The Geodetic leveling was conducted on June 29 and ended on Friday, August 28, under the supervision of Edward Carlson, NGS Pacific Region Geodetic Advisor.
Carlson assisted 18 personnel of the Bureau of Lands and Survey headed by Director Gilbert Demei in doing the geodetic leveling on Koror and Babeldaob along the Compact Road.Carlson in an interview yesterday said that the last time that a geodetic leveling was done in Palau was in 1970. The US Geological Survey then did leveling survey from Malakal through Koror to the south end of the Babeldaob to the airport.For ten weeks, Carlson and the BLS personnel conducted a new leveling from Malakal through Koror and all around Babeldaob on the entire Compact Road.GPS survey was also conducted at the same time. The project cost $450,000 and was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).NGS is responsible for defining, managing and providing public access to the National Spatial Reference System which provides the foundation for mapping and charting state boundaries, transportation, communication and land records systems and numerous scientific and engineering applications.Carlson said the new NSRS for Palau will provide an extremely accurate geographic framework throughout Malakal, Koror, Ngerkebesang and Babeldaob.The project was conceptualized in 2006 during the Pacific Association of Land Professionals conference which was held in Palau.Then Minister Fritz Koshiba and Carlson agreed at that time that there was a great need for the geodetic project but had to wait until the Compact Road was finished.Yesterday, a short ceremony was held at the BLS conference room where 18 BLS personnel headed by Director Demei received certificates of appreciation from National Geodetic Survey for their services and support to the leveling and GPS and NGS Project.The personnel who received certificates were Director Demei; Roman Remoket, Garth Sokau, Franco Marcello, Rodney Yoshida, Frank Pedro, Rsei Odang, Francis Tomei, Luke Mangietar, Lackson Basilius, Ngiramolau Renguul, Solomon Rengulbai, Reno Shmull, Mekeruul Ueki, Dennis Blaluk, Harley “Basiou” Edeluchel, Jon Nagata, Anthony Mikel Jr., and Leo Pedro.
