Feedback on the New Datums

1
Feedback on the New Datums
North Carolina Geodetic Survey Gary W. Thompson
2015 Geospatial Summit April 13 to 14, 2015
2
Preparation

• Our major products/services affected by the new
  datums
• NC Floodplain Mapping Program (NCFMP)
• Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs)
• Elevation certificates
• Flood Inundation Mapping Alert Network (FIMAN)
• NC Land Records Management System
• NC CORS/Real Time Network (RTN)
• Statewide LiDAR (3DEP) and aerial imagery
  programs
• NCDOT transportation projects
• Statewide GIS clearinghouse (NC OneMap) and all
  GIS programs (state and local governments)
• Precision Farming applications
• Programs/projects with a geospatial component

3
Preparation

• Our preparations include
• Organizing an agency advisory committee, the NC
  Geodetic Survey Advisory Committee (GSAC), with
  reps from
• Providing 2022 datum information to constituents
  via
• Workshops
• Speaking engagements
• Requesting feedback from
• NC Society of Surveyors (NCSS)
• NC Property Mappers Association (NCPMA)
• Carolina Urban and Regional Information Systems
  Association (Carolina URISA)

State surveying agencies Professional societies Universities Private industry
4
Advantages / Challenges

• We are excited because...Expected advantages of
  the new datums for your organization, its
  products, or services
• Example Improved height information will be
  available in
• Areas lacking NAVD 88 benchmarks
• Areas of crustal movement
• Improved geoid and gravity especially in our
  coastal and mountainous areas
• NGS leadership actively engaging State Local
  surveying and mapping communities during the next
  7 years.

5
Advantages / Challenges

• We are concerned because...Expected challenges
  of the new datums for your organization, its
  products, or services
• The 2022 datums transition will be an unfunded
  mandate for
• Most state and local agencies
• The private sector
• The 2022 Vertical Datums 2cm accuracy, while a
  major improvement in areas without vertical
  control, will not meet high precision
  (sub-centimeter) vertical control requirements
  (e.g. coastal work in North Carolina). In
  addition, NGS does not plan to improve the
  accuracy of the geoid beyond 2 cm.
• Due to budget and personnel constraints, NGS will
  focus
• More on the scientific communitys issues
• Less on State/Local agencys issues

6
Transition Tools / Outreach Needs

• The tools, products, or services we need most
  (from NGS or others) are
• User friendly transformation tools
• Tools to incorporate gravity data into the NGS
  database
• Tools to perform leveling network adjustments to
  incorporate leveling data into NAVD 88 and the
  future vertical datum
• Tools for retrieving all of NGS geodetic data in
  GIS data formats
• Not just data sheets
• NGS should develop a cooperative program with
  State and local government agencies to complement
  the agencys decreasing resources
• Example Accept new CORS from partnering
  agencies
• Accept and incorporate geodetic leveling data
  into NGSIDB
• Provide plate fixed positions to requesting states

7
Transition Tools / Outreach Needs

• The outreach we need most (from NGS or others)
• NGS leadership should meet with State/Local
  governments and participate at the state Land
  Surveying and GIS conferences seeking input
  concerning the 2022 datums impacts
• Ensure the Surveying, Mapping, and GIS
  communities are included in the decision making
  process by establishing an ad hoc group
• To document and address issues with the new
  datums
• Include representatives from

NGS leadership State surveying agencies Professional societies Academia Private industry GIS professionals