Summit Camp

EarthScope and CH2M Polar Services operate a GPS system at Summit Camp, Greenland in support of National Science Foundation sponsored research. The system provides centimeter level differential corrections to properly equipped users in the vicinity of Summit Camp. The equipment may be used for post-processed static and kinematic surveys, as well as real-time (RTK) surveys, simplifying many GPS survey tasks that would otherwise require time consuming collection and post-processing of data. The system is not compatible with hand-held GPS navigation receivers.

Base Station

Station ID SUMM: 25 April 2006 – 30 June 2009
GPS base antenna location changed ~80 meters during June 30 – July 2 2009:
Station ID SMM1: 2 July 2009 – 7 July 2013
and changed about ~30 meters July 8 2013:
Station ID SMM2: 8 July 2013 – present

Equipment Available

A geodetic system consisting of dual-frequency base station and roving receivers, capable of centimeter-level accuracy, is available at Summit Camp. A computer is also available for data downloading and processing at the Green House facility.

Centimeter-level accuracy can be realized over 100 kilometers away from the station by collecting and post-processing data. Also, real-time kinematic (RTK) broadcasts provide real-time capability within a five kilometer radius of Summit Camp. The RTK signal is broadcast at 460 MHz, with CMR+ format at 9600 baud.

The following GPS equipment is available for use at Summit Camp:

Trimble NetR8 Base Station
Geodetic GPS base station for data collection and RTK broadcasting. An equipment inventory is maintained on this page.

Trimble R7 Rover Receiver
Geodetic GPS receiver that provides centimeter accuracy in real-time (RTK) or through data collection and post-processing. An equipment inventory is maintained on this page.

Data Processing Computer
A computer is available with Trimble Business Center data processing software and other GPS utilities.

Support

Technical support to GPS system users is provided by EarthScope. Users who intend to use the system for a significant amount of field surveying are strongly encouraged to arrange for training prior to their field season. Field Engineer support may also be available for projects with a significant GPS surveying component. Remote (email and telephone) assistance is also available. Upon project completion, GPS data and meta-data archival is available for permanent safeguarding.