Establishment of AASG/EUPOS - the Polish part of the European metwork of EUPOS reference stations

EUPOS (European Position Determination System) is a new European initiative of establishment of the multifunctional reference station system in Central and Eastern countries. The Project EUPOS was initiated by the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development and European Academy of the Urban Development Berlin. The project consists in establishment of about 440 multifunctional satellite reference stations in Central and Eastern Europe. Fourteen countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia and Slovenia) intend to participate in the project. One common project standard set will be observed by all countries, however the project will include the existing or developed infrastructure in participating countries. Experiences of all participating countries in establishing and operating satellite systems will also be used. The system will be compatible with the German network SAPOS and in future will use as main signal the signal of the European system Galileo. The network of reference stations will provide services for both positioning of the geodetic control points and for land, air and marine navigation. Several levels of positioning accuracy will be offered. The participating countries decided to form a Steering Committee. Eight working conferences of the Steering Committee were held up to now. The conferences were devoted to discussions on practical aspects of realisation of establishment of the network, the standards and possible sources of financial support for realisation of the Project. The project EUPOS was also presented at many international conferences and symposia.On 12 November 2003 the representatives of the EUPOS International Steering Committee have held consultations in Brussels with Galileo Joint Undertaking and the European Commission EuropeAid Co-operate Office. The objectives of consultations were to inform the EC about the Project EUPOS, its organisation, standards and services, links to the European Project Galileo and expected benefits for all participating countries. As positive aspects there were recognised short time (2,5-3 years) of realisation of the Project and the fact that the organisational structures of the project are already available. It was advised that the attempt could be made to request for financial support from different EU Programmes: ERDF for EU member countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia), ISPA - for EU candidate countries (Bulgaria, Romania), CARDS - for West-Balkan countries (Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro), TACIS - for the Russian Federation and INTERREG III C - for Germany (Coordinator of the Project). In August 2006 the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography has signed with the Polish Ministry of Economy the agreement on financial support for establishment of EUPOS reference stations in Poland. The respective fund as given in the Project EUPOS was accepted and support will be given from structural ERDF EU programme. The detailed technical design of the network is already prepared. In order to cover the whole territory of Poland and to achieve the proper cross-border links there will be finally established 87 reference stations. According to the agreement the establishment of all stations should be concluded by September 2007. The tirst GPS receivers for some stations will be purchased in 2006.