OENEHAL
102
UNITED INAT1UNS
C AtNU SUCIAL CUUNCiL
20 October
ENGLISH
commission pui ahucM
Sixth fliti teel Nations Megional Cartographic Conference for Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10-17 November
COMMISSION FOR GEODESY IN AFRICA
The African Gravity Standardization Net (AGSN)
by Dr E. AJAKATYE
Chairman, Gravity Network Committee Commission for Geodesy in Africa Faculty of Natural Science
University of Jos Jos, Nigeria
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The Commission for Geodesy .in Africa has initiated a proposal for ..'■.'' ■ ; ,' estahl.ish.inp an African Gravity Standardization Net (AGSN) which will provide'1 ■ ■■,■ ;' a homogeneous continental reference, standard for national mapping programmes,;.' ■'■■'.'■'.■
in Africa. Tlie AGSN project will also promote the use of gravimetry as an ;;". : ■'■ . effective tool in the searcli for economic minerals in Africa by training African'- '' '•
geophysicists in the observation and processing of gravity data. ., ;■ , .. '■','!.
The project proposal includes at least one gravity station (with two . ■, ■ '.
excentres) in each country tied to two or more other stations in the net. . ;.■' , ■.
Absolute control would bo provided by about ten absolute stations spread through-. ' out the African continent. At least two absolute stations would observe each' .■ "
site. Gravimeter connections between stations in the net would be made with four1 LaCo.sto fj Romhcrp i nstruments observed in an A-B-A sequence. . • ■ ■
The project is proposed to commence with training programmes in French' ■ ■ " ' and English. From the attendees of tliese training sessions one team of four
African observers and back-up teams would be chosen to carry out the measurements, -t led by an African project leader this small observing team would travel by chartered.
aircraft throughout Africa. Some twelve months would be spent making the
observations. Upon completion the observations would be sent to several African
agencies for analysis and adjustment. A conference would then be held to compare results and decide the strategy for the final adjustment.The style and form of the adjustment, description of stations, etc.
would conform to international standards. The original and adjusted data . . would bo nvoUahlt* thtmijth vai*loit? Affietlii centres, ;
