The MCGS project is developing particularly cost-effective, compact, low-power, GNSS-based measurement systems for geoscientific and engineering applications. Low power consumption adapted to the location of use is achieved, among other things, by a special main board and software (GFZ developments). A rotary switch enables the selection of a suitable operating programme with which the most important system components (CPU, GNSS receiver chip, telemetry transmitter etc.) are operated sufficiently for the measurement task, but not unnecessarily intensively. This is achieved, for example, by reducing the measurement intervals accordingly. The MCGS stores the raw data of the GNSS measurements (GPS and Galileo) on an SD card and can (depending on the MCGS version) transmit a sufficient portion of the data for precise positioning via a power-saving narrowband telemetry transmitter (approx. 10 km range). Where possible, low-cost COTS (commercial of the shelf) components, some originally intended for other purposes, are selected and adapted for use in the MCGS. For example, the housings of the MCGS are made of ordinary, square aluminium tubing, the length of which is simply adapted to the volume of the components installed. Instead of an expensive (external) GNSS antenna, a very inexpensive chip antenna is integrated into the MCGS, protected by a simple plastic cap. Based on initial developments for testing components, designs and concepts, several MCGS versions have been created.

1. MCGS with main board developed at the GFZ, data telemetry by radio via integrated telemetry antenna (tested in the Atacama Desert, Chile, among other places), non-rechargeable internal battery (no solar module), configurable for interval operation with very low power consumption, e.g., 4x per day for 30 minutes with one measurement every 30 seconds
2. MCGS with main board developed at GFZ, internal battery, no data telemetry via radio (only internal data storage on SD card), measurement rate and interval configurable, very low power consumption (depending on measurement configuration)
3. MCGS with main board developed at GFZ, data telemetry by radio via external telemetry antenna, with small solar module and rechargeable battery, for continuous operation (one measurement per minute) or interval operation
4. MCGS with COTS components, Ethernet interface, POE power supply via mains power supply unit or solar module,
   measuring rate up to 1 Hz
5. MCGS as version 4, but with integrated internet router (4G, WLAN, Bluetooth)  

The MCGS project was temporarily supported by the GFZ innovation fund, which enabled the development of MCGS version 3, among others. A total of 40 devices of MCGS versions 3 and 4 were manufactured as part of a cooperation with the Ruhr University Bochum for the TectoVision project (ERC Starting Grant, PI Jonathan Bedford). They are used in Greece since 2023 to observe the movement of small tectonic plates (microplates). Some MCGS version 5 were produced under licence by the company maRam-UG. They are to be used from 2025 to monitor ground movements in connection with active volcanism in the Eifel region.

Project partners:

• GFZ Section 1.1
• Ruhr University Bochum (TectoVision project)

Time frame:

• Start 2017, will be continued

Funding:

• Budget GFZ Department 1
• GFZ Innovation Fund
• TectoVision project (ERC Starting Grant, Project ID 10104267)
• Licence income
• GFZ CVO Observatory

Reference:

• Bedford, J., Chousianitis, K., Ganas, A., Mouslopoulou, V., Sokos, E., Roumelioti, Z., Ramatschi, M., Falck, C., Männel, B., Garcia, C., Çökerim, K., Latypova, E., Gianniou, M., Saltogianni, V., Kanakaki, S., Pappas, C., Peña, C., Ioannidi, P., Kounanis, J., Shaaban, H., Arvanitis, A., Giorgos, F., Nikolakopoulos, K., Pikridas, C., Lazos, I., Evangelidis, C., Roth, M., Bradke, M., Sakkas, V., Schulte, A. (2024): Multi-frequency, multi-constellation, GNSS observations at low-cost tectonic GNSS stations in Greece. https://doi.org/10.5880/fidgeo.2024.004