Advancing Volcano Monitoring Capabilities: Deployment of Cost-Efficient GNSS Units in the Lesser Antilles on Mt. Scenery, Saba

The evolution of cost-efficient Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment sparked increasing scientific interest to use this technology for precise geophysical measurements. In this research, we investigate the use of cost-effective GNSS units for deformation monitoring on the island of Saba in the Caribbean Netherlands. Saba hosts Mt. Scenery, an active but quiescent stratovolcano in the Lesser Antilles Volcanic Arc. The most recent eruption of the 887 metres high volcano occurred around 1640.

In February 2022, four cost-effective GNSS units were installed on the island to densify the existing Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) GNSS network of four permanent GNSS stations. While the equipment costs of a permanent GNSS station quickly exceeds 10.000 Euro, the cost-efficient units come at a price of about 1000 Euro. The cost-effective unit’s design includes all necessities for independent operation: Solar charger, microcontroller, cellular data transmission, as well as remote connection via the cellular 4G connection. Compared to permanent GNSS stations, the cost-effective unit’s installation time in the field is significantly reduced.

We present the GNSS unit’s design and first deformation monitoring results of the deployed stations. The data is validated by comparing data of a cost-effective unit with those from a permanent GNSS station next to it. The GNSS units are well suited to monitor ground deformation on Saba as their daily positioning precision is similar to those of permanent GNSS stations. The cost-efficient GNSS units can therefore be used i) to expand existing deformation monitoring networks, ii) in stand-alone areas where the installation of conventional GNSS is deemed too costly, or iii) in risk-prone areas where rapid installation of expendable equipment is necessary.