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.
GGOS Strategic Plan 2024 – 2034: Geodesy for Science and Society
GGOS, 🏛️ Organisation NewsGGOS, the Global Geodetic Observing System of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), was established as an integrating framework for all IAG Components (Services, Commissions, Inter-Commission Committees and Projects) to move from the provision of individual geodetic technique-based products to a level of consistent modelling and interpretation of Earth System processes and interactions, ensuring an integrated, consistent and long-term observing system. GGOS regularly reviews and updates its strategic priorities to meet emerging needs in geodesy, always with a focus on strengthening GGOS’ role as a collaborative hub in support of sustainable geodesy through the promotion and integration of diverse geodetic technologies and applications.
With this in mind, we are pleased to present the new GGOS Strategic Plan 2024 – 2034: Geodesy for Science and Society. This new Plan is based on an extensive community survey consisting of six closed questions (multiple choice with predetermined answers) and seven SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) questions. 70 colleagues from 32 countries participated in the GGOS survey between 11 July and 30 September 2022. Based on this brainstorming, the GGOS Strategic Planning Committee convened a two-day community workshop to discuss and identify updated long-term goals as well as cross-cutting community needs that each Strategic Goal will seek to address.
The long-term goals focus on: Visibility and engagement, Science-policy networking, Capacity enhancement and sustainability, and Comprehensive and cross-cutting analysis. Guided by these Goals, the Community Needs are presented as elements of a holistic effort to support the geodetic community and advance the recognition and use of geodesy for public benefit through innovation, advocacy, communication, and integration.
The members of the GGOS Executive Committee are currently working on the related Implementation Plan, which outlines the steps required to achieve the Strategic Goals. The Implementation Plan focuses on identifying, allocating, executing, and monitoring progress, with some actions requiring a multi-year effort. GGOS will periodically assess the progress towards the implementation of this plan and provide updates to the geodesy community.
We invite all interested colleagues inside and outside the IAG to find out more about our new Strategic Plan at
and to get involved in supporting its implementation. Your participation would be greatly appreciated.
Laura Sánchez, GGOS President, Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut, Technische Universität München, Germany
Anna Riddell, GGOS Vice-President, Geoscience Australia, Australia
Martin Sehnal, Director of the GGOS Coordinating Office, BEV Austrian Federal Office of Metrology and Surveying, Austria
International Height Reference Frame IHRF – Coordination Centre
Com2, GGOS, IGFS, 🏛️ Organisation NewsFrom the GGOS Focus Area Unified Height System
to the IHRF Coordination Centre
One initial objective of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) was the standardisation of height systems worldwide. In this way, the GGOS Focus Area Unified Height System (GGOS-FA-UHS) was established in 2010 to lead and coordinate the efforts needed towards the establishment of a global standard for the precise determination of physical heights. The GGOS-FA-UHS activities rely on the contribution of several IAG components, namely, Commission 1 (Reference Frames), Commission 2 (Gravity Field), the Inter-Commission Committee on Theory (ICCT), the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS), and the International Earth’s Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS).
During the 2011-2015 term, various discussions focused on the best possible definition of a global unified vertical reference system, resulting in the IAG Resolution for the Definition and Realisation of an International Height Reference System (IHRS), which was adopted at the 2015 General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) in Prague, Czech Republic.
During the period 2015-2019, activities were undertaken to investigate the best strategy for the implementation of the IHRS; i.e., the establishment of the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). A preliminary selection of stations for the IHRF reference network was made and different calculation methods for the determination of potential values as IHRF coordinates were evaluated.
For the period 2019-2023, the objectives of the GGOS-FA-UHS focused on (i) compiling detailed standards, conventions and guidelines to support a consistent determination of the IHRF at global, regional and national levels; (ii) coordinating with regional/national experts in gravity field modelling the computation of a first IHRF solution; and (iii) designing an operational infrastructure that will ensure the long-term sustainability and reliability of the IHRF. With these objectives achieved, the GGOS-FA-UHS completed its goals and was closed during the IUGG 2023 General Assembly in Berlin, Germany.
The focus is now on the operational infrastructure required to ensure the maintenance and availability of the IHRS/IHRF in the future. In line with IAG practice, the development of theory and methods for the continuous improvement of the IHRS/IHRF will be continued by the IAG Commissions and the ICCT, while the operational performance will be ensured by the IAG Services, in this particular case the IGFS. With this in mind, the Central Bureau of the IGFS has developed a proposal for the establishment of a central coordinating body for the IHRF, composed of individual modules, which take care of the main components of the IHRF. The central management body is the IHRF Coordination Centre and its modules are the IHRF Reference Network Coordination, the IHRF Conventions’ Coordination, the IHRF Associate Analysis Centres and the IHRF Combination Coordination.
The IHRF Coordination Centre will be responsible for the general coordination of activities required for the IHRF and for the storage, publication, and servicing of the IHRF. The IHRF Reference Network Coordination will implement and keep updated a catalogue of the IHRF global reference stations, including decommissioning of destroyed stations and the addition of new stations to replace removed stations or improve the geographical distribution. The IHRF Conventions’ Coordination is responsible for the maintenance of a catalogue containing the conventions and standards needed for the IHRF and should assess the impact that revisions in these conventions will have, providing the necessary theoretical and methodological updates that need to be introduced to the existing station coordinates. The IHRF Associate Analysis Centres are those national/regional agencies/bodies that contribute to the realisation of the IHRF by providing the potential values at the IHRF stations located in their countries/regions, following the conventions outlined by the IHRF Conventions Coordination and delivering detailed descriptions about their calculations. The IHRF Combination Coordination will be responsible for the combination and quality assessment of the regional/national solutions and for releasing the final (official) IHRF solution. The IHRF Reference Network Coordination, Conventions’ Coordination, Associate Analysis Centres and Combination Coordination should report to the IHRF Coordination Centre, which, in turn, would report directly to the IGFS Central Bureau.
The IGFS presented this proposal to the IAG Executive Committee at its meeting on December 10, 2023, and it was unanimously approved. Thus, a new component of the IGFS dedicated to the IHRF has been born and it will ensure the long-term availability and reliability of the IHRF.
More details on the IHRF Coordination Centre (IHRF-CC) based on its Terms of Reference can be found in the IGFS webpage. A dedicated web front-end for the IHRF-CC is under development.
Laura Sánchez, GGOS President, Technische Universität München, Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI-TUM), Germany
George Vergos, Director of the IGFS Central Bureau and Chair of the new IHRF Coordination Centre, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Geodesy and Surveying, Laboratory of Gravity Field Research and Applications, Greece
Riccardo Barzaghi, Chair of the IGFS, Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Italy
Call for Nomination – Director of the Bureau of Networks and Observations
GGOS, 🏛️ Organisation NewsGGOS is seeking nominations for the position of Director of the GGOS Bureau of Networks and Observations (GGOS-BNO). The outgoing Director, Michael Pearlman, will be stepping down once we have a new GGOS-BNO Director. So, this is your opportunity to take on this important leadership role!
For the successful implementation of these activities, the GGOS-BNO Director is supported by a robust organisational structure comprised of representatives from all IAG Services, three Committees including Performance Simulations and Architectural Trade-Offs (PLATO), Satellite Missions and Data and Information Systems, and the Working Group Site Survey and Co-location (together with the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems – IERS). For further insights regarding GGOS-BNO, please consult the latest terms of reference of the BNO.
The Nomination Committee is composed of Michael Pearlman, Director of the GGOS-BNO, Detlef Angermann, Director of the GGOS Bureau of Products and Standards (GGOS-BPS), and Laura Sánchez, President of GGOS.
Qualifications:
Applications are open to anyone currently involved in any of the IAG Services or Service Products. Knowledge of the work dynamics within the IAG is desirable.
Nomination Process:
If you know of a qualified colleague or wish to nominate yourself for the position, please submit the following information to the GGOS Coordinating Office co@ggos.org, by January 26, 2024:
Selection Process:
Nominations will be considered by the Nomination Committee, which will seek additional information from candidates as necessary. This Committee will rank the candidates in order of preference and submit the application to the GGOS Governing Board, whose members will vote to approve the new Director. Once a decision has been made, the selected colleague will be informed. Michael Pearlman plans to remain on the GGOS-BNO and will work with the new Director to help with the transition.
Timeline:
If you know of a qualified colleague or wish to nominate yourself for the position, we encourage all eligible colleagues to consider this important leadership opportunity. Your involvement will contribute to the success and growth of GGOS.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Michael Pearlman, Detlef Angermann, Laura Sánchez
References: