NOAA's National Height Modernization Program: Enhancing Accuracy for National Spatial Reference System

1. NOAA’s National Height Modernization Program Regional Height Modernization Forum Wichita, Kansas May 2, 2008 Renee Shields Height Modernization Manager

2. Overview • NGS Mission and Height Modernization Overview • Needs and Benefits of Accurate Heights • NGS Roles and Responsibilities

3. Mission of NGS To define, maintain and provide access to the National Spatial Reference System to meet our nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs http://geodesy.noaa.gov/INFO/ngs_tenyearplan.pdf

4. From the NGS 10-Year Plan • Define the NSRS • “The NSRS must be more accurate than all activities which build upon it, while still being practicably achievable.” • Maintain the NSRS • “NGS must track all of the temporal changes to the defining points of the NSRS in such a way as to always maintain the accuracy in the NSRS definition.” • Provide Access to the NSRS • “NGS must develop and maintain guidelines for users to access the NSRS at a variety of accuracies.” • “NGS will publish all coordinates of defining points of the NSRS with an epoch tag and will furthermore publish velocities relative to that epoch-tagged set of coordinates” http://geodesy.noaa.gov/INFO/ngs_tenyearplan.pdf

5. Mission – The NSRS is… • The official national coordinate system of the U.S. federal government which includes: • Geodetic latitude, longitude and height • Scale, gravity, and orientation • How these values change with time • Components include: • National and Cooperative CORS • Network of passive monuments • Official national shoreline • Precise orbits of GNSS satellites used to define NSRS • Models and tools to describe how all of these quantities change over time.

6. Reliable Accurate Cost-effective Standardized Legally Established Height Modernization Objective NSRS NSRS NAVD88 GEODETIC CONTROL

7. Height Modernization is … …the establishment of accurate, reliable heights using GNSS technology in conjunction with traditional leveling, gravity, and modern remote sensing information….

8. The Roots of Height Modernization • In 1994 - First meeting held in Sacramento, CA • Some heights in CA in error by more than a meter • GPS could be immediately used to meet some of California’s requirements • Necessary for the implementation of NAVD 88 • In 1998, $1.0 M was added to NGS budget to perform Height Modernization Study

9. Height Modernization Study • Study Goals: • Identify/document user requirements for height data • Identify/document applications for GPS height data • Evaluate estimated cost benefits and implementation costs • Recommend actions to meet requirements – all technologies • Study Components: • User forums and outreach • Evaluate 16 case studies • Compare costs of similar surveys using different methods

10. The Roots of Height Modernization • In 2000, $500K added to NGS’ budget for Height Modernization planning • In 2001, $2.25M added to NGS budget • to implement Height Modernization in NC • to support the California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC) • to support NGS related Height Modernization activities • Also in 2001, NOAA is directed to work with LA and WI to assess their requirements for Height Modernization

11. Height Modernization Program Timeline • 2002-2006 – Program expanded to 11 states through Congressionally directed earmarks • 2007 – Program funded at previous year’s levels but without Congressional Direction • 2008 – Appropriations includes Height Modernization line plus earmarks, but total funding is decreased

12. Height Modernization Appropriations (FY01-FY08)

13. FY07 Height Modernization - Recipients

14. Spatial Reference Centers Regional Leaders Other funded partners States engaged in HM without federal funding assistance Current Funded Partners Participating and Interested States

15. Height Matters Image credit:: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

16. Measure, Monitor, Model - Crustal Motion/ Subsidence/Isostatic Rebound /Seasonal changes West Coast Crustal Motion – CA, WA PA147 - PennDOT Gulf Coast Subsidence – LA, MS Localized Subsidence – AZ, NC

17. 13 MONTGOMERY 12 17 9 11 8 2 7 18 LKHU 1 HARRIS 19 NE 6 5 3 HOUSTON ADKS 28 TMC 15 24 4 FORT BEND 27 16 10 00 20 14 21 GALVESTON 22 23 26 Measure, Monitor, Model ….. Water Management – Water Levels Seasonal Subsidence - TX USM Great Lakes region uplift - WI

18. Flooding: river overflow, coastal, storm surge, flash flood • FEMA Map Modernization Program • Flood Insurance Rate Maps • Elevation Certificates • FEMA Cooperative Technical States, e.g. NC • Determining High Water Marks • Evacuation Route Surveys • Damage Mitigation

19. Water Resource Management • Dam Safety • Water resources • Relating tidal and geodetic datums • Ship transport: underwater/overhead clearance Folsom dam Novi Special WT, MI

20. Transportation • Mapping and Charting • Construction, Engineering • Recover decimated control networks

21. DEMs, Geoid modeling

22. New and Non-traditional Applications: • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) • Precision Farming • Fleet Management

23. Local Issues How can Height Modernization help?

24. “To define, maintain and provide access to the NSRS…” Problems with traditional leveling • Control network is becoming decimated • Costly, time consuming • Difficult to maintain

25. Can we get accurate heights with GNSS?

26. NGS Business Plan: 3 Areas of Focus • Infrastructure • Models and Tools • Outside Capacity Building

27. Infrastructure • “Define, maintain, provide access to NSRS” • Active control network – CORS • Passive control network as needed • Guidelines and standards for geodetic field and processing practices • Quality check data that is incorporated in the NGS database • Enable positioning consistent with NSRS

28. Kansas Primary Control – CORS FBYN – Fairbury, NE KAN1 – Kansas City 1

29. Oklahoma Primary Control – CORS OKAL – Altus, OK OKMU – Muskogee, OK

30. Primary Control - Kansas High Accuracy Reference Network

31. Primary Control - Oklahoma High Accuracy Reference Network

32. NGS Datasheet – Leveling/GPS • 1 National Geodetic Survey, Retrieval Date = APRIL 30, 2008 • HF0551 *********************************************************************** • HF0551 DESIGNATION - E 349 • HF0551 PID - HF0551 • HF0551 STATE/COUNTY- KS/SEDGWICK • HF0551 USGS QUAD - DERBY (1982) • HF0551 • HF0551 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL • HF0551 ___________________________________________________________________ • HF0551* NAD 83(2007)- 37 37 21.93338(N) 097 20 11.12620(W) NO CHECK • HF0551* NAVD 88 - 389.052 (meters) 1276.41 (feet) ADJUSTED • HF0551 ___________________________________________________________________ • HF0551 EPOCH DATE - 2002.00 • HF0551 X - -645,931.125 (meters) COMP • HF0551 Y - -5,016,973.614 (meters) COMP • HF0551 Z - 3,872,584.437 (meters) COMP • HF0551 LAPLACE CORR- -0.48 (seconds) DEFLEC99 • HF0551 ELLIP HEIGHT- 360.265 (meters) (02/10/07) NO CHECK • HF0551 GEOID HEIGHT- -28.77 (meters) GEOID03 • HF0551 DYNAMIC HT - 388.745 (meters) 1275.41 (feet) COMP • HF0551 • HF0551 ------- Accuracy Estimates (at 95% Confidence Level in cm) -------- • HF0551 Type PID Designation North East Ellip • HF0551 ------------------------------------------------------------------- • HF0551 NETWORK HF0551 E 349 1.00 0.76 2.70 • HF0551 -------------------------------------------------------------------

33. NGS Datasheet – Leveling/GPS • HF0551 • HF0551 VERT ORDER - SECOND CLASS 0 • HF0551 • HF0551.The horizontal coordinates were established by GPS observations • HF0551.and adjusted by the National Geodetic Survey in February 2007. • HF0551 • HF0551.The datum tag of NAD 83(2007) is equivalent to NAD 83(NSRS2007). • HF0551 See National Readjustment for more information. • HF0551.No horizontal observational check was made to the station. • HF0551.The horizontal coordinates are valid at the epoch date displayed above. • HF0551.The epoch date for horizontal control is a decimal equivalence • HF0551.of Year/Month/Day. • HF0551 • HF0551 The orthometric height was determined by differential leveling • HF0551 and adjusted in June 1991. • HF0551 • HF0551 Photographs are available for this station. • HF0551 • HF0551.The X, Y, and Z were computed from the position and the ellipsoidal ht. • HF0551 • HF0551.The Laplace correction was computed from DEFLEC99 derived deflections. • HF0551 • HF0551 The ellipsoidal height was determined by GPS observations • HF0551 and is referenced to NAD 83. • HF0551 • HF0551 The geoid height was determined by GEOID03.

34. NGS Datasheet - GPS Height Mod • 1 National Geodetic Survey, Retrieval Date = APRIL 30, 2008 • HF1492 *********************************************************************** • HF1492 CBN - This is a Cooperative Base Network Control Station. • HF1492 DESIGNATION - WICHITA CBL 0 • HF1492 PID - HF1492 • HF1492 STATE/COUNTY- KS/SEDGWICK • HF1492 USGS QUAD - DERBY (1982) • HF1492 • HF1492 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL • HF1492 ___________________________________________________________________ • HF1492* NAD 83(2007)- 37 34 03.82210(N) 097 18 55.14283(W) ADJUSTED • HF1492* NAVD 88 - 385.7 (meters) 1265. (feet) GPS OBS • HF1492 ___________________________________________________________________ • HF1492 EPOCH DATE - 2002.00 • HF1492 X - -644,557.097 (meters) COMP • HF1492 Y - -5,020,904.766 (meters) COMP • HF1492 Z - 3,867,742.688 (meters) COMP • HF1492 LAPLACE CORR- -0.61 (seconds) DEFLEC99 • HF1492 ELLIP HEIGHT- 356.976 (meters) (02/10/07) ADJUSTED • HF1492 GEOID HEIGHT- -28.76 (meters) GEOID03 • HF1492 • HF1492 … • HF1492 The orthometric height was determined by GPS observations and a • HF1492 high-resolution geoid model. • HF1492 • HF1492.The X, Y, and Z were computed from the position and the ellipsoidal ht. • HF1492

35. Height Mod GPS Datasheet • 1 National Geodetic Survey, Retrieval Date = JANUARY 4, 2008 • DH5603 *********************************************************************** • DH5603 HT_MOD - This is a Height Modernization Survey Station. • DH5603 DESIGNATION - ALTO S GPS • DH5603 PID - DH5603 • DH5603 STATE/COUNTY- WI/FOND DU LAC • DH5603 USGS QUAD - BRANDON (1980) • DH5603 • DH5603 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL • DH5603 ___________________________________________________________________ • DH5603* NAD 83(2007)- 43 38 45.90850(N) 088 49 31.20449(W) ADJUSTED • DH5603* NAVD 88 - 283.45 (meters) 930.0 (feet) GPS OBS • DH5603 ___________________________________________________________________ • DH5603 EPOCH DATE - 2002.00 • DH5603 X - 94,770.713 (meters) COMP • DH5603 Y - -4,621,912.764 (meters) COMP • DH5603 Z - 4,379,891.970 (meters) COMP • DH5603 … • DH5603 … • DH5603 The orthometric height was determined by GPS observations and a • DH5603 high-resolution geoid model using precise GPS observation and • DH5603 processing techniques. • DH5603 • DH5603.The X, Y, and Z were computed from the position and the ellipsoidal ht. • DH5603

36. Published Height Modernization Stations

37. Models and Tools • Modeling – atmospheric, 1-cm geoid • Development of software, tools • Software, Online Tool Kit • OPUS “Variety Pack” • Field tools – PGM, Digital Level Tool • VDatum • Guidelines for use of new technologies and processes like remote sensing, real time

38. Guidelines Available “On-Line” at the NGS Web Site: www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/pub_index.html

39. Level Tool under development at TAMUCC

40. Outside Capacity Building • State Geodetic Advisor Program • Forums, workshops • Conferences • Publications, web site • Training, capacity building

41. www.ngs.noaa.gov/heightmod

42. Education – Seminars, Workshops, Forums Michigan Leveling – Spokane, 2006 Washington

43. Training center in Corbin, VA www.ngs.noaa.gov/corbin/index.shtml

44. Accomplishments – Building Partnerships • State Agencies - NCGS, SCGS, WiDOT, ALDOR, WADNR, AZSLD • Spatial Reference Centers – CA, LA, WA, TX, AZ • Universities – Scripps, LSU, USM, TAMUCC, NCA&T, Morehead State • NOAA and other Federal Agencies – USACE, USGS, FEMA

45. www.ncfloodmaps.com Results of partnerships Link to Digital Flood Maps …

46. Results of partnerships FEMA – Map Modernization, Post-Katrina recovery project

47. Role of NGS: Program Management • Congressional briefings • Budget, grants management • Coordination – Partners, SRCs • Role of NGS: Project Leadership • Support program growth - develop long range plan • Support advance of science • Support NOAA’s Mission – shoreline, weather, climate change

48. A National Program • Needs don’t stop at state boundaries • States within a region work in concert to support common issues/goals • More efficient use of funds, people • Encourages partnerships • Congress more likely to continue funding for programs that impact a larger area/group of constituents; commitment to program on part of users

49. Height Modernization Regions

50. Height Mod Objectives • Consistent, accurate vertical AND horizontal control network • Rebuild decimated network • New network is GPS-able • Reduces survey costs by providing denser control • Build capacity in the surveying community to perform the surveys and properly use the data • Provide data to build better models (DEMs, geoid, storm surge) and products (FIRMs) • Provide access to NSRS to enable expansion of applications, like RTK, GIS