Ben Crosby

Unit 1: GPS/GNSS Fundamentals part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
The constellations of satellites orbiting our planet enable high-precision positioning not just for consumer or survey applications but also for geoscience research such as detecting plate motions, landslide ...

Unit 2.1: Measuring Topography with Kinematic GPS/GNSS part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
Kinematic GNSS surveys can provide a rapid means of collecting widely distributed, high-precision topographic data. The advantages of this technique over optical instruments such as a total station are that it only ...

Unit 2.2: Change Detection with Kinematic GPS/GNSS part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
Though it may be difficult to perceive, landscapes are constantly changing form and position. High-precision GNSS is one of a handful of techniques capable of quantifying these changes and is a key component of ...

Unit 3: Static GPS/GNSS Methods part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
The application of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in the earth sciences has become commonplace. GNSS data can produce high-accuracy, high-resolution measurements in common reference frames. Static GNSS ...

High Precision Positioning in Field Courses: Applying GNSS to geologic questions part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2019:Program:Poster Sessions:Wednesday
GPS/GNSS enabled consumer grade positioning devices are now super accessible to both geologic field research and education. These devices geotag images, digital field book entries or measurements but the positions ...

Context matters: Designing data-rich geodesy teaching materials that get used part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2019:Program:Poster Sessions:Wednesday
GETSI (Geodesy Tools for Societal Issues) project is developing modules that allow undergraduate students to engage in geodetic data analysis relevant to societally important topics of natural hazards, water ...

Data-rich societally-situated undergraduate teaching resources and instructor professional development for geoscience classrooms and field courses part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2018:Program:Poster Sessions:Wednesday
The NSF-funded GEodesy Tools for Societal Issues (GETSI) project is developing teaching resources and instructor professional development opportunities that emphasize a broad range of geodetic methods and data ...

Benjamin Crosby: Using High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS/GNSS in GEOL 4407: GPS Applications in Research at Idaho State University part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
I taught two, three-hour labs focused on Kinematic GNSS/GPS for this in-semester GNSS/GPS focused course. My two labs were about two-thirds of the way through the semester so students already had a good grasp of GNSS tools. I went straight to Units 2, 2.1 and 2.2 and the students were well prepared to learn this material. Units 2.1 and 2.2 were outdoor-oriented, doable withing the time frame successful from a student learning perspective and let to significant student enthusiasm.

Benjamin Crosby: Using High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS/GNSS in GEOL 4450/5550 Field Geology at Idaho State University part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
Most module units were tested over a jam-packed, 2-day undergraduate field geology course in central Idaho. Fitting most module units into such a short window is not recommended. The final assessment was a change detection exercise using a leveling line across an active normal fault (the Lost River Fault, home of the Borah Peak earthquake event in 1983). The results were stunning and intriguing for students and professors alike.

Benjamin Crosby: Using High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS/GNSS in GEOL 3315: Evolution of the Earth's Surface at Idaho State University part of High Precision Positioning with Static and Kinematic GPS
The module is used sparingly in this course to introduce students to mass movement processes and how we can track their creeping movement with geotechnologies. The experience is broken down into two sessions: a three hour lecture/lab introducing the students to GPS/GNSS followed by a one-day field trip to a field site with an actively deforming landslide. All data processing is done by the instructor and is delivered to the students as a completed product. They use these results to evaluate change in terms of accuracy and precision as well as geomorphically.