News and Activities
GGOS IberAtlantic (GGOS IA) functions as a regional node of GGOS, focusing on geodetic activities across the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic region. GGOS IA fosters collaboration among geodetic institutions while promoting scientific research and technological development tailored to the region’s unique geophysical characteristics.
Look Back at the IAG Geodesy Reception 2025
ECS, GGOS, IAG, Other, 📰 General NewsWe are pleased to report that the IAG Geodesy Reception at this year’s EGU General Assembly, held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, was a great success!
Hosted at the Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying (BEV) in Vienna, the event brought together 130 participants from the geodesy community. It was wonderful to see such vibrant engagement, with a gender distribution of 30% female and 70% male attendees. Notably, around 55% of participants were Early Career Scientists (ECS), highlighting the reception’s value as a key networking and connection opportunity for the next generation of geodesists.
We received a lot of positive feedback during and after the event, and we believe the reception provided an excellent platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration, and strengthening our community.
A heartfelt thank you goes to our sponsors for making this event possible:
Thank you to everyone who attended. We look forward to seeing you at future events!
Author: Martin Sehnal (Director of GGOS CO)
New Paper Highlights the Power of Geodesy to Support Science and Society
GGOS, 🌍 Geodesy NewsDeveloped under the umbrella of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), GGOS provides the essential reference frames and high-precision measurements needed to understand how our planet is changing. From monitoring Earth’s shape, size, gravity field, and rotation, to delivering consistent and integrated data products, GGOS enables scientists and decision-makers alike to respond to environmental challenges with confidence.
This article outlines the vision of GGOS: to create a unified framework that bridges various space- and ground-based geodetic techniques, ultimately contributing to a more coherent and insightful understanding of global change. The authors emphasize the importance of strong international collaboration, standardization of geodetic data, and the visibility of geodesy in global sustainability efforts.
New RAEGE Station in Gran Canaria: A Milestone for Global Geodesy
GGOS, IGETS, IGFS, IGS, ILRS, IVS, Services, 🌍 Geodesy NewsThe Spanish Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMS) has officially begun the construction of the third RAEGE station on a site granted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria to the National Geographic Institute (IGN) in March 2023. This new geodetic facility, located in Temisas (Agüimes, Gran Canaria), will complement the existing RAEGE stations in Yebes (Spain) and Santa María (Azores, Portugal), with a fourth station planned for Flores Island (Azores, Portugal). In this way, RAEGE will improve its contribution to the studies of our planet changes and improve reference frames for navigation and positioning.
As in Yebes and Santa Maria, the RAEGE Gran Canaria station will be equipped with a VGOS radio telescope for astronomical and geodetic observations, GNSS receivers, an atomic clock, gravimeters, and additional geophysical instrumentation such as seismographs. Additionally, a 1,000-square-meter building will house the control room, offices, laboratories and two domes for telescopes, enabling near-Earth object (NEO) detection and satellite laser ranging (SLR) to geodetic satellites, respectively, together with space debris tracking.
The construction works, valued at 6 million euros, are expected to be completed within 26 months. To mark this milestone, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held, featuring speeches by Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, José Antonio Santano Clavero, Undersecretary Rafael Guerra Posadas, President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales Méndez, Mayor of Agüimes, Óscar Hernández Suárez, and IGN Director General, Lorenzo García Asensio, together with Deputy Director of Astronomy and Geodesy, José A. López-Fernández, and RAEGE Director José A. López-Pérez. A representative from the Regional Government of Azores was present, too. The event also featured two videos with international greetings from GGOS Vice President, Anna Riddell, and Nicholas Brown, Director of the United Nations Global Geodetic Center of Excellence (UN-GGCE).