A Quasigeoid-Derived Transformation Model Accounting for Land Subsidence in the Mekong Delta towards Height System Unification in Vietnam

A vertical offset model for Vietnam and its surrounding areas was determined based on the differences between height anomalies derived from 779 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/levelling points and those derived from a dedicated high-resolution gravimetric-only quasigeoid model called GEOID...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dinh Toan Vu, Sean Bruinsma, Sylvain Bonvalot, Dominique Remy, Georgios S. Vergos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/5/817
Description
Summary:A vertical offset model for Vietnam and its surrounding areas was determined based on the differences between height anomalies derived from 779 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/levelling points and those derived from a dedicated high-resolution gravimetric-only quasigeoid model called GEOID_LSC. First, the deterministic transformation model to effectively fit the differences between the quasigeoid and GNSS/levelling heights was based on a third-order polynomial model. Second, the residual height anomalies have been interpolated to a grid employing Least-Squares Collocation. Finally, the distortions were restored to the residual grid. This model can be used for combination with a gravimetric quasigeoid model in GNSS levelling. The quality of GNSS/levelling data in Vietnam was analyzed and evaluated in this study. The annual subsidence rate from ALOS-1 was also used to analyze the effects of subsidence on the quality of GNSS/levelling data in the Mekong Delta. From this we made corrections to improve the accuracy of GNSS/levelling data in this region. The offset model was evaluated using cross-validation technique by comparing with GNSS/levelling data. Results indicate that the offset model has a standard deviation of 5.9 cm in the absolute sense. Based on this offset model, GNSS levelling can be carried out in most of Vietnam&#8217;s territory complying third-order levelling requirements, while the accuracy requirements for fourth-order levelling networks is met for the entire country. This model in combination with the developed gravimetric quasigeoid model should also contribute to the modernization of Vietnam&#8217;s height system. We also used high-quality GNSS/levelling data and the determined quasigeoid model to determine the geopotential value W<sub>0</sub> for the Vietnam Local Vertical Datum. The gravity potential of the Vietnam Local Vertical Datum is estimated equal to <inline-formula> <math display="inline"> <semantics> <mrow> <msubsup> <mi mathvariant="normal">W</mi> <mn>0</mn> <mrow> <mi>LVD</mi> </mrow> </msubsup> </mrow> </semantics> </math> </inline-formula> = 62,636,846.81 &#177; 0.70 m<sup>2</sup>s<sup>&#8722;2</sup> with the global equipotential surface realized by the conventional value W<sub>0</sub> = 62,636,853.4 m<sup>2</sup>s<sup>&#8722;2</sup>.
ISSN:2072-4292