Putting the Best “Foot” Forward: Ending the Era of the U.S. Survey Foot

December 12, 2019  |  2-3 pm, Eastern Time

Dr. Michael Dennis, National Geodetic Survey

An era will soon end. In 1959, the name “U.S. survey foot” was given to an existing definition so that its use could temporarily continue alongside the new “international foot.” After December 31, 2022, only the international foot definition will be used in the United States: 1 foot = 0.3048 meter exactly (but simply called the “foot”). That will stop the simultaneous use of two nearly identical foot versions that differ by only 0.01 foot per mile.

NGS and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have collaborated to resolve the problem of two feet, as described in this webinar by:

• Giving an overview of the history
• Providing examples of problems encountered
• Summarizing public comments received
• Charting a path forward as part of modernizing the National Spatial Reference System

The intent is to provide national uniformity of length measurement in an orderly fashion with minimum disruption. It will end a dilemma that has persisted for over 60 years.

Technical Content Rating: Intermediate - Some prior knowledge of this topic is helpful.