Data collection, communications and processing in the Sumatran GPS array (SuGAr)

The Sumatran GPS array spans approximately

1300 km along the West coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. Almost

40 monitoring stations periodically collect high accuracy

continuous GPS readings, and convey these to a central server

for post-processing in Singapore. Solutions from the array

data are used to provide precise measurements of the

deformation of the earth's surface over large distances: in

effect allowing the tracking of tectonic movements, and aiding

in the understanding of seismic events in this highly active

area of the earth's crust. Invaluable SuGAr-provided

scientific data has been published over recent years, however

this paper will discuss the communications and computer

engineering architecture and evolution of this large sensing

network, rather than the tectonic meaning of the data