Bringing AFREF Under AMCOST

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Bringing AFREF Under AMCOST

• Ahmed HamdyAU Division of Science
  TechnologyDozie EzigbalikeECA Geo-information
  Systems Section

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What is AFREF?
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In Brief

• A scientific project using modern satellite based
  positioning to
• Define a uniform geodetic reference frame Africa,
  which will form the basis of national
  three-dimensional reference frames consistent
  with the International Terrestrial Reference
  Frame (ITRF)
• Establish a network of GNSS base stations for
  mapping and position determination all over
  Africa
• Support scientific research in satellite

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Continental Coverage

• Network of permanent GPS/GNSS base stations
  covering the whole continent
• At least one in every country
• Eventually, everywhere in Africa less than 1000
  km from a base station

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African Ellipsoid

• Data from the base stations will be used to
  compute the parameters defining the best-fitting
  mapping surface for the African continent

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Geodetic Reference

• Uniform geodetic reference frame for Africa
• Basis for national three-dimensional reference
  networks
• Consistent with the International Terrestrial
  Reference Frame (ITRF)
• Precise positioning requires real-time
  differential observations with two receivers
• AFREF will provide network of base stations for
  practitioners

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Major Uses and Applications
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Regional Integration

• Watersheds, river basins, ecosystems, wildlife
  are cross-border features
• Regional infrastructure roads, rail lines, water
  ways,
• Projects usually start at opposite ends
• All require uniform mapping surface for regional
  analysis and planning

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Peace and Security

• AU Border programme to delimit and demarcate all
  borders by 2012 requires neighbouring countries
  to agree on common borders
• This requires the borders to be mapped on the
  same coordinate systems
• That is, the same mapping surface
• The same reference frame
• Presently, every country has its own reference
  frame and associated coordinate systems
• Country borders drawn on these national
  coordinate systems are not always consistent
• Uniform coordinate system of AFREF will result in
  consistent representation of borders by
  neighbours
• Reducing disagreements and conflicts

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Global Conformity

• AU vision for Africa which asserts itself as
  a vibrant and dynamic force in the global arena
• Not yet in geodesy
• AFREF will result in better fit of Africa to rest
  of the world

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International Mapping Standard

• Current positioning technology based on satellite
  systems (GNSS)
• Positions are defined in the World Geodetic
  System (WGS)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  adopted World Geodetic System (WGS84) for
  consistent mapping of Reference Points (ARP)
• African countries are complying using satellite
  positioning technology
• Need to have other geoinformation products
  (topography, cadastre, etc) in similar
  satellite-based coordinate systems

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Other Uses

• Disaster mitigation
• Search and rescue
• Vehicle tracking and fleet management

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Scientific Applications
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Atmospheric Research

• Climate Weather
• Estimation of precipitable water vapour from
  network of GNSS stations in South Africa

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Atmospheric Research 2

• Atmospheric research
• Space weather
• Ionospheric mapping of variation of annual TEC
  over South Africa from network of GNSS base
  stations

2004
2002
Thanks to B Opperman of Hermanus Magnetic
Observatory for plots
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Geophysics Research

• Plate motions
• Plate motion estimates in South Africa from
  network of GNSS base stations

C.J.H. Hartnady, E. Calais R. Wonnacott (2007)
ITRF2000 velocity field from the South African
TrigNet GPS array and the African GNSS network
Implications for Nubia-(Rovuma-Lwandle-)Somalia
plate motions East African Rift Conference,
Kampala
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Formal Statement of Objectives
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Formal Objectives 1

• To determine a continental reference system for
  Africa consistent and homogeneous with the global
  reference frame of the ITRF as a basis for
  national three-dimensional reference networks.
• To realize a unified vertical datum and to
  support efforts to establish a precise African
  geoid.
• To establish continuous, permanent GNSS base
  stations at a spacing such that the users will be
  within 1000km of a base station and that data is
  freely available to all nations.

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Formal Objectives 2

• To determine the relationship between the
  existing national reference frames and the ITRF
  to preserve legacy information based on existing
  frames
• To provide a sustainable development environment
  for technology transfer so that these activities
  will enhance the national networks and other
  applications
• Assist in establishing in-country expertise for
  implementation, operation, processing and
  analysis of modern geodetic techniques, primarily
  GNSS.

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AFREF Project Timeline
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Timeline 1

• Pre-AFREF 1980s
• African Dopler Survey project
• Based on dopler satellite technology
• Objectives not met due to difficulties of the
  technology
• Cape Town March 2000
• Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI)
  meeting
• Concept of unified reference frame revived, using
  new GPS technology
• Tunisia May 2000
• Meeting on North African co-ordinate systems
• 6 countries attended

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Timeline 2

• Cape Town March 2001
• To gauge level of interest among NMOs in region
• 8 countries attended and supported project
• IAG/IGS, EUREF, NIMA supported project
• Meeting requested that project go under IAG
  banner
• Lusaka July 2002
• UNOOSA / USA sponsored series of workshops on
  uses and applications of GNSS
• Large number of African countries represented
• Among other recommendations
• Formal call for African Reference Frame (AFREF)
  consistent with ITRF
• Need for African institution to take the lead
  ECAs CODI (Geo subcommittee) suggested as forum
  for African National Mapping Organizations

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Timeline 3

• Windhoek Dec 2002
• Workshop under the auspices of RCMRDs Conference
  of Ministers of Surveying and Mapping
• Prepared Windhoek Declaration setting out the
  principles of AFREF
• Addis Ababa April 2003
• UNECA CODI accepted recommendations of Lusaka
  workshop and Windhoek Declaration
• Addis Ababa August 2004
• CODI-Geos Executive Working Group establishes a
  Working Group on AFREF, co-chaired by RCMRD and
  AOCRS
• Nominated an International Steering Committee
• Other meetings
• Nairobi October 2004
• Cairo April 2005 FIG Working Week
• Accra March 2006 FIG Regional Conference

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Timeline 4

• Cape Town July 2006
• Technical Workshop
• Co-sponsored by 6 organizations incl. IAG,
  UNAVCO, UNOOSA
• 4 days including visits
• 40 delegates and 15 presenters
• Nairobi August 2007
• Technical Workshop
• Organized by RCMRD in conjunction with the
  University of Lisbon, the University of
  Beira-Interior (Portugal) and Hart RAO
• Attended by representatives from 8 countries
  mainly from East Africa
• Dealt with GNSS reference stations and processing
  of GNSS data
• Nigeria September 2007
• National AFREF stakeholders forum

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Institutional Acceptance 1

• Un Economic Commission for Africa
• CODI (now CODIST) an inter-governmental body of
  ECA
• Have adopted the importance of AFREF and the
  Windhoek Declaration
• Created a Working Group to deal specifically with
  AFREF
• AFREF field project in work programme of ECA
• UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
• Have recognized importance of AFREF for variety
  of applications
• Supported the Cape Town workshop and funded
  travel of participants to several AFREF-related
  events
• International Association of Geodesy (IAG )
• Have recognized importance of AFREF and have
  committed support
• Have created structures to co-ordinate project
  and provide technical assistance expertise
• Supported the Cape Town workshop

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Institutional Acceptance 2

• International GNSS Service (IGS )
• Has strong commitment to support AFREF
• Supported the Cape Town workshop
• International Federation of Surveyors (FIG )
• Sponsored workshops in Cairo and Accra
• University NAVSTAR Consortium Incorporated
  (UNAVCO )
• Have strongly supported the project
• Supported the Cape Town workshop

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AFREF Structure

• To be designed, managed and executed from within
  African
• Regional organization into
• NAFREF, WAFREF, CAFREF, EAFRAF, SAFREF
• To be executed at the national level by national
  organizations responsible for geodetic matters
• Technical expertise and support from the
  international geodetic community such as IAG, IGS
  etc.

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Current Structure
Science Technology Advisory Group Composed of
African Scientists
NAFREF
WAFREF
CAFREF
SAFREF
EAFREF
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Proposed New Structure

• Create an AU/ECA joint secretariat for AFREF
  administered by AU Department of Human Resources,
  Science and Technology (AU/HRST) and ECAs ICT,
  Science and Technology Division (ECA/ISTD)
• Report to AMCOST for ultimate oversight,
  monitoring and evaluation
• Coordinate implementation, capacity building,
  review meetings, fund raising, etc

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Proposed Structure 2

• Current CODIST-Geo working group on AFREF becomes
  AFREF Technical Advisory Working Group,
• Report to AMCOST structures through the
  secretariat
• Retain membership, plus representative of UNOOSA,
  as secretariat of International Committee on GNSS
• Current International Steering Committee
  dissolves cannot have two steering committees
• New roles for non-WG members of current Steering
  Committee in scientific advisory working group
• Revamp the Science and Technology Advisory Group
  into an AFREF Scientific Advisory Working Group
• New terms of reference dealing with scientific
  aspects of AFREF
• Membership to include representative of
  scientific and technical partners (e.g., IAG,
  IGS, FIG, ICA, ISPRS, etc)
• Report the Steering Committee of AMCOST through
  the Joint Secretariat

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New Structure
AMCOST
Bureau
Steering Committee
AFREF Joint Secretariat
Technical Advisory Working Group
Scientific Advisory Working Group
AU/HRST
ECA/ISTD
Sub Reg Data Processing
SRDP
SRDP
SRDP
SRDP
NAFREF
WAFREF
CAFREF
SAFREF
EAFREF
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Why Under AMCOST

• Vision of the AUC to build an integrated Africa
• Regional Integration to be based on sound science
  and technology
• Thus the Science and Technology Consolidated Plan
  of Action (CPA)
• Adopted by AU Executive Council decision
  EX.CL/Dec.254 (VIII) of January 2006
• CPA introduced space science and its applications
  as flagship research and development area
• AFREF being based on satellite positioning
  technologies is an application of space science
  and should be brought under AMCOST structures
• Reporting to AMCOST structures ensures that AFREF
  is in line with other CPA projects

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Planned Activities 2008-09

• May June 08 Develop draft open data access
  policy and draft participation charter
• June 08 Meeting of Current AFREF Steering
  Committee during Africa Array meeting in
  Johannesburg
• June Nov 08 Installation of five reference
  stations donated by Trimble
• July 08 collect data on ongoing GPS/GNSS
  projects and initiatives in Africa
• Aug 08 Training session at RCMRD
• Mar 09 CODIST Meeting