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Invited Talk: Thursday 08 March - Dr Roelf Botha
08 March 2018 15:00 - 16:00
Title: Geodesy Equipment at HartRAO: A Core Site & Remote Sites
Author: Dr Roelf Botha
Operations Geodesist
Space Geodesy Programme
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO)
Abstract:
Geodesy is the science of measurement of positions and distances with 'fancy rulers'. For the science to work, we require a core site hosting all fundamental systems, but to understand the changing Earth system better we need many remote stations of various types of equipment, that operates in conjunction with the systems from the core site. An overview of the typical equipment at each type of site will be given, together with tales of some installations and logistics to get the remote sitesup to operational status.
More about the author:
Roelf Botha holds an M.Sc (Cum Laude) in Astrophysics from University of North West (former Potchefstroom University) and a PhD in Laser Physics from the University of Stellenbosch. He has been involved with the Space Geodesy Programme of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory site since 2004 and is currently employed as the Operations Geodesist. His work is focused primarily on the development and implementation of research equipment and networks for the Geodesy programme. This includes GNSS and Seismic networks, development of the Lunar Laser Ranging system and driving the automation of data collection, processing and presentation. He has published on a range of topics in various journals.