Taken from sections of the report: This report has been prepared as a supplement to the 1997/98 Survey Report by John Hyslop and contains solely comments and recommendations as seen from the perspective of the volunteer survey student. It is hoped this report may be of some use in the future planning and operation of Surveying and Mapping expeditions to Antarctica. The report has been divided according to each area visited and discusses the work achieved and highlights any possible improvements either in the actual surveys undertaken or the execution of the program as a whole. Typical issues include helicopter operations, aerial photography, the oblique mount, collaboration with other field parties, transportation and so on. VOYAGE SOUTH The voyage south provided the ideal opportunity to begin the detailed planning of the work to come. Flight planning for the photography was started and locations for photo control throughout the offshore islands at Mawson were determined. It was important to prioritize which work was to be undertaken first throughout the offshore islands at Mawson. This was to ensure the most important work was completed before the sea ice deteriorated and prevented travel on quads. The voyage to Mawson went via Casey where the surveyors were required to undertake a small amount of work during the stop over. Ice conditions prevented the Aurora reaching Casey. John and I were unable to make it to Casey due to the long fly off and limited time. Ian Sutherland (Station Leader at Casey) informed us that snow conditions over the station would have prevented most survey work anyway. This was the perfect example that survey work in Antarctica is totally dependent on current weather conditions in addition to the 'A' factor. This highlighted the fact that all plans for work in the Antarctic are required to be 'dynamic' and hence the various priorities listed in the brief were appreciated. It was quite frustrating spending close to 4 weeks on the Aurora before arriving on the continent and beginning the work proper. The frustration culminated in the problem with the Aurora's rudder and expeditioners being told we may be returning to Australia even though we were within fly-off distance to Mawson.

Taken from sections of the report: Introduction The purpose of the 95/96 Antarctic survey season was to provide survey control and to acquire aerial photographs for topographic mapping in locations around Mawson, Beaver Lake, Davis and at Casey in support of the ANARE mapping program as well as providing survey support for other ANARE science programs. The following team carried out this survey work: Roger Handsworth - Antarctic Division Engineer, Natasha Adams - Antarctic Division Volunteer Surveyor, Tom Gordon - AUSLIG Surveyor. Project Outline The Antarctic Division's Brief to Surveyors which outlines the details of the program is included in Appendix A. A number of the tasks detailed were not undertaken, and they include: -Aerial photography of ice sheets for Melbourne University, -Beaver Lake Program, -Casey aerial photography. The main survey program for Antarctica in 95/96 was at Mawson Station, it included the survey control and aerial photography of the Framnes Mountains, Mawson Station and offshore islands in Holme Bay. Secondary tasks included assisting with survey requirements of the tide gauge and placing 2 sets of 3 bench marks for the new tide gauge site at Mawson, ground control for the Scullin and Murray Monoliths, ground control and photography of Taylor Rookery and detail surveying at Mawson. At Davis Station the program included aerial photography of the station and areas in the Vestfold Hills missed in 94/95, survey support as requested by the engineer working on the ASP building and levelling associated with the tide gauge. The limited time at Casey Station was to be spent using the Laser Terrain Profiler (LTP) and levelling associated with the tide gauge.

Taken from sections of the report: Introduction This report details the survey work carried out on Macquarie Island during November and December of 1996 by the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group (AUSLIG) on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Division's Mapping Program. The principle aim of the program was to acquire aerial photography to enable the production of a new topographic map of the island. A number of other tasks were also required to be carried out. This report deals with each task and the results achieved. The survey work was carried out by the following people: Frank Hoogesteger - Tasmanian Department of Environment and Land Management Roger Handsworth - Platypus Engineering Richard Lemon - Australian Surveying and land Information Group Although this report touches on the work carried out by Roger Handsworth and Frank Hoogesteger, it does not cover the specifics of their work, that being the subject of separate reports to be submitted the them. Time Frame The Macquarie Island field party departed Hobart at about 5pm on Monday 25th November 1996 aboard the Aurora Australis, voyage 3 of the ANARE re-supply season. Voyage 3 arrived at Macquarie Island at about 9am eastern standard summer time (UT+11) on Thursday 28th November. The survey party departed Macquarie Island at about 10am on Monday 2nd December and arrived back in Hobart at about 7am on Thursday 5th December 1996. This provided three and a half days on the island in which to complete the survey program. Aims and Project Brief The 1996/97 Survey Program for Macquarie Island lists the following tasks and those responsible for their execution: 1. Aerial Photography of the island and station area (Lemon/Handsworth) 2. Precise leveling from AFN station, AUS211 RM1 and RM2 to Garden Cove Bench Mark AUS228 (Lemon) 3. Field survey of station buildings and services to check and update Digital Station Information System (Lemon) 4. Install tide gauge staff and carry out water level observations at Garden Cove (Handsworth/Lemon-assist) 5. GPS baseline from the AFN Station AUS211 to the Garden Cove Tide Gauge Bench Mark AUS92 (Lemon) 6. Retrieval of corner cube reflectors for use on Heard Island (Lemon) 7. Re-establish the Management Zone boundaries and identify to the new Station Leader (Hoogesteger) 8. Level connection by GPS from the aurora camera stand NMX1 to Hurd Point Trig. NMX7 (Hoogesteger) 9. Level connection by EDM from Hurd Point Trig NMX7 to tide gauge sensor (Hoogesteger) 10. Download data and Check Hurd Point Tide Gauge. Install temporary tide staff at Hurd Point and take water level and temperature readings (Hoogesteger) 11. Carry out maintenance of the tide gauges at Garden Cove (Handsworth) 12. On an opportunity basis check height and position of features on the plateau for ground truthing of SAR DEM (Lemon) These tasks are listed in order of priority. A copy of the 1996/97 Survey Brief for Macquarie Island is included as Appendix A.

Introduction The purpose of the 97/98 Antarctic survey season was to provide survey control and vertical and oblique aerial photography around Mawson, Davis, Beaver Lake, and the Prince Charles Mountains in support of the ANARE mapping program as well as providing survey support for other ANARE science programs. The following team carried out this survey work: Christopher Watson - Antarctic Division Volunteer Surveyor, John Hyslop - LANDINFO Surveyor. Project Outline The Antarctic Division's Brief to Surveyors which outlines the details of the program is included in Appendix A. The survey program for Antarctica 97/8 was divided into two main areas of interest. Mawson station from Voyage 2 to 4 which included photo control of offshore islands, aerial photography of penguin colonies with the Linhof camera, Mawson tide gauge network and updating the station map. Davis station from Voyage 4 to 5 which included aerial photography of the Rauer Group and Larsemann Hills, aerial photography and tide gauge work at Beaver Lake, and vertical and oblique aerial photography in the Southen Prince Charles Mountains. Also photo control at Scullin and Murray Monoliths and photography at Mount Brown, Mirny offshore island and features between Mirny and Davis. At Davis station surveys included Station detail surveys tide gauge connections and lake water levels in the Vestfold Hills. At Casey station during V2 stop over survey work was requested at the wharf area, levelling and detail survey updates. Recommendations: Aerial photography. The following suggestions are made. 1. The flight program be upgraded to allow a digital map to be shown on the screen. 2. The pilots display did not work in the helicopter and the problem needs to be fixed. I suspect it may have been due to the setting in the flight program. I had difficulty understanding what all the settings meant and perhaps more documentation may help. 3. Because of 2. more reliance was placed on the air crew navigating from the monitor and hence felt the need for more control over the display eg. Zooming in and out and run selection. 4. A video drift sight would be a great advantage. If this were somehow attached directly to the camera there would be more room and less leads involved. 5. Some of the film spools were too tight on the cogged drive shaft. At Beaver Lake when loading film in a black camera bag in the helicopter I had to wind the new film onto another spool that would fit. The spools need to be checked. Logistics. The need to return the helicopter to Davis each day seems to me to be an extremely expensive requirement. To get to the Southern Prince Charles Mountains is an eight hour return trip. 11 hour flying is about all the pilots can do in a day which does not leave much time for productive work. We did have an opportunity to do aerial photography on the way but on the two days we went to the PCMs we decided to make the first priority the main destination and hope for time on the return trip, but each occasion we were too late and returned by the most direct route. I could not help thinking how much more work we could have done if the helicopters had been based at Beaver Lake for a few days. There were also days when the weather was fine and suitable for flying in the PCMs but we could not leave Davis through bad weather on the way. This method of operation also understandably placed pressures on using the helicopters to the fullest. The last days flying in the PCMs was done with 4 people in the back of the S76. We then were asked if we could take 300kg of equipment back from a Mawson Escarpment camp. That made photographic operation a bit cramped but by then the weather was against further photography. I felt that through Joe Johnson, station leader and Jim Wilson, chief pilot we got excellent support for the photographic program but with the S76 deployed in the area of operation we could have achieved a lot more.

Taken from sections of the report: Introduction This report details the survey work carried out on Voyage 4 during November and December 1998 by LANDINFO on behalf of the Australian Antarctic Division's MAGIP Field Program. The principle aim of this work was to acquire aerial photography of penguin rookeries near Australia's three Antarctic Stations and to carry out survey work associated with the Antarctic Tide Gauge Network. A number of other tasks were also carried out. This report details each task carried out and the results achieved. The following people carried out the survey work: Richard Lemon LANDINFO Pty Ltd Roger Handsworth Antarctic Division Instrument Engineer This report covers the fieldwork associated with the MAGIP Field Program. Some non survey aspects of the tide gauge work will be the subject of a separate report to be submitted by Roger Handsworth. Time Frame The survey party departed Hobart at 5:15pm on Thursday 29th October 1998 aboard the Aurora Australis on Voyage 4 of the 1998-99 summer season. The survey party arrived at Casey Station via helicopter from the Aurora Australis just before 12pm (UTC+8) on Saturday 7th November. After spending a period of about 25 hours at Casey the survey team returned to the Aurora Australis at about 1pm on Sunday 8th November 1998. The Aurora Australis arrived off Davis Station on the morning of Wednesday 18th November 1998. The survey party had access to the station from about 2.30pm (UTC+7) the same day. The survey team had four full days in which to carry out its tasks at Davis. The Aurora Australis left Davis on the morning of Sunday 22nd November on route to Sansom Island. The survey party returned to the Aurora Australis by helicopter at about 7:30pm on Sunday 22nd November. The survey party was flown to Sansom Island at about 9:30am on Monday 23rd November and returned to the Aurora Australis at about 3:30pm the same day. Due to problems with Aurora Australis' propeller pitch control, the survey party was flown to Mawson Station by long range helicopter on Wednesday 2nd December and arrived at about 8:30am (UTC+6). The survey team had eight full days at Mawson station before departing for the Ship on Thursday 10th December at about 11am. The Aurora Australis returned to Fremantle at about 11am Western Standard Time (UTC+8) on Monday 28th December 1998. Project Outline The Antarctic Division's Brief, which outlines the details of the program, is included in Appendix A. The program of work was divided into four specific sites, Casey, Davis, Mawson and Sansom Island. The work at each of the Antarctic stations was divided into two main areas of interest. These being the aerial photography of the penguin rookeries using the Linhof camera and survey work associated with the tide gauges and tide gauge bench marks. The work at Sansom Island involved the coordination of photo control points. A list of the individual tasks and a summary of the achievements can be found at Appendix B.

Taken from sections of the report: The aim of the survey and mapping program on V5.1 was to carry out various surveying tasks at Mawson and Casey as listed later in this report. The vessel used in Voyage 5.1 was The Polar Queen. Voyage 5.1 left Capetown on Thursday 18th February and arrived Fremantle Friday 19th. March. Depart Capetown Thursday 18th February Arrive Mawson Sunday 28th February Depart Mawson Tuesday 2nd March Arrive Davis Thursday 4th March Depart Davis Thursday 4th March Arrive Casey Monday 8th March Depart Casey Thursday 11th March Arrive Fremantle Thursday 18th March The survey team was: Henk Brolsma Australian Antarctic Division - surveyor. John Hyslop Australian Antarctic Division - volunteer surveyor. The surveying at Mawson and Casey included bringing the data representing the station infrastructure up to date. The station infrastructure data is available for download in GIS format (shapefiles) from Related URLs below. The data resulting from this survey has a Dataset_id of 15. The data is formatted according to the SCAR Feature Catalogue. For data quality information about a particular feature use the Qinfo number of the feature to search for information using the 'Search datasets and quality' tab at a Related URL below. Matt King, Rachel Manson and Lee Palfrey assisted with survey work at Casey. They carried out GPS surveys for aerial photo control, Casey and Wilkes, tide gauge bench marks at Casey, buildings detail at Wilkes and route markers around the station. Their work is not covered in this report.

Taken from sections of the report: Introduction This report details the survey work carried out in Antarctica and Heard Island from December of 1996 to March of 1997 by AUSLIG on behalf of Australian Antarctic Divisions Mapping Program. The principle aim of this work was to acquire aerial photography of; the coastal areas west of Mawson, Scullin and Murray Monoliths, the immediate area around Davis station, Gaussberg and Heard Island. A number of other tasks were also carried out. In the following pages each task will be dealt with in terms of the technique employed and the results achieved and coordinates will be quoted as appropriate to the topic being discussed. Where these coordinates have been derived from GPS observations a detailed report on the processing of each baseline can be found at Appendix C. These result files have also been supplied in digital form. The survey work was carried out by the following people : Paul Digney Antarctic Division Volunteer Roger Handsworth Platypus Engineering Noel Ward AUSLIG This report does not cover the specifics of the work carried out by Roger Handsworth, that being the subject of separate reports to be submitted by him. Time Frame The survey field party departed Hobart at 5pm on Monday 9 December 1996 aboard RV Aurora Australis, Voyage 4 of the Antarctic re-supply season. Voyage 4 commenced cargo operations at Mawson on 22 December 1996. The survey party returned to Australia via Heard island from Davis Station departing Davis on 15 March 1997 aboard RV Aurora Australis, Voyage 5. Voyage 5 returned to Hobart on Saturday 29 March 1997. All passengers disembarked at about 5pm that day. The movements of the Survey party between operational areas whilst within Antarctica are as follows : 22 December 1996 - The Stillwell Hills field party, including the survey party, departed for the Stillwell Hills directly from RV Aurora Australis, 10 January 1997 - The Stillwell Hills field party, including the survey party moved to Kemp Peak depot, Stillwell Hills 11 January 1997 - The Survey party move to Mawson by S76 helicopter 29 January 1997 - Move to Davis Station via Sansom Island, by S76 helicopter, 13 February 1997 - 'Day trip' to Gaussberg ex. Davis by S76 helicopter. Aim and Project Brief Work was undertaken by AUSLIG for Antarctic Division in a number of operational areas this season. The principle areas of activity Mawson Station and the coastal areas west to Kloa Point, Davis Station and the Vestfold Hills, Gaussberg and Heard Island. The actual tasks to be carried out and the prioritisation of those tasks, at each location defined by Australian Antarctic Division and were detailed in their Brief to Surveyors(see Appendix A). As the season progressed variations both in the scope of the work programme and the relative priorities of tasks within the programme occurred. Such changes were forwarded from the Mapping Officer if originating in Kingston; or if originating in Antarctica were discussed with the Mapping Officer, if operational circumstances allowed, before implementation. At each location the major task was the acquisition of aerial photography and then establishment of ground control for that photography. Other significant tasks included vertical connections between tide gauge bench marks and the ARGN GPS sites.

Taken from sections of the report: Introduction This report describes aspects of the fieldwork completed for the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) mapping program during the Austral summer 2003-04. The mapping program was undertaken in harmony and collaboration with the Geoscience Australia geodesy program in Antarctica, between 16th November 2003 and 2nd February 2004. Surveyors from both organisations, including Henk Brolsma (Mapping Officer, AAD) and A. Corvino (author), teamed up to successfully complete a wide range of goals. The principal objective of the Geoscience Australia geodesy program was to install three remotely located continuous GPS stations in the southern Prince Charles Mountains (PCM) and Grove Mountains (Corvino, 2004). That project is not discussed further in this report. The main objectives of the AAD mapping program were to survey ground control points (GCPs) for geo-referencing new satellite imagery and to complete terrestrial survey work in the vicinity of Davis station. The following tasks were completed: - Downloading of the tide gauges at the Larsemann Hills and Davis station; - Transfer of local sea level at the Davis tide gauge to an absolute height datum using GPS; - Establishing a new survey mark at Beaver Lake and connecting it to the existing survey marks; - Conducting GPS surveys of selected ground features for geo-referencing satellite imagery at Beaver Lake, Marine Plain, the Grove Mountains and Wilson Bluff; - Establishing new survey marks at Marine Plain in the Vestfold Hills; - Computing the alignment of the UWOSCR instrument in the Space and Atmospheric Sciences (SAS) building at Davis station; - Surveying lake levels in the Vestfold Hills; and - Various local surveying tasks at Davis station. A few aspects of the fieldwork that were completed exclusively by surveyor Brolsma are not included in this report. In particular the report is concerned with the tasks that were undertaken using GPS survey methods, which includes the tide gauge surveys, image control surveys and the fieldwork at Beaver Lake and Marine Plain. Photographs that document the fieldwork and support the text are included throughout. GPS processing reports and photographs showing the locations of the GCPs are provided as Appendices.

Taken from sections of the Report (paraphrased): Introduction In August 1991, I was approached to go to Antarctica for 3 months, detached to AUSLIG, to conduct survey tasks at Mawson and Heard Island over the 1991/1992 field season. The following is my report to AUSLIG/ANTARCTIC Division outlining all results of my participation in the field season. The Mawson campaign began on 01 Dec 91, with the departure of RSV Aurora Australis from Hobart. The experience of working in Antarctica was invaluable and the opportunity to contribute to the scientific development of the AAT was appreciated. In terms of achievement the season was a success, with only a small number of pre-assigned field tasks in the Mawson and Heard Island areas not being completed. Operations Several tasks were required to be conducted over the field season, in accordance with briefs received prior to departure. A sequence of events is attached. SCAR 92 GPS Project. GPS Observation Pillar Tide Gauge Deployment Colbeck Archipelago and Taylor Glacier Scullin Monolith On Station Control Photo Identification of Off-Shore Control Heard Island Miscellaneous

Taken from sections of the report: In recent years, Geoscience Australia (GA) has increased its capability on the Antarctic continent with the installation of Continuous Global Positioning System (CGPS) sites in the Prince Charles Mountains and Grove Mountains. Over the course of the 2006/07 Antarctic summer, Alex Woods and Nick Brown from Geoscience Australia (GA) collaborated with Dan Zwartz of the Australian National University (ANU) to install new CGPS sites at the Bunger Hills and Richardson Lake and perform maintenance of the CGPS sites at the Grove Mountains, Wilson Bluff, Daltons Corner and Beaver Lake. The primary aim of the CGPS sites is to provide a reference frame for Antarctica, which is used to determine the long-term movement of the Antarctic plate. Data from Casey, Mawson and Davis is supplied to the International GPS Service (IGS) and in turn used in the derivation of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The sites also open up opportunities for research into post-glacial rebound and plate tectonics. In many respects CGPS sites in Antarctica are still in their infancy. Since the mid 1990's Geoscience Australia and the Australian National University have been testing new technology and various methods to determine the most effective way of running a CGPS site in Antarctica. A more detailed review of Australia's involvement in Antarctic GPS work can be found in (Corvino, 2004) In addition, a reconnaissance survey was undertaken at Syowa Station to determine whether a local tie survey could be performed on the Syowa VLBI antenna in the future. Upgrades were made to the Davis and Mawson CGPS stations and geodetic survey tasks such as reference mark surveys, tide gauge benchmark levelling and GPS surveys were performed at both Davis and Mawson stations. In addition, work requested by Geoscience Australia's Nuclear Monitoring Project, the Australian Government Antarctic Division (AGAD) and the University of Tasmania (UTAS) were completed. The 2006/07 Geoscience Australia Antarctic expedition proved to be one of the most successful Antarctic seasons by geodetic surveyors from Geoscience Australia. All intended field locations were visited and all work tasks were completed. Background The primary aim of the CGPS sites is to provide a reference frame for Antarctica, which is used to determine the long-term movement of the Antarctic plate. Data from Casey, Mawson and Davis is supplied to the International GPS Service (IGS) and in turn used in the derivation of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). The sites also open up opportunities for research into post-glacial rebound and plate tectonics. In many respects CGPS sites in Antarctica are still in their infancy. Since the mid 1990's Geoscience Australia and the Australian National University have been testing new technology and various methods to determine the most effective way of running a CGPS site in Antarctica. Dr John Gibson from The University of Tasmania requested that Alex Woods and Nick Brown collect moss samples from any locations visited during the Antarctic summer field season. While working in the field only a few moss specimens were found. No moss or lichen specimens were observed at locations such as Wilson Bluff, Dalton Corner, Beaver Lake or the Grove Mountains. Moss samples were collected at Richardson Lake and Mawson Station and these samples were frozen after collection and returned to Australia. This work contributed towards AAS (ASAC) project 1159.