Welcome and Opening Remarks

• Reverend Raki Tigarea – Lecturer, Pacific Theological College, Suva, Fiji.
• Dr. Andrew Jones – Director, Geoscience, Energy & Maritime Division, Pacific
  Community (SPC), Fiji.
• Mr. Malakai Finau – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources,
  Fiji.
• Ms. Meizyanne Hicks – Vice Chair, Pacific Geospatial Surveying Council.

Presentation 1.1

What is GNSS CORS and how does it work? – Andrick Lal, Geoscience, Energy & Maritime Division - Pacific Community
GNSS CORS is a station with a defined position that uses satellite technology to derive accurate positions for spatial, agriculture, construction, mining, scientific, maritime industries etc. One must have a very reliable internet communications for access to the GNSS CORS.

[Presentation]

Presentation 1.2

Establishment of GNSS CORS – Paserio Samisoni, Control Section, MLMR
GNSS CORS are integral to implementing modern geospatial infrastructure. This presentation will discuss GNSS CORS development in context of - land acquisition; stakeholder engagement; formalisation of tenure/occupation; procurement; construction; technical installation; site monitoring (physical); plus ongoing maintenance; connection to datum

[Presentation]

Rob Sarib

Presentation 1.3

GNSS CORS in the Pacific – Andrick Lal, Geoscience, Energy & Maritime Division - Pacific Community
In each of all the thirteen pacific island countries, there is at least one (1) GNSS CORS. These GNSS CORS established as part of the South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Monitoring Project from 2001 to 2003 and to maintain these stations, there were challenges but it was for the good benefit as now they are part of the IGS network.

[Presentation]

Presentation 1.4

Positioning in the Pacific: Good coordinates for good coordination – Nicholas Brown, Geoscience Australia
Geodetic data and spatial information is increasingly being relied upon to find solutions to address social, economic and environmental challenges and ensure sustainable development. In order to meet these challenges, countries need to develop and implement a robust national geodetic framework. This presentation will describe the opportunities provided by cheap and efficient access to precise positioning and how, when combined with accurate coordinate reference frame, used to improve national data management and make informed decisions.

[Presentation]

Edward Carlson

Presentation 1.5

The Operation, Management and the role of New Zealand’s CORS Network – Paula Gentle, LINZ
New Zealand’s CORS network operated in partnership with GNS Science (GeoNet) and Land Information New Zealand. This presentation will give an overview of the network, its operation and its connection to New Zealand’s National Datum. The network also provides a number of products and services that are available for free

[Presentation]

Presentation 1.6

Fiji’s Geodetic Datum Modernisation Program and Challenges – Asakaia Tabua, Surveyor General Fiji
Modernization of Fiji’s Geodetic Datum program aligned to the UN General Assembly resolution on GGRF for sustainable development and Fiji’s cabinet decision on 29 August 2015. This presentation will focus on the project progress and some of the challenges.

[Presentation]

Presentation 1.7

Tonga’s Geodetic Datum Modernisation Strategy – Viliami Folau, Geodetic Survey Services, Tonga
The aim for the Modernisation of Tonga’s geodetic infrastructure is to ensure requirements are in place for a fully modernized geodetic reference frame. The strategy has three main strategic priorities; 1) Modern geodetic reference frame aligned to the Global Geodetic Reference Frame; 2) Modern height reference frame for the whole of Tonga; and 3) Legal framework to empower geodetic datum modernization-Survey Act. This draft strategy is also accompanied with Action Plans and Implementation Plan

[Presentation]

Asakaia Tabua

Summary and Questions / Answers

Panel

Seminar Dinner @ Café 389, Suva Bowling Club, Fiji.

Presentation 2.1

How to connect GNSS CORS to ITRF and Geospatial Datasets – Ed Carlson, NOAA
The presentation will discuss how the U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Geodetic Survey (NGS), 1) Is re-inventing the entire National Spatial Reference System with a release of the modernized reference system in 2022 to meet the user’s needs using GPS technology. 2) NGS methods of connecting to the 2022 datum in the future.

[Presentation]

Viliami Folau

Presentation 2.2

Introduction to height datum and how to create a modern height datum in the Pacific – Nicholas Brown, Geoscience Australia
There is an increasing reliance on GPS to provide positioning solutions, however heights observed from GPS are not relative to sea level. We need a model to convert between them. In order to make the most of the efficiency and accuracy of GPS, we need a way to convert heights observed from GPS to heights relative to sea level. This presentation will explain the importance of height datum and how they can be developed in the Pacific to improve compatibility with GPS leading to economic, environmental and societal benefits

[Presentation]

Presentation 2.3

Connecting Fiji’s Geospatial Information to Datum via GNSS CORS – Meizyanne Hicks, Geospatial Information Management, Ministry of Lands & Mineral Resources
The reference frame forms the starting point for collection, update, distribution and analysis of geospatial information. Most of Fiji’s geospatial information is based on the WGS72 datum, which by international standards, outdated. The benefits of updating reference frame via the GNSS CORS to international standards allows for geospatial information in Fiji to be on par with the rest of the world and paves the way for integration and sharing of data sets for informed planning and decision making to address issues that affects Fiji and its vision for sustainable development in the national, regional and international arena

[Presentation]

Noor Raziq

Presentation 2.4

GNSS CORS for Topography – Andrick Lal, Geoscience, Energy & Maritime Division - Pacific Community
The GNSS CORS in many ways used as a reference station, one good use, is for the post processing of the kinematic GNSS data.

[Presentation]

Presentation 2.5

GNSS CORS for Hydrography – Salesh Kumar, Geoscience, Energy & Maritime Division - Pacific Community
The GNSS CORS high rate data sets of the South Pacific Regional GNSS Network used to correct the positions of the hydrography survey.

[Presentation]

Presentation 2.6

GNSS CORS for Disaster Management – Zulfikar Begg, Geoscience, Energy & Maritime
Division - Pacific Community
In recent years, Pacific region has experienced major tropical cyclones with impacts in a number of countries. GNSS CORS utilized in the acquisition of aerial and topographical datasets post these events.

[Presentation]

Presentation 2.7

Dissemination of Real-Time and Post-Mission value added GNSS data – A Global Operator’s Perspective- Dr Noor Raziq, HxGN SmartNet - Australia
GNSS correction data is the key requirement for high accuracy/high precision positioning
applications. This correction data is supplied to end users in real-time or post-mission, in raw form (RTK) or value-added form (NRTK) as per the application requirements. Multiple industry solutions are available to fulfil the correction data requirements of a range of users. In this presentation, various aspects of a flexible, scalable, open and easy-to-use GNSS data dissemination solution is presented consisting of 4500+ CORS stations globally and 625+ stations in Australia

[Presentation]

Meizyanne Hicks

Presentation 2.8

Critical analysis of GNSS CORS Applications in the Pacific - Neil Ashcroft, Leica Geosystems
What is a GNSS CORS system used for? Many varied agencies install GNSS CORS for their specific applications. This presentation highlights the common or critical uses of such infrastructure across the Asia Pacific region, but also upcoming applications that such CORS infrastructure can support. The more applications that use CORS infrastructure allows better financial justification to support the construction and operation of said infrastructure.

[Presentation]

Presentation 2.9

Application Demonstrations

Paula Gentle, LINZ
Using SNAP to combine GNSS SINEX and GNSS baseline data and then perform a least squares adjustment to generate coordinates
[Presentation]

Dr Noor Raziq, HxGN SmartNet – Australia
HxGN SmartNet – X-POS online GNSS positioning
[Presentation]

Nicholas Brown, Geoscience Australia
Worked example of the GDA2020 and AUSGeoid2020 development
[Presentation]

Andrick Lal, Pacific Community
RTK Lib, open source GNSS Software for GNSS Solutions
[Presentation]

Andrick Lal, Pacific Community
Online Approaches for GNSS CORS for GNSS Online solutions
[Presentation]

Neil Ashcroft

Panel

Presentation 3.1

The Importance of Standards and Acceptable Practices for GNSS CORS and Survey Control – Rob Sarib, FIG AP CDN
It is very common nowadays for surveyors and geospatial professionals to use GNSS measurements to survey the control for a project. In most cases, these results in geo-referencing data and determining co-ordinates on a specific datum and to required accuracy. To deliver this efficiently and economically, operators of GNSS CORS, dataset custodians, geospatial and surveying professionals have become more reliant on standards
and acceptable practices associated with GNSS CORS and measurement. This presentation will discuss FIGs perspectives on this subject.

[Presentation]

Paula Gentle

Presentation 3.2

Concepts of Creating a Geodetic Adjustment – Ed Carlson, NOAA
The presentation will discuss NGS’s method of doing a GPS network to include project lay out, observations, data processing, analysis of baselines, and adjustments.

[Presentation]

Presentation 3.3

Legislative Challenges for Geodetic Datum and Infrastructure GNSS CORS – Rob Sarib, FIG
AP CDN
Implementing a new geodetic datum has many facets, which an agency must consider. One of those is the development of legislation, related policies and guidelines associated with geodetic datum and associated infrastructure such as GNSS CORS. This presentation will explore these in context of fundamental geospatial datasets, capacity building and the challenges faced by an agency and the professional surveyor.

[Presentation]

Nicholas Brown

Workshop 3.4

The Way Forward?

Panel

Workshop 3.5

Seminar Summary and Resolution

 Afternoon Tea

Commission Suva Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Continuous Operating Reference Station (CORS)
The proceedings of this function will take place at the newly established GNSS CORS Site in the compounds
of Mineral Resources Department, at Mead Road Nabua, Suva.
Transport provided to travel to the Site; those with their own can travel.