MRI: Acquisition of GPS Equipment for Establishing a Continuously Operating Dense GPS Network in Houston Metropolitan Area for Urban Natural Hazards Study

1229278 wang1这项主要研究仪器（MRI）拨款支持在休斯顿市区购买必要的设备和安装实时连续运行的全球定位系统（GPS）观测网络。所谓的？HoustonNet吗?将支持与与当地和区域构造、洪水负荷、地下流体抽取和盐底辟有关的变形过程有关的城市自然灾害的研究，这些灾害在很大程度上造成该地区的下沉和天坑动态，并带来重大的相关土木成本以及工程和灾害管理方面的考虑。来自该网络的数据还将使地球科学家能够解决下列基本问题：墨西哥湾沿岸的构造运动与正常断层的活动和生长过程之间的关系、盐丘的作用以及含水层枯竭和石油开采在重新激活某些正常断层中的可能作用。休斯顿网将覆盖200 x 150公里的区域，平均GPS站间距为休斯顿市区内15公里，市区外30公里。将安装45个连续运行的GPS站，其中10个与多个气象站并列。其中25座将由Houston-Galveston沉陷区和Fort Bend沉陷区维护，用于了解水、石油和天然气开采影响的地面沉陷监测。七(7)个测量站将与美国地质调查局（USGS）操作的井眼延伸计同处一地。5个站点将与休斯敦大学（UH）运营的天气和环境塔紧密相连。当地的公立学校建筑将安装8个监测站。这些台站将在联安援助团一名现场工程师和一名研究生的协助下安装，该研究生将接受大地纪念碑工程和全球定位系统大地测量学方面的培训。所有观测数据都将通过联阿援助团的数据存档设施和犹他大学大地测量实验室的实时GPS数据流系统进行遥测并向公众开放。该网络还将支持实时对流层水汽层析成像，以支持大气研究和改进区域天气预报和飓风强度预报。该网络将服务于当地土木工程进行地籍测量和需要精确定位的工程项目。PI团队包括来自休斯敦大学地球与大气科学系、土木与环境工程系、工程技术系、电气与计算机工程系和国家机载激光测绘中心（NCALM）的教师，并计划在当地K-12大楼安装该装置，这将成为计划推广工作的基础。＊＊＊

1229278WangThis Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant supports acquisition of necessary equipment and installation of a real-time continuously operating Global Positioning System (GPS) observational network in the Houston metropolitan. The so-called ?HoustonNet? will support studies of urban natural hazards related to deformation processes associated with local and regional tectonics, flood loading and subsurface fluid extraction and salt diapirism, in large part causing subsidence and sinkhole dynamics in this area with significant associated civil costs and engineering and hazards management considerations. Data from the network will also enable geoscientists to address fundamental questions about the relationship between tectonic motions in the Gulf Coast and the activity and processes of growth of normal faults, the role of salt domes, and the possible role of aquifer depletion and petroleum extraction in re-activating certain normal faults. HoustonNet will span an area of 200 x 150 km with average GPS station spacing of 15 km inside the Houston metro area and 30 km outside the metro area. Forty-five (45) continuously operating GPS stations, 10 with co-located weather stations would be installed. Twenty-five (25) of these will be maintained by the Houston-Galveston Subsidence District and Fort Bend Subsidence District for ground subsidence monitoring motivated by understanding the effects of water, oil, and gas extraction. Seven (7) stations will be co-located with borehole extensometers operated by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Five (5) stations will be in close proximity with weather and environmental towers operated by the University of Houston (UH). Eight (8) stations will be installed on local public school buildings. The stations will be installed with assistance of a UNAVCO field engineer and a graduate student who will be trained in geodetic monument engineering and GPS geodesy. All of the observational data will be telemetered and open to the public through the data archiving facility at UNAVCO and a real-time GPS data streaming system at the UH Geodesy Laboratory. The network will also support real time tropospheric water vapor tomography in support of atmospheric studies and for improving regional weather forecasting and hurricane intensity forecasting. The network will serve the local civil engineering for cadastral surveys and engineering projects requiring precise positioning. The PI team includes faculty from the Departments of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Engineering Technology, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping (NCALM) at the University of Houston and planned installations at local area K-12 building will form the basis of planned outreach efforts. ***