GPS World, March 2011

ON THE EDGE Application Challenge topographic engineering unit was responsible for providing coalition forces with GIS analysis map production and geodetic surveys For my second tour in Iraq 2007 2008 I was the platoon sergeant which is equivalent to a project manager in a surveying firm During the 15 month deployment my team performed various survey projects including 10 airport obstruction surveys a dam deformation survey more than 30 artillery and targetacquisition radar surveys base camp designs site layouts and ground truth data collection for photogrammetry and remote sensing projects We also established a nationwide database of all survey control stations in Iraq The CORS was installed using Trimble NetRS receivers and Zephyr geodetic antennas Trimble GPSNet and GPSBase software were used to process the continuous satellite data for inclusion in the worldwide CORS network for public use Field survey operations were KEY COORDINATORS for the installation of the first Iraqi owned and maintained Continuously Operating Reference Station CORS From left are Hussein Malkawi McKenzie and Allen conducted using Trimble 5700 GPS equipment Traveling in Iraq was a major obstacle for survey operations We had a choice either fly on helicopters or drive military vehicles Flying in helicopters with survey equipment was a challenge because we could never fit all our personnel and equipment However it was much safer than ground transportation through the dangerous roads of Iraq In one incident we were building a bridge in Baiji to help Iraqis and coalition forces cross the Tigris River after the original bridge was destroyed during the 2003 invasion Our vehicle hit an improvised explosive device IED Some of the survey equipment was damaged but we went back the next day and eventually built the bridge ANAS MALKAWI served 10 years in the Army as a geodetic surveyor and senior technical engineer He is currently enrolled in Old Dominion Universitys Civil Engineering program while working at Transocean International Corporation as the Iraq program manager THE 2005 U S BRITISH IGRS TEAM Despite the difficulties the soldiers I am honored to have served with stayed motivated and performed exceptionally every day by providing accurate data that saved lives THE INITIAL PLAN of IGRS and placement of CORS HARN through the Southern provinces THE TEAM INSTALLS a HARNS in the southern province of Basra Since 2005 Iraqi engineers have attempted to recover HARNS but many were destroyed by locals who thought they indicated buried treasure COPYRIGHT 2011 QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP LLC All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including by photocopy recording or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the publisher Questex Media Group LLC Authorization to photocopy items for internal educational or personal use or the internal educational or personal use of specific clients is granted by Questex Media Group LLC for libraries and other users registered with the Copyright Clearance Center 222 Rosewood Dr Danvers MA 01923 978 750 8400 fax 978 750 4470 For uses beyond those listed above please direct your written request to questexpermissions@ theygsgroup com or 800 494 9051 Ext 100 PRIVACY NOTICE Questex Media Group provides certain customer contact data such as customers names addresses phone numbers and e mail addresses to third parties who wish to promote relevant products services and other opportunities which may be of interest to you If you do not want Questex Media Group to make your contact information available to third parties for marketing purposes simply call toll free 866 344 1315 or 1 847 763 9594 Outside the US between the hours of 8 30 am and 5 pm CT and a customer service representative will assist to remove your name from Questexs lists GPS WORLD ISSN 1048 5104 is published monthly 12 issues yr by Questex Media Group LLC 306 W Michigan St Ste 200 Duluth MN 55802 SUBSCRIPTION RATES U S and possessions 1 year 12 issues 7370 2 years 24 issues 12870 Canada and Mexico 9570 1 year 15070 2 years All other countries 13970 1 year 25520 2 years International pricing includes air expedited service Single copies prepaid only 7 in the United States 9 all other countries Back issues if available are 19 in the U S and possessions 23 all other countries Include 650 per order plus 2 per additional copy for U S postage and handling Periodicals postage paid at Duluth MN 55806 and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Please send address changes to GPS WORLD P O Box 1270 Skokie IL 60076 8270 USA Canadian G S T number 840 033 278 RT0001 Publications Mail Agreement Number 40017597 Printed in the U S A GPS World March 2011 www gpsworld com 50