Height Modernization

North Carolina Height Modernization

Overview | Accomplishments | Regional Activities | Program Details | Contacts

Program Overview

Picture of Mt.
Mitchell observation deck at Mt. Mitchell State Park (highest point east
of the Mississippi River) Mt. Mitchell observation deck at Mt. Mitchell State Park (highest point east of the Mississippi River).

In North Carolina, numerous hurricanes and northeasters have caused devastating floods and landslides across the state in tidewater, coastal plain, and mountain counties creating a pressing need for accurate elevation data to ensure communities across the state can know their true flood risk. Height Modernization enhances the vertical control network by performing geodetic leveling, gravity surveying, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveying to support users across North Carolina especially in areas of subsidence or where lacking historical data.

Additionally, North Carolina will ultimately provide a Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network and a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) network that supports users utilizing the latest in GNSS technology throughout the state. To reach professional land surveyors, Geographic Information System (GIS) professionals, floodplain managers, professional engineers and other groups that benefit from height modernization, extensive outreach efforts include presenting at and organizing local meetings, conferences and forums.

Accomplishments

North Carolina has enhanced and densified the CORS network by upgrading the hardware at existing CORS sites to take advantage of both the United States Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). Hardware at twenty-four CORS sites has been upgraded and nine CORS have been installed at new sites, targeting areas that support floodplain mapping and transportation applications. Surveying and leveling has been completed in over twenty counties to enhance the vertical control network, and efforts are ongoing to modernize the state database that includes data excluded from the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Finally, information has been presented at over twenty meetings and forums, and North Carolina hosts a bi-annual regional conference.

Regional Activities

North Carolina is the lead state for the Height Modernization Southeast and Caribbean Region. North Carolina Geodetic Survey (NCGS) has also developed partnerships within the state. State government , partners include the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program (NCFMP), Land Quality Section (LQS) of the Division of Land Resources, and other agencies in the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. University partners include North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NCA&T), North Carolina State University (NCSU), and North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), specifically schools with civil and surveying technology programs.

Program Details

NGS Height Modernization Grant recipient

Partner agency: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), Division of Land Resources (DLR), North Carolina Geodetic Survey (NCGS)
Principal Investigator: Gary Thompson, NCGS

Projects

Buncombe County …more
Gaston County …more
Henderson County …more
Mecklenburg County …more
Wake County …more
Watauga County …more

Contact Information

Gary W. Thompson
Chief, North Carolina Geodetic Survey
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.