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

1229278WangThis Major Research Instrumentation（MRI）grant supports acquisition of necessary equipment and installation of a real-time continuous operating Global Positioning System（GPS）observational network in the Houston metropolitan. 所谓的？HoustonNet？将支持与当地和区域构造、洪水荷载、地下流体抽取和盐底辟作用有关的变形过程相关的城市自然灾害研究，这些灾害在很大程度上造成该地区的沉降和天坑动态，并涉及大量相关的民事费用以及工程和灾害管理考虑。 来自网络的数据还将使地球科学家能够解决有关墨西哥湾沿岸构造运动与正断层活动和生长过程之间关系的基本问题，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断层方面的可能作用。 HoustonNet将跨越200 x 150 km的区域，平均GPS站间距为休斯顿市区内15 km，市区外30 km。 将安装四十五（45）个连续运行的全球定位系统台站，其中10个与气象站合用同一地点。 其中二十五（25）个将由Houston-Galveston沉陷区和Fort弯曲沉陷区维护，以进行地面沉陷监测，以了解水、石油和天然气开采的影响。七（7）个测站将与美国地质调查局（USGS）操作的钻孔伸长计位于同一地点。五（5）个站将靠近休斯顿大学（UH）运营的气象和环境塔。 将在当地公立学校建筑物上安装八（8）个站点。 这些台站将在一名联刚特派团外地工程师和一名接受大地测量工程学和全球定位系统大地测量学培训的研究生的协助下安装。 所有观测数据都将通过联合国志愿人员组织的数据存档设施和夏威夷大学大地测量实验室的实时全球定位系统数据流系统进行遥测并向公众开放。 该网络还将支持真实的时间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的土木工程，用于地籍测量和需要精确定位的工程项目。 PI团队包括来自休斯顿大学地球和大气科学系、土木环境工程系、工程技术系、电气和计算机工程系以及国家机载激光测绘中心（NCALM）的教师，当地K-12大楼的计划安装将构成计划外展工作的基础。 ***

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. ***