IBGE releases, today, the report on the Data Analysis of the Brazilian Network for Continuous Monitoring of the GNSS Systems – 1996 to 2000. The RBMC, Brazilian Network for Continuous Monitoring of the GNSS Systems (Global Navigation Satellite Systems , such as the North-American GPS - Global Positioning System, and the Russian GLONASS), comprises stations of which information enables to estimate the most accurate coordinates (latitude, longitude and ellipsoid height, the latter refers to the geometric model that represents the form of the Earth) of the country, providing location with a millimetric precision.

 It can be used to support the project, construction and monitoring of engineering huge constructions, such as roads, bridges and dams; limit indigenous land, quilombolas( Brazilian settlements founded by escaped slaves) and environment protection areas, among others; as well as assist the monitoring of vehicles. 

The publication includes indicators and analyses that allow for the evaluation of data quality and the monitoring of the performance of the stations from 1996 to 2000. Considering the several applications for RBMC,  all that information is important for users to evaluate the performance of the network and use that information in their activities planning. The report can be accessed at ftp://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/metodos_e_outros_documentos_de_referencia/outros_documentos_técnicos/rbmc/todos os arquivos e diretórios.

In 1996, IBGE started the implementation and operation of RBMC, the first network of this type in South America. The stations of Curitiba (PR) and Presidente Prudente (SP) were installed, and the stations of Fortaleza (CE) and Brasília (DF) were integrated.  The RBMC stations receive high precision artificial satellite signals, and, through the interconnection of networks of other countries and continents, help improve the quality of the systems concerned (reference systems, satellite systems, user systems, among others).  The RBMC included 15 stations at the end of 2000. Nowadays, 85 stations are operating, six in installation and testing phase and two in project and installation phase.

The information collected daily by RBMC allows for the calculation of coordinates from several points of the national territory.  In case of earthquakes, such as the ones that occurred in Chile last year and in March of this year in Japan, for example, it was possible to detect displacements of up to three meters by means of similar stations spread in those countries and their neighbors.  The RBMC is still the connection between the Brazilian Geodetic System (SGB) and similar international networks.  With the present use of positioning techniques based on the Global Navigation Satellite Systems, its role is increasingly more relevant in the definition of land occupation.

Data and reports from all the stations can be accessed at www.ibge.gov.br/home/geociencias/download/tela_inicial.php?tipo=8 and at the FTP server ftp://geoftp.ibge.gov.br/RBMC/. These data are organized in files resulting from daily observations, always related to the immediately previous day.  It is also possible to obtain information at twitter @IBGE_RBMC.