Modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (webinar)

Thursday, May 26, 2011

1:00-3:00pm ET

Presenter: Dave Doyle

To register, click here.

To download the presentation file, click here.

During the next decade, enhancements and additions to the network of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as the U.S. Global Positioning System, the Russian GLONASS, European Union GALILEO and China's COMPASS, will significantly improve the use of space-based systems for surveying, mapping, charting, navigation and numerous other applications.  In order to meet the anticipated demands for an improved geospatial framework that these developments will require, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is implementing a plan for the modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).  One of the significant elements of this plan calls for the adoption of entirely new  horizontal and vertical datums to replace the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83), the  North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) and various island vertical datums for American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  These new datums will be defined by a transition to be more closely aligned to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) and to elevations based exclusively on gravity observations. This presentation will highlight the rationale for these changes, the various elements that currently define NSRS, and will describe the activities to improve the capacity of and access to NSRS in support of this datum transition.