RTK GPS water level measurement on dynamic sea surface

Abstract

In recent years, Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers have been placed on buoys to determine the height of sea surface. GPS buoy always have an advantages over traditional techniques in measuring water level, which is their ability to determine heights relative to an absolute reference frame. There are scenarios where it is not practical or difficult to install a conventional tide gauge especially in inaccessible area like mangrove forest. Since traditional method being used to measure the sea level, large number of tide gauge required to be maintained and observed at the same time. This required manual observation and a number of labours which has lead to the lack of efficiency in data management, processing and economic. This paper would review on the development of GPS buoy design with possible application of it, as well as the results achieved by previous studies. Proposed method of efficient water level monitoring system with technical aspect that should be taken into account would be discussed. The paper would sum up with some discussion on GPS buoy implementation prospect in Malaysia.