California Height Modernization

Overview | Accomplishments | Regional Activities | Program Details | Contacts

Program Overview

Since 1999, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and the California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC) have joined in partnership for the purpose of researching precise spatial referencing and height modernization in California. CSRC’s research objectives are focused on the continued development and modernization of the California Spatial Reference System (CSRS), to be compatible with the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). The CSRC’s mandates include: (1) establish and maintain the CSRS; (2) provide the necessary geodetic services to ensure the availability of accurate, consistent, and timely spatial referencing data; (3) monitor temporal changes in geodetic coordinates due to tectonic motion, earthquakes, volcanic deformation and land subsidence; and (4) establish the legal spatial reference system for California. CSRC leverages the resources of the Scripps Orbit and Permanent Array Center (SOPAC) and consists of an Executive Committee, Coordinating Council, and a user community, organized as a University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Support Group.

CSRC’s Executive Committee and Coordinating Council hold semi-annual meetings open to the user community to report on projects and activities, to provide a forum for feedback and input, and to discuss opportunities for CSRC activities and projects.

Accomplishments

Recent accomplishments of the CSRC include providing and expanding the California Real Time Network (CRTN); maintaining an internet web site and data portal to access comprehensive spatial referencing data and metadata, and to manipulate and analyze geodetic data; providing access to SOPAC with state-of-the-art archive, web based tools, and resources for California GNSS projects; participating in education and outreach activities in support of height modernization, within California and nationally. CSRC works with NGS to develop the Horizontal Time Dependant Positioning (HTDP) crustal motion model using pre- and post-earthquake survey observations.

Regional Activities

Height modernization in California involves regional collaboration both within and outside the state. Partnerships currently exist with Earthscope’s Plate Boundary Observatory, California Department of Transportation (CalTrans), and U.S. Geological Survey. Program plans and activities are coordinated with numerous local government entities, as well as other federal agencies and private companies across the state.

Program Details

NGS Height Modernization Grant recipient

• Partner agencies: Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at UCSD's Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO); California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).
• Principal Investigator: Dr. Yehuda Bock, Director, California Spatial Reference System (CSRC), Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO), University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

Publication(s)

• “Proposal to Integrate NOAA's Navigation Services through the Application of Real-Time GPS to Position Ships” …pdf
• “Development and Implementation of GPS Buoy in San Francisco” …html
• “Overview of Real-Time GPS Heights On Marine Vessels in San Francisco Bay” …html

Additional Web Page(s)

Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP)
UCSD's Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO);
California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

Contact Information

Dr. Yehuda Bock, Director
California Spatial Reference System,
Scripps Institute of Oceanography,
University of California, San Diego
Email

Maria Turingan, Coordinator
California Spatial Reference System (CSRC),
Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO),
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
Email

For additional inquiries, contact the State Geodetic Advisor Program or the National Height Modernization Program directly. State geodetic advisors serve as liaisons between NOAA and regional or state organizations.