

• Phases 1, 2, 3, and 4 Fully Completed (Project
  Data Available on NGS Web)
• Phase 5 Nearly Completed (Monuments w/ Posts
  Installed Survey Complete GPS Data Available on
  NGS Web Awaiting Publication of Leveling Data by
  NGS)
• Phase 6A Underway (Monuments w/Posts Installed
  Leveling Completed (Processing Underway) GPS
  Primary Survey of Field Observations Completed
  (Processing Underway) Secondary and Local GPS
  Survey of Field Observations Underway since
  August 2006 Scheduled Publication in 2007)
• Phase 6B Survey Planned in 2007
• Phase 7A Monuments w/Posts Installed
  Descriptions for Marks Completed Survey Planned
  in 2007

10
Status of WI-HMP

• Phase 7B Monuments Installed Witness Posts
  Installation Underway since August 2006
• Phase 7C Reconnaissance Completed
• Phase 8 Reconnaissance of Existing Bench Marks
  Completed
• Statewide Wisconsin Continuous Operating
  Reference Network (WI-CORS-NET) Compiling
  existing stand alone base stations developing
  planning maps for installation of CORS
  researching other established CORS networks
  completed pilot test project to determine spacing
  requirement of CORS and accuracies

11
WI-HMP Mark Maintenance
GPS Stations Orange 4x4 Plastic Guard Posts

• Installed 3 witness posts around each monument
• Established 866 number to report endangered,
  damaged, or destroyed monuments
• Created the Preservation of Geodetic Survey
  Stations Committee

Bench Marks White T Plastic Witness Posts
12
Benefits of Wide Area RTK Network
(Implementation of Technology Advancement to
Height Modernization)

• Eliminates the need and cost for another GPS
  receiver which acts as a base
• Eliminates the resource time associated with
  equipment setup at the base site
• Greatly enhances consistency of coordinate
  determination
• Eliminates the need for permanent monumentation
  on a local level
• Reliability and redundancy is ensured

Hence, WIsconsin Continuously Operating Reference
Stations NETwork (WI-CORS-NET) is Being
Implemented
13
Concept of Wide Area RTK Network

• Utilizes network RTK solutions to provide high
  accuracy GPS positioning over wide areas
• At least four GPS reference stations are needed
• Users connect into system using wireless
  connection
• Software acknowledges the users field position
  and allows them to operate as though there is a
  reference station next to the rover
• Software uses reference stations to calculate
  virtual reference station position for the rover

14
Development of Pilot Projectfor WI-CORS-NET

• Goal is to determine spacing requirement of
  permanent GPS base stations while achieving 2-cm
  three-dimensional positioning accuracy standard
• Pilot network consisted of two permanent sites
  (Franklin and Watertown) and two temporary sites
  (Germantown and Palmyra)
• Equipment utilized on the project included a
  Trimble GNSS R8 receiver for the rover and
  Trimble NetR5 receivers for the bases
• Pilot project performed with the cooperation and
  assistance from Seiler Instruments

15
WI-CORS-NET Pilot Project Configuration
16
Construction of Marshfield CORS(Concrete Pillar)
17
Construction of Marshfield CORS(Concrete Pillar)
18
Construction of Marshfield CORS(Concrete Pillar)
19
Construction of Marshfield CORS(Concrete Pillar)
20
Construction of Marshfield CORS(Concrete Pillar)
21
Concrete Pillar Issues

• Remove 1 ½ PVC conduit and place outside
  monument
• Redesign antenna mount utilizing stainless steel
  shaft

22
Palmyra CORS(Building Mount)
23
Palmyra CORS(Building Mount)
24
Remote Locations of CORS(Alternative Power and
Internet Connections)
USGS Installation - 1999
Hayden Valley instrument enclosure, solar panels,
communications antenna, and battery enclosure.
Monument is barely visible in the distance, near
bottom of channel midway between worker and
instrument enclosure (shoulder level, directly
behind partly buried battery enclosure).
25
Coordinate Determination of Pilot CORS

• Need to have temporary Pilot CORS on same datum
  and adjustment as WI-HMP, i.e., NAD 83 (1997.0)
• GPS survey was performed to tie HARN and WI-HMP
  Primary Base Stations to temporary Pilot CORS
  sites
• Variety of problems with coordinate determination
• Using correct datum and adjustment is vital to
  accurate testing

26
WI-CORS-NET Pilot Project AreaWI-HMP Marks
27
Results of Pilot Project Testing

• Utilized Trimble GNSS R8 receiver with Survey
  Controller
• Majority of area tested utilized Verizon for
  communication link, remaining area used Cingular
  as communication provider
• 10 second observations collected at each mark
• Results indicate 2 cm accuracy standard in
  horizontal and vertical (orthometric height)
  components are achievable on a reliable basis

28
Sample of Results
29
Development of WI-CORS-NET(Funding)

• Received approval on extension and budget
  revision for FFY05 NOAA Earmark Grant
• Approximately 300,000 would be allocated towards
  funding the establishment of nearly 24
  WI-CORS-NET sites
• Grant expires on 31 May 2007
• Plan is to revise FFY06 NOAA Earmark Grant to
  allow funding for completion of initial
  installation and more in later 2007

30
Development of WI-CORS-NET(Technical)

• Initial plan is to establish 25 permanent CORS
  throughout the eastern half of Wisconsin
• Permanent sites would have concrete pillar design
• Plan is to incorporate existing single base
  station receivers through possible upgrade
  replacement
• Reconnaissance already underway for location of
  monuments
• GPS hardware and software would be acquired
  through bid process
• Determination needs to be made on distribution of
  licenses
• Determination needs to be made on the
  availability of communication services for
  transmitting data

31
WI-CORS-NETPhase 1 Preliminary Design
32
WI-CORS-NETPhase 1 Preliminary Design
33
WI-CORS-NETPhase 1 Preliminary Design
34
Development of WI-CORS-NET(Management)

• Coordination and management on the development
  and implementation of WI-CORS-NET by WisDOT
• Assistance being solicited from the stakeholders
  (our Regions, public entities, and consultants)
• Master information list containing POCs, current
  CORS sites, etc. compiled and updated frequently
• Development of WI-CORS-NET status report is
  on-going
• Cooperative agreement finalized, to be
  distributed to Partners

35
Tentative Implementation Timeline
36
Questions/Comments?