Laboratory for Earth Oriented Space Research
The mission of the section Astroydnamics and Satellite systems (A&S) is to investigate, develop and exploit electromagnetic measurement techniques involving artificial Earth satellites, with the aim to improve our knowledge of the state and evolution of the Earth as a dynamic system. In support of this mission, A&S has built and maintains a highly advanced facility, the Laboratory for Earth-Oriented Space Research (LEOS).
This laboratory includes a powerful computer and software infrastructure and an array of high-precision geodetic GPS receivers. The computer infrastructure currently consists of one 8-processor workstation, 12 single-processor workstations and a growing network of fast PCs. This network supports the development, operation, testing and extension of complicated existing and new, single- and multi-processor, software packages. In addition, an extensive processing of large sets of satellite-based observations takes place on this network for many applications. Moreover, databases of many types of satellite observations covering long periods are implemented on this infrastructure supporting a worldwide user community.
The software infrastructure includes state-of-the-art external and in-house packages for geophysical modeling in general, and precise positioning of ground receivers and satellites in particular, making use of space-borne observation techniques. The GPS array is divided into two parts: (1) an array of 14 mobile GPS receivers not only allowing field campaigns all over the world, but also allowing a fast and flexible response to for example events in areas with high seismic activity, and (2) an array of 15 fixed GPS receivers, partly located in remote areas thereby filling in gaps of the important global network of International GPS Service (IGS) receivers.
LEOS supports a wide range of research and education activities. Many of these activities are joint efforts in the framework of the Delft Institute for Earth-Oriented Space Research (DEOS), the Vening Meinesz Research School of Geodynamics (VMSG) and the research program Integrated Solid Earth Sciences (ISES), involving many partners within Delft University of Technology, Utrecht University and the “Vrije Universiteit” in Amsterdam.
