UNAVCO, INC
Grant: $3,898,276 - National Science Foundation - Oct. 1, 2008
0% voted satisfied - 100% voted not satisfied - 3 vote(s) cast
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Award Description: Description of overall cooperative agreement from Research. gov: The integrated observing systems that comprise the EarthScope Facility can be used to address fundamental questions at all scales from the active nucleation zone of earthquakes, to individual faults and volcanoes, to the deformation along the plate boundary, to the structure of the continent and planet. EarthScope data will be openly available to maximize participation from the national and international scientific community and to provide ongoing educational outreach to students and the public. The intellectual merit of the EarthScope Facility is derived from its link to the support of fundamental research throughout the earth sciences. Through an ambitious data collection scheme and broad geographic coverage, the EarthScope Facility provides the observational resources to encourage cross-disciplinary investigations and stimulate the next generation of research scientists. The design and implementation plan for EarthScope was developed through extensive, decade-long engagement with the scientific and educational communities. Through numerous workshops and working groups, the research community, along with federal and state partners, defined the data and tools required for geoscience to take the next step in exploring the fundamental processes that shape the structure and evolution of our continents. Exciting results are already emerging from the analysis of new EarthScope data, confirming the enhanced resolution provided by this powerful new suite of observational tools. The broader impacts of EarthScope will be achieved through an integrated education and outreach program and applications in hazard assessment, land use, and resource management. While EarthScope is a national program, it is being operated and maintained at local levels through interactions with hundreds of universities, schools, and organizations across the nation. As EarthScope collects data and makes it available, students and the public will be introduced to key unanswered scientific questions and the role that their region or discipline plays in understanding the evolution of the North American continent and the active processes driving deformation and volcanic activity. Improved understanding of the natural environment is the first step toward improved land use, environmentally sound development, and resiliency to natural hazards. Note most obligated funds in this grant are not ARRA. ?The complete abstract for this award is available in Research.gov at: www.research.gov.? Specific Description of ARRA Amendments: Amendment 5 PBO FY08 ARRA Core Funding ($1,398,276): With out these funds PBO would not be able to retain its full support staff and implement Alaska fielded operations, as defined in UNAVCO?s 2007 EarthScope O&M proposal and budget. The increment of ARRA funds allows UNAVCO to avoid (1) Suspending Alaska operations through the end of the year, laying off staff, suspending helicopter operations, and differing travel, and (2) Suspending GPS and BSM operations (in the lower 48-States) and laying off staff. All travel of suspended staff would be differed. Amendment 6 ARRA Cascadia PBO GPS High Data Rate Upgrade ($2,500,000). upgrade Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) GPS and data communications infrastructure to accommodate high-rate (1 Hz), real time (latency < 5 sec) GPS data from the Cascadia region in the Pacific Northwest. Real time GPS data streaming will support earthquake, volcano and tsunami hazards research and the future deployment of regional early-warning systems, and will ensure maximum data recovery from PBO instruments at risk of destruction by the geophysical events they were deployed to observe.
Project Description: Amendment 5 PBO FY08 ARRA Core Funding ($1,398,276): UNAVCO avoided the temporary layoffs of 15 employees and their associated travel. Staff supported by the ARRA increment live in six western states and travel widely through the Western US and will provide an economic stimulus in terms of job retention and spending associated with O&M materials and supplies purchases and travel. A large helicopter support contract will also aid the western states economies. Personnel in place: 15 FTEs. Research underway: Maintenance of Global Positioning Systems in Alaska and the Western United States. Maintenance of Borehole Strainmeter Systems in the Western United States. Equipment purchased and installed: Batteries, power, communications, and scientific instruments installed or replaced to maintain current networks. This project is over 60% complete. Staffing and associated travel and helicopter activity has been expended during the busy summer maintenance season. These activities are forecast to continue through the next three months. Amendment 6 ARRA Cascadia PBO GPS High Data Rate Upgrade ($2,500,000). This effort began a full-scale kick off on October 1, 2009 (after this reporting period). Effort expended before that in September included purchasing of batteries and communication equipment. In addition, some helicopter trips to Mt. St. Helens where also accomplished to begin the upgrade process before high country snow comes. This project is less than 5% complete as the only authorized expenditures for this quarter were the ordering of batteries and communications equipment and the start of some high country activities. PBO forecasts significant progress during the last quarter of this year (October-December 2009).
Jobs Summary: Both ARRA Amendments combined save/create 19 jobs. Amendment 5 PBO FY08 ARRA Core Funding saves 15 jobs. The increment of ARRA funds allows UNAVCO to avoid: (1) Suspending Alaska operations laying off two Alaska employees from July 1, 2009 through the end of the year, suspending helicopter operations, and differing travel. (2) Suspending GPS and BSM operations and laying off ten staff from July 1, 2009 through the end of the year. (3) Utilizing temporary employees and data support to increase the total by 2 FTEs during maintenance season activities. These employees are field engineers with job skills to evaluate and repair GPS and Borehole strainmeter units. In addition, the dollars spend on this project provide work for the helicopter company that provided access to many sites. Other jobs were indirectly retained by travel expenditures for lodging, airfare, and meals. Amendment 6 ARRA Cascadia PBO GPS High Data Rate Upgrade creates/saves 4 jobs. After the full-scale kickoff this will provide an extra 2.25 FTEs of field engineers, 1.5 FTEs of Network and Database professionals and .25 FTEs of E&O support. (Total jobs reported: 19)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
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