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UNAVCO Resources: GNSS Station Monumentation
UNAVCO Resources: GNSS Station Monumentation
[ Current as of December 2008 .]
UNAVCO can provide assistance with design, purchasing, and construction of geodetic monumentation to NSF- and NASA-funded science groups. We currently support and recommend the following monument types for permanent, long-term, and campaign GNSS site installations. Click on the links below for more information on each.
Things to consider in choosing a monument type include stability (precision) needed, funds available, time available, site accessibility, site security, substrate, and materials available. For details on site selection and additional information on monumentation in general consider reading: Physical Site Specifications: Geodetic Site Monumentation .
Permanent and Long-term Monument Comparison Table
|
Type
|
Stability*
|
Cost**
|
Install Time
|
Labor
|
Substrate
|
Site Impact
|
|
 |
Deep drilled braced (permanent) |
 high |
 $7,500-15,000 |
 2-4 d |
 3-4 |
BR, U
|
high |
 |
Shallow drilled braced (permanent) |
high |
 $800+ |
1-3 d |
2-3 |
BR
|
med |
|
Shallow braced (non-drilled) (permanent) |
 med-high |
$800 |
1 d |
2-3 |
U
|
med |
 |
Concrete pillar (permanent) |
med |
$500-2,000 |
1-3 d |
2-3 |
BR, U
|
med |
 |
Thermopile (permanent) |
med-high |
$6,700-16,000 |
1-4 d |
1 |
U
|
high |
 |
Polar mast (permanent, long-term, campaign) |
med-high |
$500 |
 1 hr |
1 |
BR
|
 low |
 |
Shallow foundation mast (permanent) |
med-high |
$150 |
1-2 d |
1 |
BR
|
low |
 |
Stainless steel pin w/ mast (permanent, long-term, campaign) |
med-high |
$130 |
1 hr |
1 |
BR, R
|
low |
 |
5/8" all-thread (permanent, long-term, campaign) |
med-high |
$30 |
1 hr |
1 |
BR, R
|
low |
 |
Tech 2000 (campaign) |
 low |
$600 |
< 1-2 hr |
1 |
BR
|
low |
 |
Monument Marker (campaign) |
med-high |
$15-50 |
<1 hr |
1 |
BR, R
|
low |
  |
Building / other | med-high |
$150-200 |
<1 hr |
1 |
BR | low |
Install time: Estimated # of days to complete
Labor: Minimum # of people required
Substrate: BR = bedrock, U = unconsolidated, R = rooftop (parapet)
Cost: low = < $200, med = < $1000, high = > $5000 -- Note that these are very rough approximations. The actual cost of a monument installation may vary depending upon site conditions and materials required.
Site (Environmental) Impact:
high : large footprint, construction disturbance potentially lasting several years
med : modest footprint, construction disturbance small, short duration
low : hardly any footprint, construction disturbance negligible
*depends upon the material the monument is set within
**cost for monumentation only; does not include antenna mount or anything above (SCIGN mount, raydome, etc.)
For other monumentation ideas, check out: