Terms of Reference and Objectives

A great effort has been carried out in the last ten years to improve/re-establish the Fundamental Gravity Network in South America, to fill the gravity gaps and to increase GPS observations on the leveling network. Different versions of the geoid (quasi-geoid) were delivered. At the moment it is important to address a renewed focus to reorganize the new gravity surveys, in particular, airborne missions, and to implement new software for the geoid computation. A new geoid model is envisaged to support the SIRGAS altimetric reference system in South America.

The main objectives of the project are:
- To obtain and to maintain files with data necessary for the geoid computations like gravity anomalies, digital terrain models, geopotential models and satellite observations (GPS) in leveling networks.
- To provide a link between the different countries and the International Geoid Services in order to assure access to proper software and geopotential models for local geoid computation.
- To compute a global geoid model for South America with a resolution of 10´ x 10´ using the available data.
- To encourage countries to cooperate by releasing data for this purpose.
- To encourage and eventually support local organizations in different countries endeavoring to increase the gravity data coverage; to improve the existing digital terrain models; to carry out GPS observations on the leveling network and to compute a high resolution geoid.

The Project will organize and/or encourage the organization of workshops, symposia or seminars on the geoid determination in South America. Links will be established in the project to the following services to facilitate the exchange of data:
- Bureau Gravimétrique International
- International Geoid Service I – Milan
- International Geoid Service II – St. Louis

This Commission Project reports to Sub-Commission 2.4