China is set to invest 517 million yuan in the construction of a modern national network to monitor movements in the Earth's crust over the next four years, Xinhua reported.

The National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geo-information (SBSM) on Tuesday announced that the program will mobilize over 3,000 technicians nationwide to build a three-dimensional dynamic "geodetic" network with high precision.

China lags far behind developed countries in terms of surveying and mapping technologies.

The U.S. latest geoid determination network can reach an accuracy up to three to four centimeters, while China can only determine geoid at an accuracy of 30 cm in its eastern part and 60 cm in its western region.

The national geodetic network aims to build 360 GPS (Global Positioning System) reference stations, and a satellite-geodesy control network consisting of 4,500 control points.

SBSM deputy director Li Weisen said the network will ensure people can get timely geodetic information for any point in the country's land area.

The network should also offer better services for construction projects, natural disaster relief and mineral resources development.

(Xinhua contributed to this story)

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