Volpe Center Highlights - January/February 2002
Mobility
Director's Notes |
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility |
Human and Natural Environment
Economic Growth |
National Security |
Papers and Presentations
Building Back Better: Navigation Restoration in Central America (RSPA)
Volpe's Center for Navigation designed and developed a DGPS-based navigation system for the Port of Corinto, Nicaragua, whose navigational capabilities were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. |
The navigational capabilities of ports in Honduras and Nicaragua were ravaged by Hurricane Mitch in November 1998. In response, the DOT initiated a humanitarian program to install advanced navigation systems at the three maritime ports that suffered the most damage, that is, to "build back better" their navigational capabilities. The U.S. Agency for International Development, through the Research and Special Programs Administration, funded the project.
This sustainable restoration project capitalized on experience that Volpe staff acquired during the development of advanced navigation systems for the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Panama Canal. The ports in Honduras and Nicaragua were equipped with systems that employ signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS). Once signals are acquired from GPS satellites, they are further refined by a technique called differential GPS (DGPS), which provides users with very accurate position reports. The DGPS system has transmitters that use a radio beacon to broadcast special GPS correction signals to vessels transiting the ports. Mobile navigation units were developed for maritime pilots. Each mobile unit has a GPS receiver, a radio-beacon antenna, and a laptop computer. The on-board systems allow harbor pilots to accurately determine the position and progress of their own ships as they navigate narrow inland waterways.
Volpe team members attended the official ceremony that transferred ownership of a DGPS transmitter from the United States to Nicaragua. From left to right: Mr. David Phinney of the Center for Navigation, Nicaraguan President Arnoldo Alemán, and Mr. Henry Wychorski, also of the Center for Navigation. |
On December 3, 2001, Mr. David Phinney and Mr. Henry Wychorski of Volpe's Center for Navigation traveled to Corinto, Nicaragua, to ascertain the readiness of the DGPS transmitter for full operational use for the Port of Corinto. On December 6, 2001, they participated in an official ceremony at the port during which the ownership of the DGPS transmitter station was transferred from the United States to Nicaragua. Attendees included the President of Nicaragua and the U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua.
The Volpe Center was responsible for the design and development of the DGPS installation, which will support 24-hour navigation in the port in all weather conditions. A similar DGPS system was installed at the Port of San Lorenzo in Honduras last year. Since the inauguration of DGPS operations, San Lorenzo has reported a marked enhancement in safety and a considerable improvement in the efficiency and economics of port operations.
