Height Modernization

The Great Lakes Region includes six core states (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH and WI) and four overlapping states (IA, KY, NY and PA).  The Great Lakes states have an enormous amount of coastline.  Additionally, many of the states are relatively flat, but at high risk for economically devastating floods that destroy farms or personal property.  Some Great Lakes states work closely together as part of the Great Lakes Region Height Modernization Consortium.

GLRHMC is a group of state and federal agency partners, whose mission is to support NGS's National Height Modernization Program (NHMP). The Consortium provides support by organizing, coordinating, and otherwise supporting projects and activities that further the mission and goals of the NHMP. Regional goals and activities include: organizing and hosting conferences, educational forums and Web sites; pursuing regional grant applications; developing projects and techniques to address the unique height modernization issues region-wide; and analyzing and documenting specific benefits of height modernization to Consortium states.

Read more about specific partners, events, publications and projects below, or visit the webpage for a specific state. Also, learn about the State Geodetic Advisor Program to contact regional or state NOAA liaisons.

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Events

Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2012 Lansing, MI
Great Lakes Region Height Modernization Consortium Meeting
agenda/presentations

October 13-14, 2011, Columbus, OH
Great Lakes Region Height Modernization Consortium Meeting
agenda/presentations

April 13, 2011, New Cumberland, PA
Great Lakes Region Height Modernization Workshop
agenda/presentations

Oct. 20-21, 2010, Columbus, OH
Great Lakes Regional Consortium Meeting
Ohio Department of Transportation
update, grants, and GRAV-D presentations

Mar. 23-24, 2010, West Lafayette, IN
Height Modernization Workshop: What Will the Future Control Network Look Like?
update, overview, and grants presentations

Nov. 10, 2009, Rockford, IL
Great Lakes Region Height Modernization Consortium: Real Time Network (RTN) Workshop
agenda/presentations

March 17-18, 2009, Lansing, MI
High Precision GPS, Geodetic Leveling, and Real Time Network (RTN) Workshop
Michigan Department of Transportation
report

Sept. 24-25, 2008, Madison, WI
Great Lakes Regional Forum
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
agenda/presentations and photos

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Publications

• GLRHMC Brochure (2011)…pdf
• GLRHMC Summary (2010)…pdf
• GLRHMC 2010 ESRI Map Gallery submissions
      Great Lakes Region Overview …pdf
      Illinois Height Modernization Project …pdf
      Lidar Surface Topography:  Jo Daviess County, IL …pdf
      Michigan Height Modernization Project …pdf
      Wisconsin Height Modernization Project …pdf

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Projects

Each state customizes its program to meet its particular needs. Common program elements include:

• Continuously Operating Reference Systems (CORS) that continually receive GPS and other satellite signals to provide  Real-Time 3D corrections to other GPS users, improving the accuracy of GPS units. IN, MI, MN, OH and WI are well along in developing their networks.
  


• Classical leveling and installation of bench marks to replace those lost over the years or to densify the network. This is a major effort in all states.


• High-resolution digital elevation model of the earth’s surface developed through such remote sensing tools as light detection and ranging (LiDAR). This as a major component of the IL program.