Measuring and interpreting this deformation is the key to understanding the geophysical processes at work and predicting future hazards. Precise terrestrial and satellite geodesy provides the tool to do this. Simultaneously, the driving force of geophysical study spurs further developments in geodetic analysis methods. We have for a number of years been conducting episodic GPS experiments to measure the long-term deformation of Greece . A further part of this research concerns the smaller but significant post-seismic deformation occurring in the few years after an earthquake, which provides information on the relationship between different layers in the Earth's crust.
Vertical movements play a part in work elsewhere, and demand slightly different analysis techniques.
We are using continuous GPS to measure long- term vertical movements due to oil extraction at a number of platforms in the harsh remote environment of the North Sea. Where vertical movements are larger and vary more rapidly, as in volcanic and coastal erosion situations, kinematic GPS provides an alternative. Interest now focuses mainly in spatial network handing. A current project is in tools development for GE Smallworld and involves the final testing of the user interface for its new release. Two projects address spatio-temporality.