Guidelines and Publications
NGS Authors write technical guidelines, white papers, and scientific articles to educate and inform users on geodetic concepts and best practices for survey work and data processing with the goal of establishing high accuracy elevations. Publications thought to be of interest or relevant to Height Modernization are on this webpage, but also make sure to visit other NGS publications pages.
- NGS Standards, Specifications, Guidelines
- NGS Reports, Plans
- NGS Scientific Articles, White Papers, or other publications
- Other NGS Articles, Papers
- Non-NGS Publications: Scientific Articles, White papers, and other publications
Non-NGS Authors also contribute publications that may be of interest to other investigators working in any fields related to Height Modernization. These scientific articles, white papers, and other publications are at the bottom of this page. Click here to view these publications.
NGS Standards, Specifications, Guidelines
Bench Mark Reset Procedures
Smith, Curtis L., 2010, Bench Mark Reset Procedures, Silver Spring, MD, National Geodetic Survey. pdf
Control Leveling
Whalen, Charles T., 1979, NOAA Technical Report NOS 73 NGS 8: Control Leveling, Rockville, MD, National Geodetic Survey. pdf
Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques
Hull, Wesley V.,Radm., 1989, Geometric Geodetic Accuracy Standards and Specifications for Using GPS Relative Positioning Techniques, Federal Geodetic Control Committee. pdf
Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Ellipsoid Heights (NGS-58)
Zilkoski, D. B., J. D. D’Onofrio and S. J. Frakes, 1997, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NGS-58: Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Ellipsoid Heights, Silver Spring, MD, National Geodetic Survey. pdf
Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Orthometric Heights (NGS-59)
Zilkoski, D. B., E. E. Carlson and C. L. Smith, 2008, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NGS 59: Guidelines for Establishing GPS-Derived Orthometric Heights, Silver Spring, MD, National Geodetic Survey. pdf
Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems
Federal Geodetic Control Committee, 1995, Specifications and Procedures to Incorporate Electronic Digital/Bar-Code Leveling Systems, Version 4.1, 27 May 2004. pdf
NGS Reports, Plans
Geodetic Program Needs of Louisiana and Wisconsin: Report to Congress
National Geodetic Survey, 2001, Geodetic Program Needs of Louisiana and Wisconsin: Report to Congress, Silver Spring, MD, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service. pdf
National Height Modernization Study, Report to Congress
National Geodetic Survey, prepared by Dewberry and Davis, Psomas & Associates, 1998, National Height Modernization Study: Report to Congress, Silver Spring, MD, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service. pdf
Rates of Vertical Displacement at Benchmarks in the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Northern Gulf Coast
Shinkle, K.D., R.K. Dokka, 2004, NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NGS 50: Rates of Vertical Displacement at Benchmarks in the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Northern Gulf Coast, Silver Spring, MD, National Geodetic Survey. pdf
NGS Scientific Articles, White papers, other publications
Henning, W. E., E.E. Carlson, D.B. Zilkoski, 1998, “Baltimore County, Maryland, NAVD 88 GPS-derived Orthometric Height Project,” Surveying and Land Information Science, Vol. 58, No. 2, 1998, pp 97-113. pdf
Shields, R. S., C. M. Gallagher, 2012, "Height Modernization in the United States: Implementing a Vertical Datum Referenced to a Gravimetric Geoid Model," FIG Working Week 2012, Rome, Italy. pdf
Zilkoski, D. B., J.H. Richards and G.M. Young, 1992, “Results of the General Adjustment of the North American Vertical Datum of 1988,” Surveying and Land Information Science, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp 133-149, Gaithersburg, MD. html
Zilkoski, D.B., 1990, “Establishing Vertical Control Using GPS Satellite Surveys,” Proceedings, XIX FIG International Congress, International Federation of Surveyors, Copenhagen, Denmark. pdf
Zilkoski, D.B., 1990, “Minimum Steps Required When Estimating GPS-Derived Orthometric Heights,” Proceedings, GIS/LIS '90, 7-10 November 1990, American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, Anaheim, CA. pdf
Zilkoski, D. B., L.D. Hothem, 1989, “GPS Satellite Surveys and Vertical Control,” Journal of Surveying Engineering, Vol. 115, No. 2, pp 262-281. pdf
Other NGS Articles, Papers
Zilkoski, D. B., D'Onofrio, J. D., R.J. Fury, C.L. Smith, L.C. Huff, B.J. Gallagher, 1997, “Report on the Joint Coast Survey and National Geodetic Survey Centimeter-Level Positioning of a Marine Vessel Project: ‘The U.S. Coast Guard Buoy Tender Test,’” Rockville, MD, National Geodetic Survey and Coast Survey. html
Zilkoski, D.B., J.D. D'Onofrio, 1996, ”Geodetic Phase of NOS' San Francisco Bay Demonstration Project,” Silver Spring, MD, National Geodetic Survey. html
Zilkoski, D. B., 1993, NGS/CALTRANS San Diego GPS-Derived Orthometric Height Cooperative Project, Rockville, MD, National Geodetic Survey. pdf
Non-NGS Publications: Scientific Articles, White papers, and other publications
Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes Basic Hydaulic and Hydrologic Data, 1995, Establishment of International Great Lakes Datum (1985). pdf
Dunne, M., “Louisiana sinking to Earth's core,” The Advocate Online February 2002. pdf
Meade, M. E., “A Need for Height Modernization, From the Ground Up” Point of Beginning, Editorial, Lexington, KY. March, 2004. pdf
Rydlund, Paul H Jr., B. J. Densmore, "Methods of Practice and Guidelines for Using Survey-Grade Global Navigation Satellite Systems (NGSS) to Establish Vertical Datum in the United States Geological Survey, " Chapter 1 of Section D, Field Survey Methods, Book 11, Collection and Delineation of Spatial Data. U. S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, 2012. pdf
Schrock, Gavin, “Rainier the Unforgiving Mountain,” The American Surveyor, Vol. 8, No. 1, January 2011. pdf
