SITE SURVEY OF O3B EARTH STATION AT PNG UNITECH
Mr Mosese Tagicakibau, Heva Honeaki.
Department of Surveying and Lands Studies, The Papua New Guinea University of Technology, Private Mail Bag Services Lae 411, Morobe Province, PNG.
Abstract
The O3b satellite consist of an initial constellation of eight satellites, with eventually expansion to 24 satellites, operating in a circular equatorial medium earth orbit (MEO) 8,062 km above the earth, plus associated ground control facilities, gateway earth stations and terminals. The survey was done to show the obstacles from East West direction to where the discs will be located. This has been done and the result was produced in the form of a graph from the Excel Spread Sheet for which there has been a limit given.
Keywords
Azimuth, Elevation, O3B systems, Survey Principles, Satelite Equitorial Arc. Permanent Survey Marks.
Introduction
Fixing the exact position of the O3B earth station is important for this exercise because of the fact that the antenna needs to be fixed on a position with unobstructed line of site to the satellite equatorial arc.
Body of the Paper
Department of Survey and Land Studies are privileged to be part of the team that are involved in the setting up of these 2 antennas for the O3B systems to fully operate here at PNG University of Technology.
The recognition of surveyors in the Department of Survey and Land Studies by the O3B team to provide their expertise and knowledge in order to fulfill the requirements is something that we are proud of.
There are few locations being identified for constructing the station and it’s the duty of the surveyor to confirm that the best location is fixed so that the line of site within the satellite equatorial arc is clear with no obstruction.
Principles of survey practice was introduced in this exercise whereby the position of the identified location for constructing the station was determine from an old existing permanent survey marks.
Fig. 1 Technicians are assemble parts of the antennas together on the site.
Surveying work in determining the best location was not a problem since an excel spread sheets were provided to us where we note the azimuth and the elevations of any possible obstacles. While entering the observed azimuths and the elevations, a graph will automatically generates itself on the graph paper provided which already have O3b graph (Arc) drawn on it. If the newly graph (arc) cuts or touches the O3b graph (arc) than it tells us that the location is not the perfect one and we need to move to a new location and the same observation and noting process is repeated until the two graphs freely separates from one another.
Some of the obstacles that were captured during the surveying exercise.
Conclusion
The exercise itself requires a basic surveying technical background and some understanding of surveying referencing geometry and it is rather pleasing to see that the O3B systems is up and running and I believe that it serve the purpose that it was meant for. Surveying data’s collected and the process carried out according to the specification and this can only prove by the technicians that there were no obstruction on line of sight to the equatorial arc and the University now experience a more reliable and fast internet service from the O3b systems.
The Department of Surveying and Land Studies will continue to support the University on any surveying related work in years to come.