Message-Id: Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 09:09:41 +0200 From: "Richard Wonnacott" To: Subject: [AFREF-14] AFREF (South) 14 March 2001 Summary Meeting Minutes Sender: owner-afref Precedence: bulk ****************************************************************************** AFREF Mail 01 Jan 23:11:43 PST 2002 Message Number 14 ****************************************************************************** Author: Richard Wonnacott AFREF SUMMARY MEETING 14 March 2001 Cape Town 11:00AM - 12:30PM Chief Directorate Surveys and Mapping, South Africa ATTENDEES (in order of introduction around the table) Per Backman : DINAGECA, Mozambique Jose Luis Quemb : DINAGECA, Mozambique Jose Elias Mucombo: DINAGECA, Mozambique Charles Merry : Univ. Cape Town Muneendra Kumar: NIMA Raynald Moyo : Zambia Survey Dept. Georg Weber : BKG, German Cartographic and Geodetic Agency, Frankfurt Greshan Gunda : Surveys Dept., Malawi Sydney Simelane : Surveyor General-Swaziland Godfrey Biki Habana : Dept. Surveys & Mapping-Botswana Shaibu Y. Juma : Directorate of Surveys & Mapping-Namibia James S. Broadwater: NIMA Rodwick Chigumete: DSG-Zimbabwe Angelyn Moore : International GPS Service (IGS), NASA/JPL Ludwig Combrinck : HartRAO Ruth Neilan : IGS Central Bureau, NASA/JPL Richard Wonnacott : CDSM-South Africa A general introduction of each representative initiated the meeting, each describing interests in an AFREF Project. Wonnacott recommended beginning such an activity by assessing status in each country today. Each country should audit its control networks, identifiable points, equipment, expertise, and strength of horizontal and vertical networks. Merry agreed and added that vertical datums should also be assessed to determine whether they are tied to a tide gauge (sea level), and what is the period of observation. Wonnacott suggested a questionnaire and Weber said he can provide a similar questionnaire used in Europe as a starting point. Kumar cautioned against concentrating on datums; what is needed is a unified reference frame using GPS. Wonnacott confirmed the latter but said there is a need to know what is left to connect for the transformation between existing references and ITRF. Combrinck further agreed with this. Merry said it should not be a major exercise but rather a general idea of the situation. Chigumete recommended also collecting whether there are national efforts already ongoing; if so, the continental effort should be aligned to them. Neilan said collecting this information forms a good baseline which can be used as a basis for decision making later and perhaps a model of extending the project to other African regions. Wonnacott next raised the question what body the project takes place within, the IAG or under its own auspices? Combrinck recommended staying under the IAG/IGS umbrella, since this provides an automatic link to an internationally recognized reference frame. Wonnacott agreed but said it is a question of whose letterhead is used; Combrinck said there could be a commission under the IAG such as EUREF. Neilan noted that currently the effort has stemmed from within the IGS and Commission X of IAG, but perhaps the larger scope of this project may warrant a new perspective to attract greater support. Wonnacott said the letter could be signed by IAG (e.g., Sanso and Boucher) and the responding parties would vary according to each nation's protocols. IAG is clearly recognized as the international body by these agencies. Chigumete explained he is mandated to advise the government on such matters but anticipates acceptance of AFREF as a worthwhile activity regardless. Juma said he would also need to communicate a position to the government; Gunda said he would advise his government on an informational basis but does not expect they would make decisions, and Moyo said his situation is similar. Mucombo said he would ask the minister for authorization; while IAG endorsement would help, a national mandate does already exist. Wonnacott requested that each country leave proper addresses and titles for letter recipients. Neilan pointed out that the letter from IAG/IGS requesting expression of interest and contact addresses has been sent under IAG auspices. A letter may be solicited at the IAG Executive Committee meeting in Nice, France, 30 Mar 2001. Kumar urged getting endorsements, then facing inevitable challenges. Wonnacott asked if the IAG is the appropriate body, and Neilan affirmed this, further stating that the organisations to actively carry out such activities for the IAG are the IAG services, namely IGS and ITRF/IERS. She related an email from Prof. G. Konecny of the CODI organisation, which encouraged interested parties to attend a September meeting in Addis Ababa where a session on AFREF is being jointly organised. Travel funding may be available for Africans and hopefully international experts supporting AFREF may be able to find their own funding. IAG is a favorable organisation. Wonnacott agreed this is logical. Wonnacott said the next step would be a project plan or discussion document with structure, working groups, etc. Chigumete said he is concerned with putting this off and requested having an idea of desired outcomes, goals, and objectives in order to communicate a sense of clarity to superiors. Weber said the first letter should lay out such goals and advantages, and Moyo requested the letter specifically propose the Addis Ababa meeting and purpose of this meeting with background. Wonnacott said previous meeting minutes (13 March 2001) and notes will be included for background. The primary stated goal should be mapping since it is practical in nature; science will follow later. Habana requested a bigger picture for involving more countries and Wonnacott responded that all SADC (South African Development Community) countries should be included, and Madagascar is important, but questioned if this group should be kept manageable (i.e. small). Combrinck said AFREF must account for the broader scope -- the whole of Africa, even if activity starts in southern Africa. Kumar recommended not waiting to start; the countries present can begin working on a reference frame for Africa. Neilan pointed out that with the current level of global infrastructure and accessible global reference frame, particularly from GPS, a regional approach can clearly be developed. Neilan said the first idea had been to assess interest at the CONSAS meeting and that interest is quite evident and impressive. Wonnacott said that next a letter to the IAG will include a summary of previous meetings, objectives, goals, etc; these could be discussed over email/fax. Simulane said people are too busy for an effective email discussion and recommended just getting a letter from IAG as soon as possible so that work can commence. Chigumete was concerned about the time frame and requested that a date be set for a goal so that each nation can assess the local groundwork necessary to meet it. Simulane said it is already late and a time frame cannot be attached. There is a financial question in terms of time. While a best efforts action plan is fine, he recommends against a hard schedule. Neilan said a broad objective could be one to three GPS stations per country by the end of 2002 and Simulane agreed. Juma said the schedule question should be answered at the planning stage; the plan should carefully consider how many stations in each country as requirements may differ. The organisational structure could better be addressed now. Kumar said a SIRGAS technical working group had recommended station numbers and locations. Combrinck said a science reference network should be first priority but Kumar said the project set up should be first. Wonnacott said the concept of the project is now essentially complete, yet a real planning session will be necessary given the great interest and limited time during the CONSAS 2001 venue. An IAG endorsement letter will be requested, a questionnaire circulated, and letters of intent further solicited. This project team (ie this group) should meet for several days to carefully plan and implement a structure, possibly at CODI in September. Weber asked if the letter will go only to the group of nations at this meeting and Wonnacott reiterated his plan to contact the SADC countries since a co- operation is already in place. Chigumete recommended looking for internal benefits while performing the audit with a mind to identifying what internal agencies should be consulted. Neilan confirmed she will speak to the IAG regarding the project and a letter and Weber will provide Europe's questionnaire. Wonnacott thanked the attendees and closed the meeting at 12h30. R T Wonnacott Director : Survey Services Chief Directorate : Surveys and Mapping Private Bag X10 Mowbray 7705 SOUTH AFRICA Tel: +27 21 685 4070 Fax: +27 21 689 1351