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2026 Technical Course: GNSS Data Processing and Analysis with GAMIT/GLOBK and track

Date(s): July 23-31
Location: Virtual

APPLICATIONS OPEN AROUND MAY 18, 2026

Course Description:

This five-day technical course is organized to accommodate participants with varying levels of experience and interests in both static and kinematic GNSS applications. Each day includes dedicated time for one-on-one tutoring using participants’ own data sets. Participants are encouraged to bring prepared data or identify data sets in advance for use during the course. Instruction will combine conceptual presentations, guided demonstrations, and structured hands-on practice. 

Data to be Featured: 

Participants will process GNSS raw and RINEX data, along with associated field notes and metadata logs, to generate geodetic displacement time series and velocity estimates.

Primary Audience: 

This workshop is primarily designed for intermediate- to advanced-level users of the GNSS processing software suite GAMIT/GLOBK and kinematic module, track. The course is designed for undergraduate students, graduate students, researchers, and professionals who plan to process GNSS data, manipulate GNSS-derived products, or deepen their understanding of GNSS data products used in research.

Secondary Audience: 

This workshop can also accommodate beginners and those who wish to learn about GNSS processing from raw data to time series and velocities, and their basic analysis for geophysics. The course may also be of interest to those who use GNSS observations for other (non-tectonic) measurements, such as hydrological loading, and tropospheric and ionospheric delays, to understand better how these measurements are processed from raw data, and subtleties and caveats in their production.

Learning Objectives: 

Participants will be able to:

  • Configure file structures and directories to process GNSS data using GAMIT
  • Propagate GAMIT results and external phase-processing outputs into GLOBK
  • Generate and interpret time series and velocity estimates
  • Combine and manipulate GNSS products using utility programs and scripts
  • Apply Track for kinematic relative positioning analyses

Participant Commitment: 

Participants are expected to attend:

  • Day 1 (required for all participants)
  • Days 2–3 (time series and velocity generation and analysis)
  • Day 4 (advanced processing concepts)
  • Day 5 (Track module; optional for static-only participants)

Estimated time commitment: approximately 6 hours per day (30 hours total).

Instructors will be available throughout the week for consultation and discussion.

Participants will be expected to attend at least the first day (for all interests), the second and third days for geophysical time series and velocity generation and analysis, the fourth day for advanced concepts and the fifth day for use of track (expected time burden: six hours per day = 30 hours in total). Instructors will be available for any topic of discussion on all days.

Prerequisites, Computer and Data:

To participate in this course, you must:

  • Install GAMIT/GLOBK* and successfully run the “test_install” package prior to acceptance (estimated time: ~½ day).
  • Working proficiency in Linux/UNIX (shell scripting).
  • No prior experience with GMT is required; beginner-level experience in MATLAB is recommended.
  • Use a computer capable of running a Unix-like environment (Linux, macOS, or Windows Subsystem for Linux).
  • Have a reliable internet connection with at least 4 Mbps bandwidth for live video participation and data downloads.

* A valid GAMIT/GLOBK license and required prerequisites are mandatory:
https://geoweb.mit.edu/gg
https://geoweb.mit.edu/gg/pre.php

Brief Agenda:

Tentative agenda is listed below, and is subject to change. 

Session 1 Fundamentals of GNSS and GAMIT/GLOBK
– Theory of GNSS observations for high-precision geodesy
– Setting up and running GAMIT
Session 2Post-processing with GLOBK
– Setting up and running GLOBK
– Production of time series and velocities
Session 3Advanced concepts
– Defining and [re]realizing reference frames
– Time series characteristics and perturbations, and how to handle them
Session 4Advanced concepts
– GNSS for analysis of vertical motions
– Tools and approaches for processing large continuous networks with GAMIT and GLOBK
Session 5Processing with track
– Theory of GNSS observations for kinematic relative positioning
– Example of the use of track

Assessment:

Participants will benefit most from the course by identifying their specific goals in advance. Each participant is encouraged to bring a defined research objective and associated data for processing during the workshop.

Progress will be evaluated based on participants’ ability to:

  • Configure and execute a processing experiment
  • Ingest data into GAMIT
  • Generate relevant geophysical outputs (e.g., atmospheric delay estimates, position time series, tectonic velocities, earthquake displacements)

Participants without a defined project will be provided with a curated example dataset. Engagement with instructors and active participation throughout the course will also be considered in evaluating progress.

Instructors:

Tom Herring, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mike Floyd, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Sarah Stamps, Virginia Tech

Henry Berglund, EarthScope