OPUS Projects

OPUS Projects is a network creation tool, for lack of a better term. From my experience, it's a great way to process and adjust a network because you have a lot more latitude with your occupation schedule. Having said that, though, I always try to run my sessions the same way I would if I was processing in TBC, and I also always process and adjust in TBC as a comparison.

The thing that is great about OPUS Projects is that if you have multiple receivers running on a session it processes that entire session, which really seems to tighten up the individual OPUS solutions. And then, of course, adjusts the network as a whole when the session processing is completed.

The thing is, it is a network tool - I'm not sure what, if anything at all, is to be gained from using it with single station occupancies.

FWIW, the networks I've processed in parallel in TBC and OPUS Projects agreed at cm level or better every time.

I don't feel like I did a good job explaining that... it's too late in the day to think straight and be articulate lol.

Lee D, post: 342036, member: 7971 wrote: The thing is, it is a network tool - I'm not sure what, if anything at all, is to be gained from using it with single station occupancies.

The things I like about OPUS Projects are that it allows you the option of relaxing the CORS positions a bit in the adjustment, which is more realistic than holding them fixed, and it gives you the option of processing the vectors between your occupations, which provides a more certain relationship than doing individual OPUS "sideshots."

I mostly use OPUS Project to anchor networks that feature a mix of OPUS-qualified (2+ hours) and shorter occupations. I use the OPUS Projects positions as constraints in my own adjustment, though I generally use 1 cm standard errors in 3 dimensions for the Projects coordinates, rather than the mm-level errors reported by the Projects adjustment report.

Lee D, post: 342036, member: 7971 wrote: The thing is, it is a network tool - I'm not sure what, if anything at all, is to be gained from using it with single station occupancies.

There can sometimes be a great advantage to bringing in extra CORS, plus here in the west there are a lot of UNAVCO sites that you can use for a free 2nd receiver. Additionally, sometimes I will adjust the position of the CORS site to match the 'Short Term Plot' average as some of them trend 3 cm off of the published value.

I have convinced myself that OP solutions are better than standard OPUS-Static, but I usually multiply the error estimates by 15. I guess I just like futzing around with stuff and turning dials.

M
:beer:

I attended the class with one of my best friends at Mississippi State last year in May. It was a great class, and I learned a lot about static processing, as well as the OPUS Projects. The only real downside I saw was that it really benefits from multiple sessions of 2 hours or more, which, depending on the type of project, really isn't a downside.

If there is ever a class close to my area again, I will be attending for a refresher. I haven't had the right type of project to utilize the training on yet, but I am entering a new phase in my career, and might be in a situation where I can use it more.

I'm actually using it today on an eight station network that I already processed and adjusted in TBC. Everything looks fine in the TBC adjustment but I like having the comparison.

My only complaint is trying to find a class that I can actually get in.

Right now the nearest class is Salina Kansas and I can't get into the registration page. That would be a 500-600 miles trip in January. Not sure I want to do that anyway.

There was an online webinar a few months ago but by the time I found out about it, the class was booked up.

James

JaRo, post: 342232, member: 292 wrote: My only complaint is trying to find a class that I can actually get in.

Right now the nearest class is Salina Kansas and I can't get into the registration page. That would be a 500-600 miles trip in January. Not sure I want to do that anyway.

There was an online webinar a few months ago but by the time I found out about it, the class was booked up.

James

James, drop me your email address and I will get you hooked up (hopefully) with a class. (At least hopefully!)

You can send it to ms at igage dot com

Thanks!

M

I found a minor bug in Projects Friday. I tried to li k an observation yo a Benchmark and got an error message. Come to find out that someone has reported that BM as destroyed and the is not in there Database. The mark is still there but the castle and rock wall are both gone. It is a BM at the entrance to anArmy post with a small stone castle for a guard house. BRAC got the army post and the guard house was moved down 5he road to tube National Guard post.

I am waiting for them to turn on the Share option.

I have been to 2 OPUS Projected classes and learned a bunch in both of them. A refresher is good. I hope to be able to attend another refresher next year.

Steve Corley, post: 342622, member: 23 wrote: Come to find out that someone has reported that BM as destroyed and the is not in there Database.

You might want to contact Deb Brown (Deb.Brown@noaa.gov) about this. The data is probably still in the IDB but marked unavailable, and I expect she can fix it if you provide sufficient documentation.

FWIW,

There is an option on the datasheet retrieval page NGS DATASHEET COUNTY FORM
Allowing the retrieval of "Destroyed marks only".

If the monument was formerly published it should appear.

I am unclear about the status of the monument. Is it in its original location or was it moved along with the guard tower? If it was relocated and a bench mark only, it is now worthless.

Cheers,

DMM

What is the PID?

The PID is the NGS's station identification code, typically two letters followed by four digits. No idea what it stands for. Point ID maybe?

Poorly stated question. I'm very familiar with the NGS PID system.

I meant to address Steve Corley - what is the PID of the station that you found but had been reported destroyed?

Forgive me.