Introduction
SEAMERGES is a project funded under the ASEAN-EU University Network programme (AUNP), human resource
development component, by the European Committee (EC) that started 1 January 2004 and will run for two
years. The participants are university and research groups from the Netherlands, France, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Thailand who are involved in geodetic education and geodetic research. The project entails
a number of seminars on the applications of the Global Positioning System, Interferometric SAR and satellite
radar altimetry: exchanged knowledge, methods and data will then be used to define and carry out
research projects targeted to the South-East Asian region.
Update: The SEAMERGES partners have published their GPS results on the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake in Nature! Checkout the News and Quakes in SE Asia sections!
Summary
The
aim of the SEAMERGES project is the transfer of knowledge, expertise and technology to SE-Asia to
locally enable higher-level geodetic research and initiate implementation of applications for water
management and risk assessment. It also aims at stimulating scientific cooperation among the different
Asian countries. The initial
target groups consist of selected staff and students of 3 local
universities: the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia, the Universiti Teknology Malaysia in Malaysia,
and the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
Main activities include theoretical and training
courses in 3 geodetic techniques (HRD), the setup of interdisciplinary research (pilot) projects involving all
partners, and the organization of a final international symposium. Besides the 3 university groups in
SE-Asia (ITB, UTM, and Chula) the
partnership includes DEOS (Delft University of Technology,
Netherlands) and ENS (Ecole Normale Superieure, France).
Objectives
- Transfer moderate and expert scientific knowledge and associated technologies in the field of
earth-oriented space research to the ASEAN countries, which are tailored to their needs;
- Improve research capability in the participating ASEAN countries, which would in turn allow for
better and mujtual beneficiary cooperation between ASEAN and EC countries on the higher-education and
scientific research levels;
- Encourage more comprehensive and efficient studies in the region of SE-Asia in the fields of space
geodesy, geodynamics and the assessment and monitoring of environmental risks. These future ASEAN
co-lead research projects should also stimulate the participation and the sharing and transfer of
knowledge of other ASEAN countires not included in this project;
- Help the ASEAN countries to become full and respected members of the international scientific
community. Both direct (graduated students) and indirect (through research projects and technology
spin-offs) also the civil and industrial community would benefit from the project's HRD and combined
research efforts.
Contacts
To register interest and make comments or suggestions please contact
Boudewijn Ambrosius or
Wim Simons of
DEOS of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering,
Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. For more information please go to the
documents section.
Documents
This page lists all documents available on this site. Shorter subsections of this list
can be accessed from the homepages of each of the SEMERGES themes.
Kick-off meeting
Agenda and supporting documents
Presentations
Theme 1: Global Positioning System
Theme 1: GPS course information
Course agenda
Location
Lectures
Training
Theme 2: Interferometric SAR
Theme 2: InSAR course information
Course agenda
Location
Lectures
Training
Theme 3: Satellite Altimetry
Theme 3: SALT course information
Course agenda
Location
Lectures
Training
Theme 4: Research projects
Publications
First progress meeting/review
Agenda and supporting documents
Presentations
Reports
Second progress meeting/review
Agenda and supporting documents
Presentations
Reports
Final symposium
Agenda and supporting documents
Presentations
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Reports
Time table
SEAMERGES gatherings:
| 3-5 March 2004 |
SEAMERGES kick-off meeting
Chulalongkorn, Bangkok, Thailand
agenda and minutes |
| May 2004 |
GPS course and training, Thailand |
| July 2004 |
InSAR course and training, Malaysia |
| September 2004 |
SALT course and training, Indonesia |
| February 2005 |
First Progress meeting, Malaysia |
| July 2005 |
Second Progress meeting, Indonesia |
| November/December 2005 |
Final Symposium, Thailand
Open to all interested parties |
News
| 14 July 2005 | The article "Insight into the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake from GPS measurements in southeast Asia" is published in Nature Volume 436 Number 7048 pp. 201-206. Additional information on this article can be found here!
Currently the SEAMERGES project is also working on GPS results of the
March 28th, 2005 Mw=8.7 aftershock, as well as post-seismic deformation
in SE Asia due to both earthquakes.
|
| 5 July 2005 | The Royal Thai Survey Department completes another
5-day observation round of the GPS campaign points in Thailand. This is
important to get an idea of the current post-seismic deformation of
Thailand, and also the additional deformations caused by the March 28th,
2005 earthquake. Also now 1 more permanent GPS station is now
available to the SEAMERGES project in Thailand (Bangkok since April).
SEAMERGES now is shifting their GPS project focus on the post-seismic
deformation of SE Asia.
|
| 23 June 2005 | A 10-day SEAMERGES GPS project workshop was
completed at Chulalongkorn University. During this workshop, as part of
the SEAMERGES GPS project, the ASEAN partners analyzed GPS data from
the Mw=8.7 aftershock near the island of Nias, Indonesia. They modeled
the deformation caused by this earthquake, based on permanent GPS data
results available to the SEAMERGES project. The workshop was provided
by Wim Simons.
|
| 10 June 2005 | The 5-day SEAMERGES SALT project workshop is
completed at Chulalongkorn University. The SEAMERGES partners work
together on studying the sea-level changes in SE Asia, and selecting a
number of specific locations for further study, like the Gulf of
Thailand. The SALT workshop was given by Marc Naeije.
|
| 28 March 2005 | A large aftershock with a magnitude 8.7 on the
scale of Richter occured near the Indonesian island Nias, west of
Sumatra. This aftershock occurred in a region already mentioned in the
SEAMERGES report of January 7th, 2005 and discussed in the submitted
Nature article and the SEAMERGES seminar in Malaysia. The SEAMERGES
partners again decide to analyze GPS data from the affected region,
although the displacements this time are smaller based on the first
model predictions.
|
| 17 March 2005 | On behalf of all SEAMERGES project partners, an
article on the mega-thrust earthquake using the SEAMERGES GPS network is
submitted to Nature.
This paper contains a comprehensive analysis of the earthquake, which
was only possible by sharing GPS data by all partners under the
framework of the SEAMERGES project.
|
| 22 February 2005 | Chulalongkorn University gives a press
conference in Thailand based on the first SEAMERGES GPS results for
Phuket and Bangkok from on the November and January GPS observations.
The first results showed that Phuket already was shifted by 32 cm and
Bangkok by 9 cm. The news is widely reported in the national and
international press.
|
| 17 February 2005 | Following the special seminar, the first
SEAMERGES progress meeting takes place in Malaysia. A large part of the
meeting is spent on discussion the latest results, and the need to make
a publication on behalf of all SEAMERGES partners.
|
| 16 February 2005 | The SEAMERGES project presents first GPS
results on the
Banda Aceh earthquake at a special SEAMERGES seminar in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. The seminar titled "Mega-thrust Earthquake Induced Tsunami
Awareness" was jointly organized by UTM and the Institution of
Surveyors, with honor guests from the Malaysian and EU governments. The
seminar was attended by almost 300 participants, and well coveraged by
the Malaysian press
Two of the presentations given by Wim Simons and Christophe Vigny can be downloaded in PDF format here.
The results show that the earthquake in fact was almost 2 times larger
than initially thought on basis of seismological data. Results from
the SEAMERGES GPS network indicate that a much larger area of was
rupture (at least 1000 km) and hence the magnitude must have been around
9.2-9.3 instead of 9.0. Deformations are detected many of thousands
kilometers away from the earthquake epicenter, and the risk of following
earthquake events is clearly addressed.
|
| 15 February 2005 | The Royal Thai Survey Department completes a
repeat of the November 2004 measurements, with support of Chulalongkorn
University and Delft University of Technology. Although permanent GPS
data on Thailand is available from Chulalongkorn University, the GPS
demo repeat provides more GPS measurements on the deformation of
Thailand. At the same time it is decided to keep the GPS permanent demo
site in Rayong operational until at least the end of 2005, to monitor
the post-seismic motions.
|
| 25 January 2005 | Based on the information in the SEAMERGES
report, Chulalongkorn University and the Royal Thai Survey Department
decide to remeasure 2 GPS points in Thailand, of which one in Phuket.
This is done to verify if Phuket Island indeed has been shifted more
than 10cm. Shortly after the measurements it becomes clear that Phuket
has shifted even more, which is a first indication that the earthquake
has ruptured a much larger area towards the Andaman islands.
|
| 7 January 2005 | SEAMERGES
project releases a first report on Banda Aceh mega-thrust earthquake,
December 26, 2004. This report is mainly intended to give clear
information on the earthquake event to all our partner, and already
includes first GPS results, as well as predictions for the land
displacements in SE Asia. The report also is to first to warn for
future earthquake events in the region.
|
| 26 December 2004 | A Mw=9.0 earthquake occurs near Banda Aceh on
Sumatra, followed by a devastating tsunami that takes away the lives of
more than 200,000 people, and has left many more behind wounded and in
shock. The SEAMERGES European partners express their sympathy to their
Indonesia, Malay and Thai partners, whose countries have all been hit by
this natural disaster. Because the SEAMERGES project is very well
suited to give scientifical support to the affected nations, a
comprehensive analysis of this dreadful event is initiated.
|
| 1 November 2004 | The GPS demo was completed. During this 7-day
activity, the ASEAN participants were shown how to collect
high-precision GPS data. With cooperation of our external partner, the
Royal Thai Survey Department, 8 GPS points throughout Thailand were
observed, including the GPS demo site in Rayong. These points have been
observed regularly in the past, and the data was made available to
SEAMERGES to be analyzed as part of the SEAMERGES GPS pilot project.
The GPS demo was given by Wim Simons, in cooperation with the
Chulalongkorn University and RTSD.
|
| 3 September 2004 | The Satellite Altimetry (SALT) course was
completed at the Institut Teknologi Bandung. Again Indonesians, Malay
and Thai attended this 2-week course. Theoretical background on
space-born altimetry and it's applications were provided. The DEOS/NOAA
Radar Altimeter Database System (RADS) was introduced, and is now
available to all 3 ASEAN partners. Also the final PC was installed.
This course was given by Marc Naeije.
|
| 30 July 2004 | The 2-week InSAR knowledge, expertise and
technology transfer course was completed at the Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia. Again participants from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand
followed the course. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry
is an ideal tool to study changes on the earth surface which e.g. result
from earthquakes and land subsidence. The technique will be used to
study the land subsidence of the capital cities Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur
and Jakarta. The course was given by Cecile Lasserre, and the third PC
system was installed.
|
| 28 May 2004 | The high-precision GPS technology courses were
completed at the Chulalongkorn University. Participants from Indonesia,
Malaysia and Thailand followed the 5-week course, which included both a
theoretical and a hands-on training part. Besides the analysis of GPS
data, the participants were also instructed how to apply geophysical
models for tectonic plate motions and earthquakes. The course was given
by Wim Simons and Christophe Vigny. 4 Powerful PC's were purchased and
the first and second ones were installed at DUT and Chulalongkorn
University.
|
| 11 March 2004 | Draft minutes from Kick-off meeting available.
|
| 3 March 2004 | Kick-off started. After the kick-off meeting, also a new (temporary) GPS demo site was installed in Rayong, Thailand, 150km SE of Bangkok.
|
| 10 February 2004 | Preliminary agenda for kick-off meeting in Bangkok available.
|
| 1 February 2004 | Welcome to the new SEAMERGES website
|
SEAMERGES theme 1: Global Positioning system technology
Summary
The specific needs of the ASEAN partners in the SEAMERGES project are a dedicated HRD
programme in 3 areas of high-precision space geodetic technology provided by skilled and
experienced EC partners, as well as an introduction to the application of the acquired
technology in a number of intra-ASEAN and EC common applied research projects. This theme
covers GPS technology.
Description
Using GPS technology, one of the main space geodetic techniques, tectonic deformations can be
assessed by analysing temporal variations in the relative positions of GPS observing stations
with millimetre accuracy. Up to now, most GPS data was analysed and processed in European
countries, because most ASEAN countries do not yet have the necessary facilities, experience
and infrastructure. SEAMERGES enables the ASEAN partners to independently perform future
(continuous) GPS observations, analyses and interpretation, using state-of-the-art GPS
techniques. It will also help them to identify high seismic risk zones in planning new domestic
expansion areas and high-risk civil and industrial projects (dams, tunnels, bridges, power
plants and factories). It will also allow them to establish much more precise maps, connected
to well-established global reference systems and precise location of reference points for
navigation purposes, and precise geocoding of GIS data, which are useful for including coastal
monitoring and land-use applications.
Seminar
The high-precision GPS technology and application courses will include advanced and expert GPS
data handling, data analysis and geophysical interpretation, "hands-on" training using GPS data
processing and geodetic/geophysical modelling software, and the operation and maintenance of
GPS data processing/collection equipment and GPS database. More details can be found in the
detailed description of activities Section of the original project proposal
(Grant Application Form).
The seminar scedule is given in the
Time
Table.
Documents
SEAMERGES theme 2: Interferometric SAR technology
Summary
The specific needs of the ASEAN partners in the SEAMERGES project are a dedicated HRD
programme in 3 areas of high-precision space geodetic technology provided by skilled and
experienced EC partners, as well as an introduction to the application of the acquired
technology in a number of intra-ASEAN and EC common applied research projects. This theme
covers InSAR technology.
Description
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Interferometry, despite its youth, has already been
successfully applied in several research fields ranging from topographic mapping, earthquake
studies and the monitoring of deformations to volcanology. This technique makes it is possible
to measure terrain height with metre accuracy and is perfectly suited for generating
accurate Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). SAR Interferometry also allows measuring terrain
displacements with millimetre accuracy, and constitutes therefore an extraordinary tool for
deformation studies and hazard assessment.
Satellite images, especially from the European remote sensing satellites ERS-1, -2 and Envisat,
are relatively inexpensive when requested for scientific purposes. Moreover, a large database
of SAR images is already available, spanning more than ten years and covering most of the Earth's
surface. The software however needed for Interferometry processing is quite complex. A lot of
scientific groups who have the necessary expertise have already developed their own software, but
those who are just starting usually have to buy expensive commercial software. As a result
mainly European and North American institutions can afford InSAR research. SEAMERGES wants to
bridge this gap and make InSAR knowledge and tools available to the ASEAN countries. This will
allow them to apply InSAR for topographic mapping and deformation studies in their own region.
Seminar
The InSAR technology and application courses will include the necessary theoretical background
(introducing SAR and InSAR and their applications) and the opportunity to get acquainted with
the data processing and geodetic/geophysical modelling software through "hands-on" training.
More details can be found in the detailed description of activities Section of the original
project proposal
(Grant Application Form).
The seminar scedule is given in the
Time
Table.
Documents
SEAMERGES theme 3: Satellite Radar Altimeter technology
Summary
The specific needs of the ASEAN partners in the SEAMERGES project are a dedicated HRD
programme in 3 areas of high-precision space geodetic technology provided by skilled and
experienced EC partners, as well as an introduction to the application of the acquired
technology in a number of intra-ASEAN and EC common applied research projects. This theme
covers SALT technology.
Description
Though Satellite Altimetry (SALT) may be based on the simple fact that time is distance, the
processing and interpretation of the data is quite complex: you have to take into account the
instrument design, calibration, validation, atmospheric path delays, geophysical corrections,
reference system, precise orbit determination and space and time sampling characateristics. The
result is very rewarding: the ability to observe relative and absolute sea level. Altimetric data
helps monitoring sea level change and its coastal applications, regional geodetic datum
realization and maintenance, research on geodynamics and mass transport and their consequence
for regional and global climate, to name a few applications.
DEOS has a long-standing experience in all these fields and is principal investigator in many
altimeter missions. The SE-Asia region has been explored already for regional tide modelling,
wave climate and internal waves, but these projects were never focussed on transferring gained
knowledge to this particular region. SEAMERGES brings in expertise and data that will contribute
to the development of local institutes, university research groups and companies
that can support local governments and industry in coastal management and off-shore activities.
By initiating research cooperation, organising workshops and hands-on training with altimeter
database tools, and the integration of the altimetry with GPS, InSAR and
in-situ
measurements like ocean tides, intra regional cooperative research can be stimulated and developed
to an international standard and help in the advancement of altimetry based science, operations and
commerce.
Seminar
The SALT technology and application courses will include the necessary theoretical background
(introducing the space borne altimeter and its wide range of applications), the introduction to
RADS (the DEOS/NOAA Radar Altimeter Database System) and altimeter processing, and the opportunity
to get acquainted with the RADS database and tools by "hands-on" training.
More details can be found in the detailed description of activities Section of the original
project proposal
(Grant Application Form).
The seminar scedule is given in the
Time
Table.
Documents
Expected output of projects during/after SEAMERGES: Jan.
2003- Jan. 2006
Identify regions that can pose significant natural hazards
fort he population
Common applied research by (between the) EU and ASEAN
Raise awarness of the importance of scientific co-operation
and establish sustainable co-operation between partners
Provide reports for general public
Monitoring of land subsidience and study of regional crustal
deformations and tectonic block motions, including envoronmental risk to
densely populated areas using GPS/SAR/SALT
Detection of preseismic motions
Kinematic measurement of position during the earthquake
Final Report, before Jan. 2006
Seismic cycle in subduction
context
Seismic moment 10 ** 20 Nm (na skali od 0 – 8)
Seismological research
letters
Detection of preseismic
motion
Coulomb Stress on fault
stress on fault plane is
increased =>slip on fault
Final symposium 29. Nov. – 1.
Dec. 2005
http://www.deos.tudelft.nl/seamerges/
