The Future of the National Geodetic Survey

Dr. Dru A. SmithChief Geodesist, NGS/NOAA

CSRC, Coordinating Council Spring MeetingLa Jolla, CAApril 28, 2006

Outline

• What does NGS do?

• What are NGS’ Current Priorities?

• Where is NGS going?

NSRS

Mapping

Standards

So much more!

NGS: What we do…

• Maintain/Improve the National Spatial Reference System• Develop geodetic surveying specifications and guidelines• Define the coastline of the United States• Conduct geosciences research• Oversee other federal survey projects (e.g. FAA)• Conduct field surveying in support of our mission• National repository for geodetic data• Develop geodetic tools for public good• Facilitate geodetic networks supporting NSDI• Outreach to government, military, industry, academia and

foreign agencies

National Spatial Reference System

• Datums:– NAD 83 (, , h)– NAVD 88 (H)

• Access tools:– CORS* + OPUS**– GEOID03– Monumented Benchmarks and Control Points– Orbits– Surface Gravity Predictor (IGSN 71)

* Continuously Operating Reference Stations** Online Positioning User Service

NGS: Current Priorities…

Modernization:• Height Modernization• CORS Enhancement• NSRS Re-adjustmentBread and Butter:• Specifications, Guidelines and Tools• Coastal Mapping• FAA QA/QC

Height Modernization is…

…the establishment of accurate, reliable heights using GPS technology in conjunction with

traditional leveling, gravity, and modern remote sensing information.

Height Modernization Today…

• State by State approach

• Monument densification / leveling

• Connecting Orthometric heights, Water Levels and Ellipsoid Heights (e.g. VDatum)

• Research on local issues (subsidence, floodplain mapping, etc)

Any body copy on the slide will go in here.Either bulletedOr not bulleted

Legend

Spatial Reference Centers

Regional Leaders

Lead Agencies

Height Modernization States

Interested States

Height Modernization Status

Height Modernization of the future…

• A modernized vertical datum, free from systematic errors, accessed through GPS/CORS and an epoch-tagged gravimetric (not hybrid) geoid published with heights and height changes.

• The use of Dynamic Heights (not Helmert Heights) to map floodplains

• The ability to transform between height systems and instantaneous water levels anywhere in the U.S.

• Advocating the use of GPS heights whenever they are sufficient for the task at hand (e.g. airborne navigation)

• Supporting leveling only as a local tool for disseminating height differences, not as a tool for re-defining a continent scale vertical datum.

CORS Enhancement today…

• Passive “open arms” policy toward new partners

• OPUS-RS & OPUS-DB– 15 minute solutions ; Direct input to Database

• Recently updated, more rigorous monumentation and metadata policy

Disparity in CORS distribution…California: Well-served…Over-served?

Florida: Well-served

North Dakota: Poorly-served

CORS Enhancement of the future…• Focus on primary geodetic mission while allowing

continued growth within NGS resources– NGS budgeting for densification as needed– Stricter guidelines on new sites– More responsibility for metadata and data quality

on site operators

• Real-time data streaming

• Modernized receivers: L2C/L5/Galileo/GLONASS

• Support for single-frequency and single-system users

• Increased accuracy and reliability/Reduced field time

Ongoing research to support NGS in the future…

• New GNSS processing software – Ohio State MPGPS -> OPUS-RS– Complete replacement of PAGES (and ARC?)

• “First principles” geoid modeling

• Collaborations:– NOAA’s Coast Survey: VDatum – NOAA’s Space Environment Center: USTEC– Potentially: ACoE/FEMA for coastal floodmap updating

Some big changes from NGS in the near future…

• A complete update to the existing gravity data holdings, including country wide airborne and absolute gravity surveys (with emphasis on coastal regions)

Some big changes from NGS in the near future…

• A complete update to the existing gravity data holdings, including country wide airborne and absolute gravity surveys (with emphasis on coastal regions)

• Selected CORS stations streaming data in real time

• A completed re-adjustment of NAD 83 by 2007– Likely the last such large-scale adjustment of passive marks

• An expanded, updated outreach focus– New booth, new flyers, video and audio training/workshops

• More interaction with academia:– Sponsored graduate student research– Visiting Scientists– Long term training of NGS employees

The NGS 10 year Plan

• Setting goals for 2017– Year-by-year steps to achieve these goals

• PRIORITIZING– Do more with less? NO– Do critical work better with less? YES

• Focus on efficient implementation of geodetic tasks– Willingness to change from “the old way” of doing business

if inefficient– Acceptance of GNSS as the tool of surveying and mapping

for the immediate future– “One NOAA”, but also “geodesy first” within NGS

• Publication target: Late Fall 2006

Summary: The more things change…

• NGS transforms into a modernized, service-oriented federal agency.

• NGS broadens their customer base (as resources allow), while continuing to perform mandated geodetic tasks.

• NGS embraces the concept of a dynamic world, defining and maintaining the National Spatial Reference System in 4 dimensions and providing or empowering access to that system in real-time.

…the more they stay the same.

• NGS continues to provide useful specifications, guidelines and tools in a changing environment.

• NGS continues to define the coastline of the United States.

• NGS continues to support geodetic surveying through quality control and outreach.

Questions/Comments?

• Dr. Dru Smith• Chief Geodesist, National Geodetic Survey

• Dru.Smith@noaa.gov• 301-713-3222 x 144

Extra slides

NGS: Who we are…

• NGS traces their roots back to the original “Survey of the Coast” mandated by Congress in 1806

• Department of Commerce– National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• National Ocean Service– National Geodetic Survey

• The predominant “Geodetic Science and Surveying” civilian agency of the Federal Government.