STATUS REPORT ON THE GEODETIC AND ALIGNMENT EFFORTS FOR THE NUMI PROJECT AT FERMILAB

The discovery of neutrino oscillations was the first experimental proof that the Standard Model of pa rticle physics is incomplete. The Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) and the MINOS experiment will perform the first high-precision measurements of the physics parameters, guiding and directing future research. The success of the experiment depends on precise, accurate surveying and alignment of the beamline, especially the production target, magnetic focusing elements, decay pipe, and the two detectors. This paper reviews the concepts, methodology, implementation, and current results of the geodetic surveying and precise positioning efforts necessary for the construction, installation, and alignment of the NuMI particle beamline and the two MINOS detectors.