Ecuadorian Vertical Control Network adjustment

Abstract Ecuador’s Vertical Control Network has been established through gravimetric and spirit leveling surveys conducted by the Military Geographic Institute since the 1960s. Continuous maintenance and updates have ensured the network’s consistency. Height determination in Ecuador is based on the propagation of elevation differences from the La Libertad tide gauge, which is currently regarded as the Local Vertical Datum, with plans to adopt a new datum linked to the International Height Reference Frame. Adjustments or compensations to network segments have been made based on leveled height differences and geopotential numbers; however, in all cases, they have not considered the entire leveling loops. This study outlines the procedure and results for compensating the Ecuadorian Vertical Control Network based on leveled height differences and geopotential numbers. The least-squares adjustment results yield adjusted leveled, orthometric, and normal heights with an average adjustment precision of about 4 cm, applicable to both the network adjustment and the internal or line adjustment.