The Review and Development of the Nigerian Geodetic Control Network

The Nigeria Geodetic Networks were established using primarily triangulation, traversing, trilateration, doppler and levelling networks for numerous control requirements in both surveying and national spatial reference networks. These networks have a number of inherent negative failings that affect its reliability of usage. Various investigations have identified many weaknesses in the network, starting with the origin and other subsequent observational and adjustment defects. Thus, the need to obtain accurate and consistent sets of coordinates with the available space technology and equipment to update and strengthen the network has now become necessary. This work reviews the status of the existing Nigeria Geodetic Networks, and possible ways to improve them are highlighted. The work further proposes a strategy to obtain the most accurate and consistent set of coordinates to serve Geodesy and Geodynamics research, spatial referencing and other mapping activities in the country. The proposed programme of action for improving these networks includes: re-observing the existing network, new set of computations and adjustment of the entire network of controls, and the selection of a suitably chosen system to meet the present and future geodetic needs of positioning.