Enhancing Vertical Datum Accuracy: Path to 2022 Progress

1. Leveraging height information from the public Dru Smith Chief Geodesist, NGS Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

2. Outline • Steps to 2022 • Progress so far • Future help from the public Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

3. Major steps to 2022 • Quantify differential gravimetric geoid accuracy nationwide • Transform NGS products and services from static to dynamic coordinates • Evaluate existing/ongoing leveling data for a potential role in the new vertical datum Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

4. Major steps to 2022 • Develop a nationwide mapping-grade transformation tool between all modern vertical datums and the new vertical datum. • Develop and deploy a decadal-scale geoid monitoring program • FGCS endorsement of new vertical datum Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

5. Progress so far • Quantify differential gravimetric geoid accuracy nationwide • GSVS11: complete! s(DN) = 1 cm (0<d<300 km) • http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00190-013-0653-0 • GSVS14: planned (Iowa) • GSVSXX: TBD Dru Smith’s unofficial progress meter opinion 0% 100% Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

6. Progress so far • Transform NGS products and services from static to dynamic coordinates • Oracle replacing Sybase • OPUS Projects progressing toward being the new “bluebooking” • All historic GPS receiver files collected for re-processing with one consistent set of software Dru Smith’s unofficial progress meter opinion 0% 100% Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

7. Progress so far • Evaluate existing/ongoing leveling data for a potential role in the new vertical datum • No significant progress to date Dru Smith’s unofficial progress meter opinion 0% 100% Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

8. Progress so far • Develop a nationwide mapping-grade transformation tool between all modern vertical datums and the new vertical datum. • Finalized a vertical datum in all areas but Hawaii • Begun outreach on performing a nationwide GNSS survey on benchmarks prior to 2022 Dru Smith’s unofficial progress meter opinion 0% 100% Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

9. Progress so far • Develop and deploy a decadal-scale geoid monitoring program. • Discussed design of such program at a workshop in Boulder, 2010 • Arrived at consensus value for W0 with Canadians for near-future geoid models Dru Smith’s unofficial progress meter opinion 0% 100% Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

10. Future Help from the public • Continue to collect GPS on Bench Marks • This maintains NAVD 88 until 2022 • Participate in nationwide GNSS on Bench Mark survey sometime in 2019-2021 timeframe • Simultaneous, nationwide, on marks of interest to you • Get the word out when the time comes Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

11. Future Help from the public • Mini-GSVS’s if possible • Need not be as all-encompassing at the 3 official surveys. • GPS/leveling over 100 km? • Coordinate with NGS if this is for you • Reach out to GRAV-D team if you have collaboration ideas • Shared aircraft? Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar

12. Future Help from the public • Join NGS! • Our workforce is dwindling while work is increasing! • Surveyors, Geodesists, Cartographers, Remote Sensing specialists, etc • Student internships • Contracted research / University grants Western Regional States Ht Mod Webinar