Program & Workshop Materials

Virtual Workshop: Teaching in the field with SfM and RTK GPS/GNSS to Undergraduates
August 11-15, 2025

Before the workshop

Complete the prepwork (prep-survey by Friday July 25; other prep work before Monday August 11)

Overall Schedule

Jump down to: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Resources

Overview Schedule Table
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday
Early virtual session (12-2 pm ET)Intro to short course and SfMIntro to RTK GPS/GNSS and Emlid receiversPreparing to collect data for globally georeferenced point cloud.Share results, products, and insights from making a georeferenced point cloud. Discuss teaching implications.Teaching implementation planning
Midday taskCollect photos and ground control points (in local reference frame)Set up base and collect a few points with the rover. Keep base running for several hours.Collect photos and GPS/GNSS measurement. Process photos with ground control point locations into georeferenced point cloud.Prior to Friday session, start implementation planning for teaching.Optional continued discussion or office hours.
Later virtual session (5-6 pm ET)Processing photos in Agisoft MetaShape.Emlid trouble shooting if needed. PPP workflow. Primer for Wednesday plans.Optional office hoursDesigning good field opportunities for students.


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(last updated 2025-07-14 16:22:18)

Participant Google Share Folder Primary workshop slides Implementation Planning Workspaces

Detailed Anticipated Agenda

Day 1: Monday August 11 - Introduction to the short course and SfM (structure from motion)

  1. Prepwork - If you have any issues with any of the prepwork, please contact beth.pratt-sitaula@earthscope.org
    1. By Friday July 25 - Complete the prep-survey
    2. Before the workshop start Monday August 11
      1. Review the SfM and GPS GETSI field modules and be ready with questions.
        1. Analyzing High Resolution Topography with TLS and SfM
        2. High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
      2. Make sure you are able to login to SERC.
      3. Install Slack on the computer you are using for the course OR check that you can login to Slack.com via a browser. You will receive an invite to the EarthScope-Engagement #25-virtual-gps-sfm-workshop channel.
        1. We will be using Slack to communicate about issues, questions, or breakthroughs between workshop sessions.
      4. Look over the SfM student prep exercise SfM preparation exercise (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 1.4MB Aug27 20) and prepare the software, apps, and materials described:
        1. Install AgiSoft MetaShape Professional (not Standard) if you don't already have it.
          1. When you open it, it will say that there is no license detected. Select "Start a free 30-day trial" (unless you have told us you have already used your trial; in that case we will contact you directly with an activation key you can use during the workshop).
        2. Collect other mentioned items: compass, measuring tape, inclinometer, digital camera, paper/marker. One option for an inclinometer is to get an app for your smartphone (ex. iMetalBox comes with an inclinometer and many other handy tools for $2).
    3. Printing (optional) - if you are someone who likes to have hard copies, you may like to print out some of the guides (esp. Emlid quick guide)
      1. **QuickStart Guide for the Emlid Reach RS2/2+/3 (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 12.8MB Aug8 25)
      2. Instructor Guide for Emlid Reach RS2/2+/3 (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 6.2MB Aug8 25)
      3. MetaShape Quick Guide (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 2.7MB Jun28 23)
  2. Goals
    1. Get to know: each other, a bit of background on GETSI, and the workshop plan for the week
    2. Be able to access teaching modules and understand their overall structure and components
    3. Learn the basics of SfM and Agisoft MetaShape Pro.
  3. Early session - 6-8am Hawaii | 9-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12-2pm ET
    Primary Workshop Slides
    1. Overview goals and plan for the week (~35 min) - Beth
      1. Introductions - leaders & participants
      2. Introduction to SERC workspaces - 2025 Virtual Workshop Workspaces - Beth
    2. Overview of GETSI field modules (~15 min) - Beth
    3. Break (10 min)
    4. Introduction to SfM method (~1 hr) - Beth
      1. Introduction to SfM Aug2025 workshop (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 46.3MB Aug10 25) - the file that Beth presented was modified from presentations in the Analyzing High Resolution Topography, Unit 1-SfM
  4. Midday task
    1. Complete the photo and ground control point collection parts of Getting started with SfM student exercise designed for virtual situations (adapted from Analyzing High Resolution Topography module's Unit 1-SfM: Introduction to SfM)
      All the files below are from the Getting started with SfM exercise but we link to them here as well for expedience.
    2. Download photos to your computer
    3. Convert ground control point angle/distance to x-y-z coordinates.
      • You can use this Excel GCP calculator template (Excel 2007 (.xlsx) 10kB May3 21) to complete the task more quickly. Whether you give this to your students or make them do the trigonometry by hand is your call depending on your situation.
    4. Optional: Start the MetaShape tutorial if you wish - but the afternoon session will be devoted to this so no pressure
  5. Later session - 11am-12pm Hawaii | 2-3pm PT | 3-4pm MT | 4-5pm CT | 5-6pm ET
    1. Introduction to using MetaShape to process photos sets into point clouds (~45 min) - Beth
      If the photo set you took is not aligning well in MetaShape, you can use either of these photos sets instead. Both align well and include ground control point (GCP) files in xyz coordinates.
      1. sample photo set for 3D (sofas) (Zip Archive 36.5MB Aug27 20)
      2. sample photo set for 3D (chobar outcrop) (Zip Archive 162.7MB May16 21)
    2. Overview prepwork for Day 2 (10 min) - Beth
    3. Day 1 Road Check

Day 2: Tuesday August 12 - Introduction to GPS/GNSS and Emlid receivers

  1. Prepwork
    1. Finish Day 1 point cloud if needed
    2. Upload a screenshot of your Day 1 point cloud to the Activity Uploads section of your Implementation Plan workspace.
    3. Watch some Emlid videos
      1. How RTK Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieearzWTCZw&list=PLPIakQOjvl8MdsxgcbqDCxcG-eOMQi0qd&index=4
      2. Setting up RTK Base: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7L-3E-OM-c&list=PLPIakQOjvl8OJaHy8h2yLhLVJMrc93Th5&index=1 - 0:00-3:30 is enough. Note: Emlid app is now called EmlidFlow instead of ReachView. It looks a little different but functions largely the same.
    4. Watch tripod set up video - whichever one is appropriate to the type of tripod you have
      1. Setting up a standard tripod and tribrach (note: video shows the example of setting up a tripod for a prism but the process is the same for GPS until that last minute of the video)
      2. Setting up a quick-tripod (MP4 Video 40.6MB May16 21)
    5. Look at Emlid guides to gain a little familiarity - potentially print out at least the quick guide. These are available on the GPS/GNSS Equipment page but are also linked here for convenience.
    6. Install EmlidFlow app on a mobile device (iPhone, Android phone, tablet)
    7. Team leaders - Check Emlids are fully charged. Take the receivers outside and turn on. Leave on for 15-20 min with decent sky view in order to collect almanac information from the satellites and know generally where it is in the world (this will save time on Day 2). Ideally, arrange with your team to meet by the latter part of the early session, so everyone will be able to start using the Emlids hands-on.
  2. Goals
    1. Learn the fundamentals of GPS/GNSS system and basic surveying
    2. Evaluate example student GPS concept sketches
    3. Able to set up Emlid base rover, collect base data file, collect couple RTK rover points
  3. Early session - 6-8am Hawaii | 9-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12-2pm ET
    1. Short debrief about SfM experience and roadcheck (10 min) - Beth
    2. Remind participants to think about a field site for Day 3-4 joint SfM-GPS (true geological application is not necessary; small area is good [<50 photos])
    3. Introduction to GPS/GNSS and RTK (real-time kinematic) surveying (25 min) - Ben
      1. Concept sketch assignment overview and evaluation; mention accuracy/precision exercise and Unit 1 in general
      2. These resources are coming from High Precision Positioning module Unit 1: GPS/GNSS Fundamentals and Unit 2: Kinematic GPS/GNSS Methods but the specific versions Ben presented are:
        1. Intro to GNSS Aug25 Workshop (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 68.2MB Aug12 25)
        2. Kinematic GNSS Aug25 Workshop (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 17.5MB Aug12 25)
      3. Kinematic GPS/GNSS Survey Methods Manual (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 4.8MB May9 25) - more information here
    4. Base considerations (25 min)
      1. Site choice (land access)
      2. Line-of-site is best
      3. High ground is usually best
      4. Watch our for multi-path
      5. Setting up tripod - demo how to set up "quick" and "standard" tripods (standard tripod/tribrach may need to watch video)
    5. Introduction to EarthScope Geoid Height Calculator - Beth
    6. Break (10 min)
    7. Intro to working with Emlids (40 min) - Beth
      Emlid-specific guides are on the GETSI GPS/GNSS Equipment page (and linked above in today's Prepwork)
      1. People outside in deck/garden if they can; windowsill also fine if outside is impractical
      2. Turn both on, base gets location after 2 or 5 min collection, get receiver to get "Fix" (will only work if
  4. Midday task
    1. Set up base and collect a few RTK points w rover
      1. Leave base running and logging raw data for at least 1 hr (ideally 4 hours for better positioning but not essential today)
    2. Use the EarthScope Geoid Height Calculator to find the Geoid Height in your proposed field area. Enter the lat/lon into the calculator. (Geoid height is the difference between the Ellipsoid height measured by GPS will be different from the Orthometic Height (i.e. "elevation above sea level").
      Enter your Geoid height in the Activity Uploads section of your Implementation Plan workspace.
  5. Later session - 11am-12pm Hawaii | 2-3pm PT | 3-4pm MT | 4-5pm CT | 5-6pm ET
    1. Troubleshooting about Emlids, if needed - Beth
    2. PPP workflow
      1. See PPP section of the Instructor Guide for Emlid Reach RS2/2+/3 (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 6.2MB Aug8 25)
      2. PPP service from Canadian Spatial Reference System website 
    3. More on SfM-GNSS survey design
      1. Introduction to SfM with UAV GNSS and GCP surveying presentation (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 13.4MB Sep5 25)
    4. Day 3 prepwork
    5. Day 2 Road Check

Day 3: Wednesday August 13 - Combined SfM and GNSS for georeferenced point cloud

  1. Prepwork
    1. Run PPP solution in CSRS. 
      Upload the PPP report to the Activity Uploads section of your Implementation Plan workspace.
      1. PPP instructions are in Instructor Guide for Emlid Reach RS2/2+/3 (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 6.2MB Aug8 25)
      2. Team leaders, if applicable, send the RINEX file to your group so they can practice the process.
        OR here are two options
        1. Beth's roof (antenna height 2.134 m) - raw_202009071324_roof2_sep7_RINEX-3_03.zip (Zip Archive 2.3MB May18 21)
        2. Beth's deck railing (antenna height 0.134 m) - raw_202105181957_RINEX-3_03.zip (Zip Archive 4.7MB May18 21)
    2. Team leaders - (after consulting with your team) come ready to discuss ideas for where the joint SfM and GPS survey will be conducted. If you can share an image or Google Earth view of the area, that can help (remember for this purpose it is best to aim for a small-ish site where photos can be captured with hand-held camera; <50 photos! 20 photos is fine)
  2. Goals
    1. Combined SfM/GPS survey design in order to produce a georeferenced point cloud
  3. Early session - 6-8am Hawaii | 9-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12-2pm ET
    1. Today's overview and roadcheck review - Beth (5 min)
    2. Design field collection plan for the next 22 hours
      1. Breakout groups - with 3-4 institutions each - 30 min
        1. Each team leader presents ideas - MAX 5 min each
          1. Quick overview of what your team is planning to do for combined SfM/GNSS survey
          2. Challenges you foresee
          3. Opportunities you find interesting/exciting
        2. Further discussion in your breakout group - questions/challenges/common themes
          1. Identify ~2 points to share with the whole group
          2. Identify someone who will share this
      2. All group discussion and moderated share-out - 15 min
      3. Break (10 min)
    3. Thinking through combined SfM-GNSS surveying workflow
    4. Overview MetaShape workflow difference for global vs local GCP - Beth
      1. MetaShape Guide when using global ref frame (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 5.6MB Aug13 25) - very similar to the guide used Day 1 but global instead of local reference frame (you can ignore the final steps related to classifying points)
      2. (optional if you like and are comfortable with MetaShape) - MetaShape Guide for SfM with GNSS-georeferenced GCPs (UAV survey) (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 33.4MB Sep5 25) - this somewhat longer guide also includes steps to remove low-quality tie points in the sparse point cloud
    5. Post-processing kinematic (PPK) - Emlid Studio - Optional if you are interested
      1. Instructions in Section 6 of Instructor Guide for Emlid Reach RS2/2+/3 (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 6.2MB Aug8 25)
      2. PPK practice data set.zip (Zip Archive 5.8MB Aug13 25)
    6. Fielding continued technical issues
    7. Day 3 Road Check
  4. Midday task
    1. Do field survey collection before the Day 4 early-session
      1. MetaShape Guide when using global ref frame (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 5.6MB Aug13 25) - This somewhat longer MetaShape guide includes steps for using global rather than local reference frame. It also describes how one can classify points in MetaShape.
      2. SfM Data Processing and Exploration Manual (Agisoft Metashape software) PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 8.4MB Nov16 19) - Longer MetaShape guide if you wish to explore more capabilities. It can also be helpful to just work through menu options in the software to explore them further.
      3. If you are unable to collect survey data, here is a set of photos and global coordinates for the ground control points (project file as downloaded from Emlids). rock pile.zip (Zip Archive 202.9MB May19 21) (note: not quite all the photos align; see if you can determine the likely reason why a few did not)
    2. Upload a screenshot of your Day 3 point cloud to the Activity Uploads section of your Implementation Plan workspace.
  5. OPTIONAL - Later session - 11am-12pm Hawaii | 2-3pm PT | 3-4pm MT | 4-5pm CT | 5-6pm ET
    1. Office hours - leader will be available to consult on field data collection and data processing

Day 4: Thursday August 14 - Sharing results and designing high-quality geodesy field activities

  1. Prepwork
    1. Continue working on field collection of SfM and GPS data - see Day 3 schedule Midday Task
    2. Team leaders - (after consulting with your team) plan to report on the experience. Fill out your institution's slides in this slide deck
  2. Goals
    1. Assess challenges and successes of field data collection
    2. Initiate teaching implementation planning
  3. Early session - 6-8am Hawaii | 9-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12-2pm ET
    1. Report-outs on field experience (~1 hour) - each team contributes and presents from this slide deck
      1. Team leaders present outcomes of field collection and give some pedagogical reflections - half the teams will move to a breakout room and the other half will stay in the main room, so each will have 7 teams reporting. (MAX 5 min per team to report-out)
        1. Quick overview of what you did - (add pics)
          What went well?
          What didn't go as smoothly as hoped?
          What insights from today's experience will inform your teaching plans?
      2. Whole group discussion - Beth, Ben, DeeDee summarize some overall takeaways with additional input from all
    2. Break (10 min)
    3. Review different GETSI units and the variety of different geoscience applications for SfM and GPS
    4. How to request instrument loans and technical support from EarthScope - Geophysics Field Education
    5. Tips and resources for managing groups in the field
    6. Implementation Plan development - use them as best suits your current needs, but do aim to complete them
  4. Midday task
    1. Start working on teaching implementation plans
  5. Later session - 11am-12pm Hawaii | 2-3pm PT | 3-4pm MT | 4-5pm CT | 5-6pm ET
    1. GPS-specific example - Ben
      1. The power of measuring the point moving on the topography
      2. Measuring leveling-lines and benchmarks (ex. post-earthquake continued change)
    2. Designing good field geodesy opportunities for students (Borah Fault example) - Ben
      1. Breakout groups - refer to this case study document
    3. Work on implementation plan workspaces if time available - or discussions about teaching solutions
    4. Day 4 Road Check

Day 5: Friday August 15 - Teaching Implementation Planning

  1. Prepwork
    1. Implementation planning document - at least draft level completion
  2. Goals
    1. Develop teaching implementation plan and refine through collaboration with colleagues
  3. ONLY session - 6-8am Hawaii | 9-11am PT | 10am-12pm MT | 11am-1pm CT | 12-2pm ET
    1. Team speed dating
      1. Breakout rooms with 2 teams each (15 minutes)
        1. Present < 4 minutes, discuss 3 min then switch
          1. Course name
          2. Learning goals
          3. Ways you plan to scaffold student skills
          4. Anticipated assessments/student deliverables
          5. Challenge you feel you haven't solved yet
      2. New room with a new team (15 min) - same presentation scenario
    2. Implementation Plan refinement (15 min)
      1. Breakout rooms will be available for teams to confab in if needed
    3. Break (5-10 min)
    4. More examples & Helpful changes/insights - Breakout rooms with ~5 teams each (~20 min)
      1. Team leaders:
        1. Course name
        2. ~1 change they are making based on suggestions or further insights (and why)
      2. Further discussion on teaching challenges and solutions and questions
  4. Remind of EarthScope instrument request process
  5. Final tasks - micro-credential, instrument returns, Implementation Plan completion - by August 25
  6. Final survey - 15 min

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