NGS Webinar Series

Recorded Webinars


NADCON5: your tool for easy, consistent coordinate transformations

September 8, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time




Dr. Dru Smith, NGS
Dr. Andria Bilich, NGS

NADCON5 supports transformations between all 3-dimensional geometric reference frames and nearly all traditionally-determined 2-dimensional horizontal datums of the National Spatial Reference System, dating back to the 1890's. The improved tool (replacing NADCON and GEOCON) will be available as the latest expansion to NGS's new web-based geodetic toolkit. This presentation will discuss the motivations for building NADCON5, as well as the data and products which support the tool.

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Understanding Information on NGS Datasheets

August 11, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



John Ellingson, NGS Geodetic Advisor

NGS datasheets include extensive information about survey control marks that can be found around the country. Learn how to find the information you need from a datasheet and how to avoid misusing it, which happens more frequently than you think.

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VDATUM

July 14, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Stephen White, NGS

This presentation is about VDatum, a free software tool designed by NOAA to vertically transform geospatial data among a variety of tidal, orthometric and ellipsoidal vertical datums - allowing users to convert their data from different horizontal/vertical references into a common system and enabling the fusion of diverse geospatial data in desired reference levels.

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Down to Earth: Absolute Gravity at NGS

June 9, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Derek vanWestrum, NGS

This presentation will describe the differences between relative and absolute gravity measurements, history of gravity measurement instruments, as well as current state-of-the-art science. Finally, it will also describe trends in absolute gravity networks for geodesy and metrology.

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Bache's Geodetic Survey Baseline on Edisto Island, SC

May 12, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Maryellen Sault, NGS

Professor Alexander Dallas Bache, the second superintendent of the U.S. Coast Survey, established a highly accurate survey baseline on Edisto Island, South Carolina in January 1850. Although it only took 13 days to establish the survey baseline, Bache’s work would have a lasting impact on the safety and economic vitality of the entire region. Today, the baseline starts at Botany Bay Wildlife Management Area and ends at Edisto Beach State Park. This presentation will discuss the geodetic survey baseline on Edisto Island in 1850, the role it played on navigation and charting and the current preservation efforts at the east base monument.

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2015 GPS Survey of the Denali Summit Elevation

April 14, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Nic Kinsman, NGS
Blaine Horner, CompassData, Inc.

In the summer of 2015, the highest mountain in North America, Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), received a new official name in tandem with a resurvey of the summit elevation. This webinar will describe the project's motivation and partnerships, the 2015 survey expedition that established an updated height for Denali, and also the processing and geodetic considerations that went into determining this height. Expect to see many scenic images from the top of North America!

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Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D)

March 10, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Monica Youngman, NGS

Since 2008, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has been flying airborne gravity over the nation to allow for the creation of an improved gravity field through blending of satellite, airborne, and surface data sources. By 2022, NOAA will transition to a gravity-defined vertical datum, accessible to anyone with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. This presentation will outline the progress of the airborne survey, the release of data products to both the NGS geoid team and the public via the GRAV-D website, and describe current research to improve collection and processing methods.

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*Webinar Series Special Addition*

GPS Observations on Bench Marks

February 17, 2016; 3-4 pm eastern time



Galen Scott and Brian Shaw, NGS


NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey encourages anyone with survey-grade Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers or GPS-enabled phones and hand held devices to help collect GPS on Bench Marks. This webinar will provide guidance to collect GPS observations at any time, including during National Surveyors Week (beginning March 20, 2016). Joining the 2016 effort will help raise awareness about professional surveying while improving the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).

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Regional Geodetic Advisor Program

February 11, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Ross Mackay, NGS

The Geodetic Advisor Program is fundamental to the success of NGS’s outreach efforts and a key component for receiving and responding to constituent feedback. This presentation outlines the transition process of the NGS cost-share State Advisor Program to an NGS-funded Regional structure. This transition will help broaden the current advisor program and build capability to continue to meet user needs. When complete, 14 Regional Advisors and numerous state Coordinators will provide geodetic support to all states and territories of the U.S.

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Geoid Slope Validation Survey of 2014

January 14, 2016; 2-3 pm eastern time



Dan Martin and Yan Wang, NGS

In 2014, the National Geodetic Survey undertook a significant project designed to validate the slope of a gravimetric geoid which was created with the aid of airborne gravity as part of the GRAV-D project. This project would include over 200 new survey marks spread across Iowa. Observation on these marks included geodetic leveling, campaign GPS, absolute gravity, relative gravity, gravity gradients, and astro geodetic observations. This presentation will discuss the different field techniques used, the progression of the survey, and validation results.

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Improved Lidar Technology Supports Safety of Navigation, Coastal Intelligence and Resiliency

December 10, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Mike Aslaksen, NGS

For the past three years NGS has implemented new topo-bathy lidar systems capable of acquiring near-shore bathymetry and coastal topography to support the NGS Coastal Mapping Program and broader multi-use applications tied to Coastal Intelligence and Coastal Resilience. This lidar data will not only be used to update the shoreline and near-shore bathymetry for nautical charts, but it will also support inundation modeling and coastal zone management decisions. Using this technology, NGS recently delivered 2800 square nautical miles of topo-bathy lidar, shoreline, and imagery of the most heavily impacted areas from Hurricane Sandy. The presentation will highlight this example, describe how to access to the the data set, and provide background on the technology.

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Malheur Wildlife Refuge Recovery and Control Survey

November 12, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Mark L. Armstrong, NGS

NGS recently assisted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in recovering boundary and control marks in and around the Malheur Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon. Wind-blown ice blocks together with frost heave destroyed more than 60 miles of the east and south boundary fence and corner markers in the winter of 2013/2014. This presentation will describe a recent project to attempt to recover some undisturbed boundary and control markers, observe them with GNSS and share them using OPUS.

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Space Weather Impacts on GNSS Positioning

October 8, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Bob Rutledge, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center

Space weather conditions can affect the quality of GNSS data collected by surveyors and scientists so there is growing interest is using space weather forecasts as a GPS/GNSS mission planning tool. This presentation will give an overview of space weather, the scales used to describe space weather, and what negative effects on GNSS data might be expected during space weather events of varying magnitudes.

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*Webinar Series Special Addition*

CORS Questions and Answers Session

Tuesday, September 29, 2015; 3-4 pm eastern time



Giovanni Sella, National Geodetic Survey

This forum-style webinar will address frequently asked questions about the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) program and network. No presentation will be given; instead, the CORS team will answer questions. We prefer to get as many questions ahead of time, but will accept questions during the webinar as well. Email questions to Giovanni Sella with "CORS webinar question" in the subject line. Visit the CORS webinar page to view previously submitted questions.

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Debriefing the 2015 Geospatial Summit

September 10, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Various speakers, National Geodetic Survey

On April 13-14, 2015 NOAA's National Geodetic Survey hosted the 2015 Geospatial Summit about the planned retirement of the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), how this will impact your mapping work, and what tools are planned to ease the transition to new, more accurate datums. This presentation will summarize what NGS heard from its stakeholders and how NGS plans to incorporate this feedback into its future plans.

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NGS Ecosystems and Climate Operations

August 13, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Philippe Hensel, NGS

The NGS Ecosystem and Climate Operations (ECO) team adapts NGS products and services to support non-navigational coastal stakeholders. These users need high accuracy land elevations and water levels even though traditional surveying is not adapted to coastal habitats. This presentation will show that through outreach and training, ECO helps coastal stakeholders complete surveying and generate new geospatial data so that they can better understand ecosystems and monitor coastal change.

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Collecting and Distributing Emergency Response Imagery

July 9, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Mike Aslaksen, NGS

The Remote Sensing Division at NGS acquires and rapidly disseminates a variety of spatially-referenced remote-sensing datasets to support homeland security and emergency response requirements. This includes both nadir and oblique imagery in GIS ready formats for use by emergency responders, other government agencies, and the public. This presentation will outline NGS emergency response capabilities and accomplishments in preparation of the 2015 Hurricane Season that begins June 1.

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The 2013-2014 Survey of the Washington Monument

June 11, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Dru Smith, NGS

Using new international measurement standards and technology not available in the past, NGS recently calculated the official architectural height of the Washington Monument to be 554 feet 7 11/32 inches--a highly precise measurement that makes it eligible for inclusion in official registers of the world's tallest structures. This presentation will provide an overview of the effort to complete the study and highlights from the full report.

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Improvements to the NGS Geodetic Toolkit

May 14, 2015; 2-3 pm eastern time



Sri Reddy and Krishna Tadepalli, NGS

NGS plans to revamp, consolidate and modernize the look and feel of its Geodetic Toolkit. In fact, NGS has developed a beta tool that can convert latitude and longitude to X,Y,Z coordinates, while also allowing individuals to choose between NAD83 or NAD27 and to select the format to download the data. This presentation will outline why and how NGS plans to update the toolkit, as well as completing a demonstration of the new beta application.

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Overview of New Datums Webinar

March 12, 2015; 2-3:30 pm eastern time


Dru Smith, National Geodetic Survey
Dru Smith, National Geodetic Survey

NGS will replace the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) with a new geopotential reference frame in 2022. Before replacing NAVD 88, there are many technical issues to resolve including: what is the role of passive geodetic control after 2022? This presentation will discuss these topics and share preliminary thoughts regarding the role of passive control after adopting an active reference frame.

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