SIRGAS, the Latin-American GNSS reference frame. Recent advances to integrate SLR and VLBI communities

M. V. MACKERN; W. MARTINEZ

San Juan

Workshop; 1er Workshop CART; 2019

Universidad Nacional de San Juan

SIRGAS, the Latin-American GNSS reference frame. Recent advances to integrate SLR and VLBI communities. William Martinez4 (SIRGAS president), María Virginia Mackern (SIRGAS vicepresident)1,2.3 1) Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo 2) Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Juan Agustín Maza 3) Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas 4) Agencia Nacional de Minería, Bogotá, Colombia Abstract: SIRGAS, Geocentric Reference System for the Americas, is the reference frame that has integrated the Geodesy of Latin American countries in the last 26 years. Conformed by a structure that coordinates the activities within three working groups since 1993, it is in charge of defining and materializing the Geocentric Reference System in the countries of America. It densifies the ITRF in the region through SIRGASCON, a GNSS continuous stations network (over 400). This international network serves as a reference for geodynamic and atmospheric researches in the region. Its national densifications have made it possible to bring the ITRF closer to the users of each country, becoming the precise geocentric reference framework, most used in the region, meeting the objectives of SIRGAS Working Group I and II. With regard to the heights reference frame, SIRGAS has proposed different actions within SIRGAS Working Group III. These actions have been consolidated in some countries serving as a guide for the other SIRGAS member countries. The sustained growth of the Latin American geodetic community has led efforts in recent years to maintain said framework and optimize it based on collaboration and integration with the specialist communities of other geodetic techniques. This presentation will show a brief description of SIRGAS (objectives, structure and products) and the efforts in recent years aimed at integrating SLR and VLBI geodetic techniques to the GNSS community in the region.