During June 2001, The National Park Service’s Submerged Resources Center worked in partnership with the US Army’s 70^th Engineering Survey Platoon station in Fort Shafter, HI to place high-order control monumentation on the USS Arizona hull. These high-resolution points will be used to monitor structural changes of the ship’s hull, much like geologists’ use of highly accurate points to monitor plate tectonic movement. This innovative application is the first of its kind for archeological and cultural resource management purposes.

Dual-frequency, carrier-phase Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers were used in static mode using an underwater tripod designed by SRC to survey the high-accuracy positions. The same receivers and procedures were used employing kinematic techniques for supplementary positions placed on the hull for additional control. Both types of positions are within a pencil eraser of their true positions.