FROM:
    Charles W. Challstrom
    Director, National Geodetic Survey

SUBJECT:
    INSTRUCTIONS: MAINE FBN, 2000 (GPS-1492)
    Task Numbers: 8K6D2000 (FBN)     8K6D4000 (CORS FBN/CBN TIE)     BK6D0000 (NDGPS SITE)
 
GENERAL:

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), in accordance with the NGS Strategic Plan, is engaging in a campaign of observing stations of the Federal Base Network (FBN) to complete the ellipsoidal and orthometric height components of the FBN.  This survey will observe the 16 FBN stations in Maine.

FBN stations ELIOT and P 182 have been found unsuitable for GPS occupation and are being replaced by stations 3B4 A (PID AB2649) and D 182 (PID QH0056), respectively.

Also, station R 177 (PID QG0982) has been included to serve as a bench mark tie only.
 
In addition, at each of three Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) sites, a pair of CORS reference marks is to be tied to both the local FBN/CBN and the CORS antenna.  The three CORS are Bar Harbor, Eastport, and Penobscot.  (Penobscot is also a National Differential GPS [NDGPS] site.)  Details for each are given under SPECIFICATIONS.

Also, stations S 161 (PID OC0229) and Z 151 (PID PE1053) have been added to the project in order to check ellipsoid heights versus leveling.  The stations are to be observed to FBN specifications.

Lastly, a station at each of four tide sites is also included in the project and is to be surveyed to FBN specifications.  The four tide sites are Bar Harbor, Cutler Naval Base, Eastport, and Portland.

A full-wavelength, dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver is needed to act as Central Temporary CORS (CTCORS) throughout the project.  The receiver shall be deployed at  relatively secure stations within the vicinity of the ongoing observing sessions.  The receiver shall continuously collect data at a 30-second epoch collection interval for a minimum of 72 hours and for as long as observations are ongoing in the vicinity of the CTCORS.

A total of approximately 54 Cooperative Base Network (CBN) stations may be co-observed by up to 11 different organizations.  The CBN coordinator is Mr. Tim LeSiege, Maine Department of Transportation.  In addition, 2 stations in the province of Quebec, Canada, will be co-observed by the Service de la geodesie, Ministere des Ressources naturelles .  The coordinator for this is Mr. Bernard Perron.  The project will be performed under the technical management of NGS.

PURPOSE:

In order to meet America's accelerating positioning and navigation needs, the existing coordinate reference system must be continually enhanced to provide the accessibility and high accuracy required for use with GPS.  The digital revolution in mapping, charting, and surveying requires a National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) consisting of, among other components, a network of monumented points having four-dimensional positions.  The FBN fulfills the requirements for this component.  NGS is charged with the Federal responsibility for establishment, observation, monitoring, and maintenance of the FBN.  The FBN provides the critical network foundation for an accurate, consistent, reliable NSRS.

The NSRS, in turn, provides the common geographic framework for America's spatial data infrastructure.  As such, the NSRS serves as the basis for mapping, charting, navigation, boundary determination, property delineation, infrastructure development, resource evaluation surveys, and scientific applications, including crustal motion monitoring, modeling of flooding, storm surge, pollution trajectories, and agricultural runoff.  A modernized, accurate, consistent, reliable NSRS is of enormous benefit to state, county, tribal, local, and Federal authorities, as well as to the private sector.

The reference marks established at each of the three CORS sites will provide a very accurate tie to the antenna as an aid to reposition the antenna should that become necessary.  The FBN/CBN tie to the reference marks will also provide site station coordinates relative to the local FBN/CBN, thus reducing the potential for relative error between the reference marks and the local network.  It will also provide a check on the FBN/CBN, relative to the CORS coordinates.

The four tide site surveys will provide GPS-derived ellipsoid heights, accurate to 2 cm, on tide site water level marks along the Atlantic Ocean coast.
 

Project requirements for the FBN observations are to ensure 2-centimeter local accuracy in the horizontal component, as well as 2-centimeter local accuracy for the ellipsoid heights.

Data from the CORS in the region are to be used in the processing.  There are seven NGS CORS in the area to be selected from.  Four are in Maine; one each is in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Also, there are community base stations in Yarmouth, Augusta, and Sanford, Maine, which should be used.  In addition, there is a base station in the province of Quebec, Canada, which should be used as well.

The four NGS CORS in Maine are Bar Harbor (BARH), Brunswick (BRU1), Eastport (EPRT), and Penobscot (PNB1).  The CORS in Vermont is Vermont Capital (VCAP).  The CORS in New Hampshire is Portsmouth (POR4).  The CORS in Massachusetts is Westford (WES2), an International GPS Service (IGS) station which should definitely be used in the processing.

Positions for and data from the NGS CORS are available from the NGS web site.  To obtain data from the Yarmouth, Maine, community base station, contact Mr. Spencer Drake (listed under LIAISON).    To obtain data from the Augusta and Sanford community base stations, contact Messrs. Nate Smith and Mike Hanson, respectively (both listed under LIAISON).  To obtain data from the Quebec base station, contact Mr. Yves Theriault, Ministere des Ressources naturelles (listed under LIAISON).

General specifications for the project are as follows.  At each FBN and CBN site, three sessions of 5 1/2 hours duration for each session shall be observed.  The observing scheme shall be arranged so that for each station, the start time of one of the observing sessions shall be at least 4 hours different from the other two.  The observing scheme shall be arranged to ensure that adjacent FBN and adjacent CBN stations are directly connected in at least one observing session, and at least half of all base lines are repeated.

Specific to the two CORS sites is that for the two reference marks at each site, two sessions of 2 hours each shall be observed.  In order to provide a check, the equipment shall be broken down and reset with a minimum of 30 minutes between the two sessions.  Since the CORS site is to be tied to the nearest FBN/CBN station, the FBN/CBN station must be occupied simultaneously with the two reference marks.  If the occupation of the FBN/CBN station is ancillary to the project, observe the two 2-hour sessions there and break down the equipment as described above.  If the occupation of the FBN/CBN tie station is part of the general FBN/CBN sessions, occupy the station for the entire 5 1/2-hour session with no equipment breakdown.

Specifics for each of the CORS sites are as follows:

(1) At the Bar Harbor CORS, the reference marks are BARH A (no PID) and BARH B (no PID).  The FBN/CBN tie station is EPPING EAST BASE (PID PD1145), a scheduled FBN.  If a backup tie station is needed, contact Doug Hendrickson, N/NGS21 (listed under LIAISON).

(2) At the Eastport CORS, the reference marks are 841 0140 TIDAL 4 (PID PD0007) and 841 0140 L TIDAL (no PID).  (Station 841 0140 TIDAL 4 is also a tidal station  and is to be observed the entire 5 1/2 hour session.)  The FBN/CBN tie station is EASTPORT (PID PD1179), a CBN not  scheduled to be occupied.  The backup tie station is 851 9208 (PID PD1174), also a CBN not scheduled to be occupied.

(3) At the Penobscot CORS, the reference marks are PNB1 A  (no PID) and PNB1 B (no PID).  The FBN/CBN tie station is BANG A (PID AA2846), a scheduled FBN.  The backup tie station  is BANG B (PID AA2845), a station not scheduled to be occupied.

In general, station occupation and observing procedures must be carried out according to appropriate sections of the "NGS Operations Handbook" and the current applicable receiver field manuals.  Data formats and digital file definitions are given in "Input Formats and Specifications of the National Geodetic Survey Data Base," Volume I. Horizontal Control Data, Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee, September 1994, revised and reprinted November 1998.  Success in meeting the accuracy standards will be based on repeatability of measurements and adjustment residuals.

General specifications for the project are given in "Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques," Version 5.0:  dated May 11, 1988, reprinted with corrections August 1, 1989.  Specific project criteria and deviations from the general specifications are given in the following sections.

Project Network - A list (Table 1) and sketch of stations involved in this project will be provided.

Data Acquisition - Data collection must be accomplished as specified in the appropriate dual-frequency receiver field manuals in the compressed mode at a 15-second epoch collection interval.  The GPS receivers must be dual-frequency and full-wavelength.  Track satellites down to a 10-degree elevation angle.

The satellite observing scenario will be provided in Table 2. Sessions will generally begin at two observing windows at least 4 hours apart - 1300 UTC and 1730 UTC.  The observing windows will shift in weekly increments of 30 minutes instead of daily increments of 4 minutes.  Vectors between the project stations shall be measured by single sessions consisting of continuously and simultaneously tracking for 5 1/2 hours.

Each FBN station must be occupied at least three times - twice at one observing window and once at the other.  Each FBN station must be tied to two different bench marks.  This bench mark tie requirement can be satisfied in one or two sessions.  Adjacent FBN stations must be directly connected in at least one observing session, and at least one-half of all FBN base lines must be repeated.  The CORS base lines will be repeated.  CORS and CTCORS data will be used throughout the project.

For this project, each CBN station must also be occupied three times as described above.  However, CBN stations can be tied to adjacent FBN stations if the FBN station is closer than an
adjacent CBN station.  The repeated-base line requirement also applies to the CBN, although a base line consisting of a CBN station and a FBN station (instead of two CBN stations) can also be used.  The two bench mark tie requirement also applies to the CBN.

Record weather data just before, immediately after, and at the mid-point of each session.  Meteorological data shall also be collected immediately after an obvious weather front passes during a session and immediately before it passes, if possible.  Pressure and relative humidity measurements must be made near and at about the height of the GPS antenna phase center.  Indicate in the log the location of the barometer and psychrometer.

Survey operations shall be conducted with due regard to the safety of personnel and equipment.  Contact with the airport traffic control tower is mandatory during surveys at any controlled airports.

Vector Computations - Data management, quality review of collected data, and final vector processing for the FBN survey will be accomplished using PAGES.  Vectors shall be computed in the International Earth Rotation Service Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) system, using the most current epoch and precise IGS ephemerides.  Use 30-second epoch intervals for data processing.  Monument positions will be used for CORS when available, otherwise, antenna reference point (ARP) positions will be used. (Survey Section B will be responsible for Maine.)

The data will be processed in 24-hour sessions (or slightly longer if the observation session crosses 0000 UTC) in order to utilize the 24-hour data sets collected at the CORS and CTCORS.
The “fixed baseline” option in PAGES will be used to compute direct baselines between the CORS and CTCORS.  The “fixed baseline” scheme will depend on the location and reliability of
the CORS and CTCORS used in this project.

For stations where weather data are not available, or are suspect, predicted values computed based on the station's latitude, height above mean sea level, and time and day of year will be used.  Use 15 degrees as the cutoff elevation angle in data processing.  A cutoff angle of 10 degrees may be used when necessary to improve results.

The type of final solution, L1 versus ion-free, will depend on the length of the vectors.  For vectors which are less than 10 km in length, the final reduction will consist of a L1 fixed solution.  These vectors will be computed in a separate processing session from the longer vectors computed in an ion-free solution.

In general, vectors greater than 10 km in length are to be computed in an ion-free fixed, or partially-fixed, solution.  In all cases, integer ambiguities will be fixed for each vector whenever possible.

For the three pairs of CORS reference marks, the CORS antenna at each site will be used as the reference station in the data processing.

The quality of collected data shall be determined from the plots generated from PAGES, by analysis of repeated vectors and/or comparison of station positions, and free adjustment residuals and/or loop misclosures.  In addition, a constrained adjustment constraining all CORS will be performed.
 
Survey Section B will perform all quality checks for conformance with NGS format standards such as executing software programs COMPGB, OBSCHK, and OBSDES.  The final ITRF vectors will be assessed and transformed to the NAD 83 coordinate system using program ADJUST.

The data and results will be submitted to the Observation and Analysis Division.  All B-files and G-files must be complete, including *25* and *27* records.

Station Descriptions - Station recovery notes must be submitted in computer-readable form using DDPROC software.  Include the name, address, and, if public ownership, the telephone number of the responsible party.  Do not include the telephone numbers of private property owners.

Special Requirements - Antenna set-up is critical to the success of this project.  Fixed-height tripods are preferred for all receivers.  The plumbing bubbles on the antenna pole of the fixed-height tripod must be shaded when plumbing is performed.  They must be shaded for 3 minutes before checking and/or re-plumbing.  Also, the perpendicularity of the poles must be checked at the beginning of the project and any other time there is suspicion of a problem.

When a fixed-height tripod is not used, the height of the antenna must be carefully measured to prevent station set-up blunders from occurring.  Tribrachs used for these set-ups must be checked and adjusted when necessary.  Totally independent measurements of the antenna height above the mark in both metric and English units must be made before and after each session.  Someone other than the observer must check the measurement computations by carefully comparing measurements and then entering his/her initials on the log.

Some GPS antennas have detachable ground planes and radomes.  In order to help identify what exactly was used at a particular site, it would be useful to have a snapshot of the setup.  All
co-observers should take a photograph of the setup, if possible, with a close-up of the antenna as viewed from the side.

In addition, a rubbing of the stamping of the mark must be made at each visit to a station.  If it is impossible to make a rubbing of the mark, a plan sketch of the mark must be substituted, accurately recording all markings.

Also, for each station visited, a visibility obstruction diagram must be prepared and the TO-REACH description carefully checked for errors or omissions.

Lastly, the following must be recorded at each occupation of a station:

     (1) receiver manufacturer,
     (2) antenna manufacturer,
     (3) receiver model number (part number),
     (4) antenna model number (part number),
     (5) the complete serial number of the receiver, and
     (6) the complete serial number of the antenna.

Success of this project requires that the highest quality GPS data be collected.  Therefore, during each station occupation, the operators shall carefully monitor the operation of the receivers.  Any irregularities in the data due to equipment malfunction, DOD adjustment of the satellite orbit, obstructions, etc., must be reported to the Field Operations Branch, N/NGS41, as soon as possible and noted on the observing log.  If the quality of observations for an observing session is questionable, notify the Field Operations Branch immediately.

The survey team shall not depart the project area until they have quality reviewed all data, advised N/NGS21, and notified N/NGS41.
 

Visibility tables and plots of the present satellite constellation for July 5, 2000, have been reviewed and two observing windows selected.  For operational use, current data must be generated with Trimble mission planning software or from program SATMAP.

A project report and data listed in Annex L of "Input Formats and Specifications of the NGS Data Base" and in the attached addendum for the adjustment portion of the project must be transmitted.  Any data considered suspect as to quality in achieving accuracy standards should be sent via FedEx immediately for office review.  Backup of transmitted data must be held until notified by the Field Operations Branch, N/NGS41.

The data set collected during the project shall be named "mero070d.774".  All records in connection with this project shall be titled “MAINE FBN, 2000".  The project number (accession number) is GPS-1492.

LIAISON:

Liaison must be maintained with designated offices at the National Geodetic Survey headquarters located at:
          1315 East-West Highway
          Silver Spring, Maryland  20910-3282

Questions and problems concerning survey field operations should be directed to:
          William T. McLemore, Jr.
          Chief, Field Operations Branch
          Observation and Analysis Division
         N/NGS41
         Telephone:  301-713-3215, ext. 117
          Fax:  301-713-4327
          e-Mail: Bill.Mclemore@noaa.gov

Questions and problems concerning adjustment processing should be directed to:
          Maralyn L. Vorhauer
          Observation and Analysis Division
          N/NGS4
          Telephone:  301-713-3176, ext. 104
          Fax:  301-713-4327
          e-Mail: Maralyn.Vorhauer@noaa.gov

Questions and problems concerning vector processing should be directed to:
          Juliana Blackwell
          Field Operations Branch
          Observation and Analysis Division
          N/NGS41
          Telephone: 301-713-3215, ext. 108
          Fax: 301-713-4327
          e-Mail: Juliana.Blackwell@noaa.gov

Questions and problems concerning using CORS data in processing should be directed to:
          Neil Weston
          Geosciences Research Division
          N/NGS6
          Telephone:  301-713-2847, ext. 202
          Fax:  301-713-4475
          e-Mail: Neil.D.Weston@noaa.gov

Questions and problems which could affect the technical adequacy of the project should be directed to:
         Stephen J. Frakes (Douglas R. Hendrickson)
          Chief, Project Development Branch
          Spatial Reference System Division
         N/NGS21
         Telephone:  301-713-3194, ext. 111 (ext. 127)
          Fax:  301-713-4316
          e-Mail: Steve.Frakes@noaa.gov (Doug.Hendrickson@noaa.gov)

The NGS project coordinator is:
          Jeff Olsen
          Observation and Analysis Division
          N/NGS4
          Telephone: 301-713-3215, ext. 120
          Fax: 301-713-4327
          e-Mail: Jeff.Olsen@noaa.gov

For tide site information, contact:
          Bruce Servary
          Center for Operational Oceanographic
             Products and Services
          Requirements and Development Division
          N/OPS1
          Telephone: 301-713-2897, ext. 183
          e-Mail: Bruce.Servary@noaa.gov

The contacts for the CORS sites (allow 3 or 4 days notice) are as follows:

for Bar Harbor:
          Mr. Gordon Longsworth
          College of the Atlantic GIS Laboratory
          105 Eden Street
          Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
          Telephone: 207-288-2271 or 207-288-5501, ext. 277
          Fax: 207-288-4126
          e-Mail: gordonl@ecology.coa.edu

for Eastport:
          Mr. John Verge
          Eastport Elementary School
          100 High Street
          Eastport, Maine 04631
          Telephone: 207-853-6252

for Penobscot:
          Lt. Joe Chop
          U.S. Coast Guard
          Supervisor-Shore Support
          (DGPS) C2CEN
          4000 Coast Guard Blvd.
          Portsmouth, Virginia 23703
          Telephone: 757-686-4064
          Fax: 757-686-4018

To obtain data from the Quebec, Canada, base station, contact:
          Mr. Yves Theriault, M.Sc.
          Service de la geodesie
          Ministere des Ressources naturelles
          5700, 4e Avenue Ouest, bureau E-305
          Charlesbourg (Quebec) Canada G1H 6R1
          Telephone: 418-627-6281, ext. 2009
          Fax: 418-646-9424
(The web site address is: http://www.mrn.gouv.qc.ca)

The coordinator for the CBN is:
          Mr. Tim LeSiege
          Maine Department of Transportation
          16 State House Station
          Child Street
          Augusta, Maine 04333
          Telephone: 207-287-2330
          e-Mail: tim.lesiege@state.me.us

Other CBN contacts are:

          Mr. Tim Patch
          Survey & Geodetic Consultants, Inc.
          12 Westbrook Commons
          Westbrook, Maine 04092
          Telephone: 207-878-7800
          e-Mail: sgc@gwi.net

          Mr. Charles Brown
          Sebago Technics
          1 Chabot Street
          Westbrook, Maine 04092
          Telephone: 207-856-0277
          e-Mail: teama@sebagotechnics.com

          Mr. John Lloyd
          James Sewall, Inc.
          147 Center Street
          Old Town, Maine 04468
          Telephone: 207-827-4456
          e-Mail: john.lloyd@JWS.com

          Mr. Jim Dorsky
          Coffin Engineering & Surveying, LLC
          RR 7 Box 887 A
          Cony Road
          Augusta, Maine 04330
          Telephone: 207-623-9475
          e-Mail: jdorsky@coffineng.com

          Mr. Larry Warren
          ACI
          6004 Cranberry Circle
          Carrabassett Valley, Maine 04947
          Telephone: 207-237-2266
          e-Mail: lkwarren@somtel.com

          Mr. John Giles
          City of Portland Public Works
          55 Portland Street
          Portland, Maine 04101-2921
          Telephone: 207-874-8842
          e-Mail: jag@ci.portland.me.us

          Mr. John Swan
          Owen Haskell, Inc.
          16 Casco Street
          Portland, Maine 04101
          Telephone: 207-774-0424
          e-Mail: OHASKELL@AOL.COM

          Mr. Spencer Drake
          Maine Technical Source
          494 U.S. Route 1
          Yarmouth, Maine 04096
          Telephone: 207-846-5143
          Fax: 207-846-3674
          e-Mail: info@mainetechnicalsource.com

          Mr. Nate Smith
          Augusta Sanitary District
          170 Hospital Street
          Augusta, Maine 04330
          Telephone: 207-622-6184
          e-Mail: hwood@augustasanitary.org

          Mr. Mike Hanson
          Sanford Sewage District
          River Street
          Springvale, Maine 04083
          Telephone: 207-324-5313
          e-Mail: sansewer@psouth.com

The contact for the Quebec, Canada, CBN co-observing is:
          Mr. Bernard Perron
          Service de la geodesie
          Ministere des Ressources naturelles
          5700, 4e Avenue Ouest, bureau E-305
          Charlesbourg (Quebec) Canada G1H 6R1
          Telephone: 418-627-6281, ext. 2010
          Fax: 418-646-9424
(See the above contact, Mr. Yves Theriault, for the web site address.)
 
Names and telephone numbers of local contacts are given in the station description material.

ADDRESS:

Keep N/NGS41 informed of the party's post office, physical address, and telephone number at all times.

PUBLICITY:

See "NGS Operations Handbook," Section 1.4.1.

EXPENSES:

FBN expenses for this project will be charged to task number 8K6D2000.  Expenses for the CORS FBN/CBN ties will be charged to task number 8K6D4000.  Expenses for the NDGPS site at Penobscot will be charged to task number BK6D0000.

TRAVEL:

Travel and per diem are authorized in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations, Part 301-11, Per Diem Allowances.  Current per diem rates were effective January 1, 2000.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

Please acknowledge receipt of these instructions in your Monthly Report.

cc:  N/NGS - D. Zilkoski*
     N/NGS - S. Misenheimer*
     N/NGS1 - G. Mitchell
     N/NGS11 - S. Cofer
     N/NGS21 - S. Frakes
     N/NGS21 - R. Anderson
     N/NGS21 - D. Hendrickson*
     N/NGS22 - T. Soler
     N/NGS3 - E. Allen
     N/NGS4 - E. Wade
     N/NGS4 - M. Vorhauer
     N/NGS4 - D. Hoar
     N/NGS4 - J. Olsen
     N/NGS41 - W. McLemore
     N/NGS41 - J. Blackwell
     N/NGS412 - D. Callahan
     N/NGS5 - R. Snay
     N/NGS6 - N. Weston
     N/OPS1 - B. Servary
     FGCS Members*
     Tim LeSiege, Maine Department of Transportation
     Tim Patch, Survey & Geodetic Consultants, Inc.
     Charles Brown, Sebago Technics
     John Lloyd, James Sewall, Inc.
     Jim Dorsky, Coffin Engineering & Surveying, LLC
     Larry Warren, ACI
     John Giles, City of Portland Public Works
     John Swan, Owen Haskell, Inc.
     Spencer Drake, Maine Technical Source
     Nate Smith, Augusta Sanitary District
     Mike Hanson, Sanford Sewage District
     Gordon Longsworth, College of the Atlantic GIS Laboratory
     John Verge, Eastport Elementary School
     Lt. Joe Chop, U.S. Coast Guard
     Bernard Perron, Ministere des Ressources naturelles
     Yves Theriault, Ministere des Ressources naturelles
     Hubert Rousseau, Ministere des Ressources naturelles
* first page only

Free adjustment in NAD 83 (UNIX run).
Plots of the free adjustment created by running “plotres_prompt.bsh” on a UNIX server.  Plots require a printer that supports postscript.  The output file (long.out) contains a list of residuals which may be sorted using the following commands:

 vi long.out
 :1,$ !sort +0.47 (sorts horizontal residuals)
 :1,$ !sort +0.71 (sorts vertical residuals)

(OPTIONAL) Constrained horizontal adjustment holding NGS CORS positions and ellipsoid heights.
Final combined Blue Book file (ASCII required) with *86* records (GEOID99).
Final description file (ASCII required.)
Final G-file (ASCII required.)
OBSCHK output.*
CHKDDESC output.*
OBSDES output.*
 *Any errors or warning messages must be explained.

Clifton S. Middleton
Project Director, Survey Section B

Charles W. Challstrom
Director, National Geodetic Survey

BACKGROUND:

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS), in accordance with the NGS Strategic Plan, is engaging in a campaign of observing stations of the Federal Base Network (FBN) to complete the ellipsoidal and orthometric height components of the FBN. Requirements for field reconnaissance to support the upcoming survey on the East Coast are outlined below.

The FBN on the East Coast consists of 135 stations in 13 states and the District of Columbia (lists and sketches provided separately) that must be reconned. If a FBN station is not recoverable, a nearby station (preferably a bench mark) suitable for GPS should be recovered and the office informed.

The FBNs break down as follows:

West Virginia 10
Virginia 19
Maryland 10
District of Columbia 1
Pennsylvania 18
Delaware 2
New Jersey 10
New York 25
Massachusetts 9
Vermont 5
New Hampshire 5
Maine 16
Connecticut 4
Rhode Island 1

(For reasons of scheduling purposes, the reconn information should be submitted in thirds.)

Of note in Virginia, as of August 16, 1999, FBN station J 335 (PID FY1373) had been reported destroyed by Mr. Bill Wagner, RLS, of North Carolina. His telephone number is (336) 786-1485.

Of note in Connecticut, FBN station MERIDEN (PID LX2440) has been found destroyed and will be replaced by PACS station MMK A. A description will be provided.

Additional bench marks to serve as bench mark ties need to be reconned as well. The bench mark reconnaissance breaks down as follows:

WEST VIRGINIA
Three bench marks need to be reconned in the following areas:
(1) in the area formed by stations R HAYES, I07 A, and ARP 2;
(2) in the area formed by stations ARP 2, I07 A, and KEEPORT AZ MK; and
(3) in the area formed by stations KEEPORT AZ MK, ARP 2, and 12V A.

VIRGINIA
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

MARYLAND
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

PENNSYLVANIA
Eight bench marks need to be reconned in the following areas:
(1) in the area formed by stations RICH, CLARPORT, and KIM RESET;
(2) in the area formed by stations KIM RESET, CLARPORT, and CONCORD RESET RM 4;
(3) in the area formed by stations CLARPORT, CLEAPORT, and BOSSLER;
(4) in the area formed by stations CLEAPORT, 0 0, and MIFFPORT;
(5) in the area formed by stations BOSSLER, MIFFPORT, and FULOP;
(6) in the area formed by stations MIFFPORT, FULOP, and EMIGS RM 3;
(7) in the area formed by stations BLOOMPORT, EMIGS RM 3, and BEARTOWN 2; and
(8) in the area formed by stations OAKLEY, BLOOMPORT, and POCOPORT.

DELAWARE
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

NEW JERSEY
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

NEW YORK
Six bench marks need to be reconned in the following areas:
(1) in the area formed by stations LOCK 29, THORNDEN, and G 463;
(2) in the area formed by stations THORNDEN, SIDPORT, and COBLESKILL 93-1;
(3) in the area formed by stations COBLESKILL 93-1, RENSPORT, andGPS 51-006-93;
(4) in the area formed by stations EDINBURG, COBLESKILL 93-1, andRENSPORT;
(5) in the area formed by stations ARP 2 ART, YORK, EDINBURG, andTHORNDEN; and
(6) in the area formed by stations RICHVILLE, ARP 2 ART, and YORK.

MASSACHUSETTS
Two bench marks need to be reconned in the following areas:
(1) between stations MOUNT HOLYOKE RESET and 10488 and
(2) between stations KELLY and PROSPECT TAUNTON.

VERMONT
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.

MAINE
One bench mark needs to be reconned in the following area:
(1) in the area formed by stations GREENVILLE APT 2, MILLPORT, OLD TOWN, and CARR RESET.

CONNECTICUT
Two bench marks need to be reconned in the following area:
Anywhere within the vicinity of the four FBN stations.

RHODE ISLAND -
No additional bench marks need to be reconned.
Also, in six of the states, there are FBN stations "close together." For each pair of stations listed below, reconn both stations and indicate which one is preferable to use as an FBN (i.e., accessibility, etc.).

In VIRGINIA:
(1) ZDCA & ZDCB and
(2) HENR & CAPE

In NEW JERSEY:
ACYK & ACYL

In NEW YORK:
(1) YOUA & YOUB;
(2) ZNYA & ZNYB; and
(3) STAT & MONT

In NEW HAMPSHIRE:
(1) ZBWA & ZBWB and
(2) PORT & CONS

In MASSACHUSETTS:
CHAL & CHAT

In MAINE:
(1) BRUA & BRUB and
(2) BANA & BANB

Lastly, tide stations along the Atlantic Ocean coast will also require reconnaissance. Currently, only nine sites in Virginia have been selected; other states will be provided as they become available. Descriptions will be provided.

At the tide sites, priority should be given to using the primary bench mark (PBM). If that is not suitable for GPS occupation, then the other marks listed should be given priority. If none of those are suitable for GPS occupation, then other bench marks at the site have preference. If no marks at the site can be used, a bench mark no further than 2 km from the tide site can be selected. If still no marks can be used, the site should be skipped.

Since Central Temporary Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CTCORS) throughout the state will be used in the GPS portion of the project, the reconn party should note which stations are suitable to serve as such (i.e., a receiver must be able to be left unattended for 24 hours a day for a several-day period).

RECONNAISSANCE SPECIFICATIONS:

Contact the following people on receipt of these instructions to begin coordination of reconnaissance activities:

For West Virginia:
Mr. David Sypolt
West Virginia Association of Land Surveyors
P.O. Box 389
Kingwood, WV 26537-0389
PHONE: (304) 329-2325
E-mail: tymlofp@access.mountain.net

For Virginia:
Mr. Mike Zmuda
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 East Broad Street, Room 914
Richmond, VA 23219
PHONE: (804) 786-2565
E-mail: zmuda_mw@vdot.state.va.us

For Maryland:
Mr. Donald M. Mulcare
Maryland State Highway Administration
Plats and Surveys Division
Mail Stop M-101
707 North Calvert Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
PHONE: (410) 209-5022
E-mail: dmulcar@ibm.net

For the District of Columbia:
Mr. Richard Drist
District of Columbia
Surveyor's Office
941 North Capitol Street
Washington, DC 20002
PHONE: (202) 442-4660

For Delaware:
Mr. Edward Carlson
NOAA, National Geodetic Survey, N/NGS21
PHONE: (301) 713-3196
E-mail: edc@ngs.noaa.gov

For Pennsylvania:
Mr. Brad Foltz
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Building 28
Harrisburg International Airport
Middletown, PA 17057
PHONE: (717) 783-1519, ext. 3002

For New Jersey:
Mr. Michael Cline
New Jersey Department of Transportation
Geodetic Survey Section, CN600
1035 Parkway Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625
PHONE: (609) 530-5654
FAX: (609) 530-3689
E-mail: mcline@neptune.ngs.noaa.gov

For New York:
Mr. David Hess
New York State Department of Transportation
Design Services Bureau
Building 4, Room 214B
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12232-0432
PHONE: (518) 485-1723
E-mail: dhess@gw.dot.state.ny.us

Mr. Neil Watson
TVGA Engineering & Surveying
1000 Maple Road
Elma, NY 14059
PHONE: (716) 655-8842
E-mail: tvga@buffnet.net

Mr. Bob Prescott
Monroe County Department of Transportation
50 West Main Street
Suite 6100
Rochester, NY 14614-1231
PHONE: (716) 428-4811
E-mail: pemibob@aol.com

For Connecticut:
Mr. Bob Baron
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Unit 501, Room 4118
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06111
PHONE: (860) 594-2510

For Rhode Island:
Ms. Kathy Chetian
Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Survey Section
2 Capitol Hill
Providence, RI 02903
PHONE: (401) 222-2815

For Massachusetts:
Mr. Curt Crow
Massachusetts Highway Department
Ten Park Plaza, Room 7410
Boston, MA 02116
PHONE: (617) 973-8466
FAX: (617) 973-8038
E-mail: clcrow@aol.com
Federal Express Address
4 Arnold Drive
Bow, NH 03304

For New Hampshire:
Mr. Curt Crow
New Hampshire Department of Transportation
Survey Section
P.O. Box 483
J.O. Morton Building
Concord, NH 03302-0483
PHONE: (603) 271-1600
Fax: (603) 271-3914
E-mail: clcrow@aol.com
Federal Express Address
4 Arnold Drive
Bow, NH 03304

For Vermont:
Mr. Jim P. Richardson
Vermont Agency of Transportation
National Life Building
Technical Services
Drawer 33
Montpelier, VT 05633
PHONE: (802) 828-2813
FAX: (802) 828-2024
E-mail: james.richardson@state.vt.us
Jprinvt@hotmail.com

For Maine:
Mr. Tim LeSiege
Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station
Child Street
Augusta, ME 04333
PHONE: (207) 287-2330
E-mail: tim.lesiege@state.me.us

Reconnaissance shall consist of a review of existing control, field recovery and mark maintenance, station selection, and compilation of updated station descriptions in standard NGS Blue Book format.

LIAISON:

For concerns regarding survey field operations, contact:

William T. McLemore, Jr.
Chief, Field Operations Branch, N/NGS41
PHONE: (301) 713-3215, ext. 117
FAX: (301) 713-4327
E-mail

For concerns regarding survey design or specifications, contact:

Stephen J. Frakes (Doug Hendrickson)
Chief, Project Development Branch, N/NGS21
PHONE: (301) 713-3194, ext. 111 (ext. 127)
FAX: (301) 713-4316
E-mail  (E-mail)

For tide site information, contact:
Mr. Bruce Servary
Center for Operational Oceanographic
Products and Services
Requirements and Development Division, N/OPS1
PHONE: (301) 713-2897, ext. 183
E-mail: Bruce.Servary@noaa.gov

DATA:

All records for this project shall be archived under the title "EAST COAST FBN, 2000" and accession number GPS-1188. Digital files shall be archived under filename "ecro020d.726".

REPORTS:

A summary of reconnaissance activities shall be included in the final project report.

ADDRESSES:

Keep N/NGS41 informed of the party's post office, physical address, and telephone number at all times.

PUBLICITY:

See NGS Operations Handbook, Section 1.4.1.

EXPENSES:

FBN and tide site expenses for this project will be charged to task number 8K6D2000.

TRAVEL:

Travel and per diem are authorized in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations, Part 301-11, Per Diem Expenses, and Appendix A to Chapter 301. Current per diem rates were effective January 1, 1999.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Please acknowledge receipt of these instructions in the Monthly Report and Journal.

Attachments

cc:
N/NGS - D. Zilkoski*
N/NGS - S. Misenheimer*
N/NGS1 - G. Mitchell
N/NGS1x1 - M. Cline
N/NGS1x1 - C. Crow
N/NGS1x1 - D. Mulcare
N/NGS1x1 - J. Richardson
N/NGS11 - S. Cofer
N/NGS21 - S. Frakes
N/NGS21 - R. Anderson
N/NGS21 - E. Carlson
N/NGS21 - D. Hendrickson*
N/NGS22 - T. Soler
N/NGS3 - E. Allen
N/NGS4 - E. Wade
N/NGS4 - D. Hoar
N/NGS41 - W. McLemore
N/OPS1 - B. Servary
FGCS Members*

David Sypolt, West Virginia Association of Land Surveyors
Mike Zmuda, Virginia Department of Transportation
Richard Drist, District of Columbia Surveyor's Office
Brad Foltz, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
David Hess, New York State Department of Transportation
Neil Watson, TVGA Engineering & Surveying
Bob Prescott, Monroe County Department of Transportation
Bob Baron, Connecticut Department of Transportation
Kathy Chetian, Rhode Island Department of Transportation
Tim LeSiege, Maine Department of Transportation

* first page only