Case Study: Ohio State University restores geodetic reference frames and captures rapid, precise seismic ground motion with Trimble GPS solutions

Major earthquakes present challenges and opportunities for scientists and surveyors. Things get even more interesting when the earthquakes come in pairs

UNAVCO, working with equipment partner Trimble and funded by rapid NSF grants, responded to the twin 2010 disasters in Haiti (M7.0, Jan. 12) and Chile (M8.8, Feb. 27) that destroyed infrastructure and displaced national survey markers. Scientists and surveyors urgently needed to rebuild geodetic reference frames and capture both coseismic and post‑seismic ground motion so emergency planners and researchers could understand how the ground moved and begin reconstruction.

UNAVCO tested, configured and shipped compact GPS/GNSS kits and Trimble NetRS reference stations to field teams, enabling rapid deployment of 35 observation sites in Haiti and 25 continuous GPS stations in Chile. High‑rate GPS data (15‑second intervals) produced 3‑D displacement vectors—revealing ~1 m shifts near the Haitian epicenter and >3 m crustal movement near Concepción and 1.5–2 m uplift near Lebu—restoring and expanding national reference frames, informing hazard maps and long‑term post‑seismic studies, and improving survey and reconstruction efforts.

Ohio State University

Mike Bevis

Geophysicist