Call for participation in the unification of African reference frames : the AFREF project 2005-2010
Wonnacott, Richard
There are more than 53 countries in Africa each with its own geodetic reference frame based on reference systems and datums that are in some cases over 100 years old. As a result of these disparate reference frames and associated geospatial information, the planning and execution of cross border development projects is exceptionally difficult and becomes a somewhat haphazard exercise. The AFREF project, therefore, has been designed to unify many national co-ordinate reference frames of Africa into a single reference frame based on the internationally accepted International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) and its realization, the International Terrestrial Reference Frame. In broad terms, it is planned that a network of Continuously Operating GPS Reference Stations (CORS) will be established such that any user will be within 500km of any one station and have free access to the data generated by that station. The network will create a zero order or fiducial reference frame based on ITRF from which local campaigns may be conducted to densify the network. The densification will be either at the national or regional level to create denser networks of CORS or short campaigns to create networks of permanently marked reference points from which further project-based campaigns shall be conducted. The project will also include the unification and development of a continent wide vertical reference frame based on a single datum, using internationally accepted practices of geoid estimation.
Event: 5th FIG Regional Conference for Africa : Promoting Land Administration and Good Governance
Only personal, non-commercial use of this document is allowed.