Abstract:
The Space Geodesy Programme of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) is actively
engaged in improving the African Earth and Ocean Monitoring Network (sub-project 1.1 of Inkaba yeAfrica) by
installing geodetic, oceanographic and geophysics stations across the Sub-Saharan region and Southern ocean.
This forms part of the drive to monitor different geophysical parameters via denser networks and with increasing
accuracies, so as to better our understanding of the Earth system. The instruments being deployed include
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) stations, tide-gauges, seismic stations and meteorological units.
There are four main space geodetic techniques collocated at HartRAO, making it a fiducial site in Africa.
These techniques are GNSS, Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and Doppler
Orbitography and Radiopositioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS). It is important to ensure that all the collected
raw scientific data as well as the derived data products are accessible in a user-friendly manner. Additionally,
a new data management system needs to be implemented at HartRAO in order to ensure data integrity. This
paper focuses on the implementation of a GNSS data management system. The automated system for the
pre-processing and post-processing of GNSS data and other derived products are presented. The data products
are then visualized utilizing an interactive web-based map. These scientific products are important in
understanding processes that occur on planet Earth such as plate motion, crustal deformation and weather
patterns. The implementation of this data management system will facilitate the monitoring of these processes.
