Date: February 16, 2005
Contact: Sandra Brunet
Phone: 340-774-2991
LT. GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES COMMITMENT BY NOAA-NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY
OF 2 “CORS” STATIONS AS RESULT OF RELATIONSHIP FOSTERED
– DETAILS TO BE SHARED AT UPCOMING GIS CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY
HIS OFFICE.
Lieutenant Governor Vargrave Richards announces that the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration/National Geodetic Survey (NOAA/NGS) has
committed to providing two (2) CORS (continuously operating reference
stations) to the Virgin Islands as a result of the relationship fostered
with staff of this federal agency.
These CORS facilities will be maintained by NOAA/NGS staff and on-site
training will be provided by NGS Staff for local agencies. Both CORS
have been contributed at a cost to NOAA/NGS of $100,000.00, plus required
maintenance and training efforts.
“I am pleased and grateful that NOAA/NGS has contributed to the
efforts of my Office and to the Territory in driving overall improvements
to the geodetic framework of the Territory and the required ‘Leveling
Project’ to enhance GPS/GIS systems,” Lieutenant Governor
Richards stated.
“It is my understanding that these CORS stations, one for St.
Croix and one for St. Thomas, will provide Global Positioning System
(GPS) carrier phase and code range measurements in support of 3-dimensional
positioning activities throughout the Caribbean, as CORS facilities
presently do throughout the United States and the Territories,”
the Lieutenant Governor added. “I am also appreciative that NOAA/NGS,
as a result of our good relations, will also contribute CORS facilities
to Puerto Rico.”
Additionally, Lieutenant Governor Richards announces that his Office,
in partnership with NOAA will host a conference on “Coastal Protection,
Infrastructure Development and Height Modernization throughout the Caribbean,”
at which technical information will be provided in detail regarding
the full capability and implications of the CORS contributed.
Presentations at this important conference being held at the Marriott
Frenchman’s Reef Resort on March 2nd and 3rd, 2005 will be led
by NOAA, FEMA (NY & PR), and Caribbean experts from the University
of the Virgin Islands and the BVI on topics ranging from GIS Coordination,
Height Modernization; Global Positioning Systems, Remote Sensing and
other technical areas relevant to implementing proactive mapping and
sensory strategies to address natural disasters and other environmental
concerns.
Lieutenant Governor Richards states: “As global environmental
shifts and changes occur, the conference becomes even more critical
and discussion of areas relevant to infrastructure development and geospatial
improvement and coordination affords us the opportunity for better planning
in areas such as our comprehensive land and water use plans; tourism;
real estate; transportation, hazard mitigation and overall economic
development.”
