National Height ModernizationProgram Overview

January 24, 2006

Juliana BlackwellHeight Modernization Program Manager

Height Modernization Overview

• Definition• Background• Needs and Benefits • Outreach and Education

Height Modernization is …

…the establishment of accurate, reliable heights using GPS technology in conjunction with traditional leveling, gravity, and modern remote sensing information.

D E F I N I T I O N

Before you build . . .. . . inspect your foundation. D E F I N I T I O N

Height Modernization Objective

NSRS

NAVD 88

GEODETIC CONTROL

ReliableCost-effective

AccurateStandardized Legally Established

D E F I N I T I O N

Geoid (Gravity & modeling)

Ellipsoid (GPS)

Orthometric (Leveling)

What Types of Heights are Involved? D E F I N I T I O N

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Building the System

Models,Tools

Outreach,Education,Expertise

Guidelines,Specifications

D E F I N I T I O N

The Roots of Height ModernizationIn 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 88In 1998, $1.0 M was added to NGS budget to

perform Height Modernization Study

B A C K G R O U N D

• In 1999, Height Modernization not mentioned• In 2000, $500K added to NGS’ budget for Height

Modernization planning• In 2001, $2.25M added to NGS budget to perform

Height Modernization in North Carolina, to support the California Spatial Reference Center (CSRC), and to support NGS related Height Modernization activities

• Also in 2001, NOAA is directed to work with Louisiana and Wisconsin to assess their requirements for Height Modernization

B A C K G R O U N D

Height Modernization Appropriations(FY01-FY06)

Fiscal Year Appropriations States

FY 2001 2.25 M CA, NC

FY 2002 3.75 M CA, NC, LA, WI

FY 2003 3.75 M CA, NC, LA, WI, MS

FY 2004 9.0 M CA, NC, LA, WI, MS, AL, WA, SC

FY 2005 9.6 M CA, NC, LA, WI, MS, AL, WA, TX, KY

FY 2006 9.9 M CA, NC, WI, MS, AL, SC, TX, KY, AZ

B A C K G R O U N D

FY06 Height Modernization Funding($ in thousands)

CA 933 California Spatial Reference Center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

NC 933 North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (and North Carolina A&T State University)

WI 3,000 Wisconsin Department of Transportation AL 1,971 Alabama Department of Revenue

MS 600 University of Southern Mississippi

TX 1,600 Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi

KY 500 Morehead State University

SC 467 South Carolina Geodetic Survey

*AZ 500 ???

NGS 233 Height Modernization Regional Expansion - NGS Implementation

* New state

B A C K G R O U N D

Height Modernization Status - 2006

Legend

Spatial Reference Centers

Regional Leaders

Lead Agencies

Height Modernization States

Interested States

B A C K G R O U N D

Why Height Modernization?

NOAA’s Height Modernization Program provides the means to determine accurate (land) elevations effectively (doing the right thing) and efficiently (doing things right).

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

• Master Plan for a spatial reference network in California

• CORS and traditional monuments along transportation corridors

• Implementation dependent on technological developments (wide-area RTK, real-time networks, and wireless communications)

• Complete data set of NAVD88 heights will be computed for the California CORS network.

California Spatial Reference CenterTectonic Movement

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

CORS/ExtensometersPAMsTMC Site

17

17 8 2

13

12

91118

3 56

19

15

10 1416

4

0021

26

2322

20

2724

28

NE

LKHU

ADKS

TMC

HOUSTON

FORT BEND

MONTGOMERY

GALVESTON

HARRIS

Water ManagementHarris-Galveston Subsidence District

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

North Carolina Cooperative Technical State

Floodplain Mapping

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

TransportationWisconsin Department of Transportation

• Began in 1998 - Wisconsin Department of Transportation

• Improve height data (the vertical component of the geodetic network)

• Eliminate inconsistencies between horizontal and vertical

• Supplement control where marks have been destroyed

• Create network that can fully utilize GPS technologies (cost effective)

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

Louisiana Spatial Reference CenterSubsidence N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

Measuring Heights Along Evacuation Routes Safety

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

MAP Modernization

• Flood Insurance Risk Maps

• Determining High Water Marks

• Elevation Certificates

• Dam Safety• Mitigation

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

Alabama Department of Revenue

Alabama Department of

Transportation oversees surveying tasks

Goals- Primary Base Network

40 to 50 km grid- Leveling to Primary

Base Marks- CORS - County surveys

Mapping and GIS N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

Water Levels

• Purchased equipment for 11 CORS  • Eight Gulf Coast counties selected for CORS• Developed plan to extend CORS network

throughout the State (30 CORS)• USM Gulf Coast Research Lab installed

National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) station co-located with CORS – Long-term plan to install two other

NWLON stations along the coast• Contract survey work planned • Height Modernization survey along

Mississippi River (Cairo, IL to the Gulf) completed in cooperation with USACE

University of Southern Mississippi

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

Spatial Reference Center of Washington

• Ensure a high-accuracy geodetic reference network in WA (GPS, monuments, CORS, VRS networks, geodetic models).

• Ensure that survey data provided to NGS for inclusion into National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) database. 

• Promote the Washington Spatial Reference System.• Ensure availability of time-dependent geospatial information.• Promote the development of specifications and guidelines for

GPS surveys• Serve as an educational source for users and potential users.• Foster cooperation and partnerships

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

TCOON

Texas Spatial Reference Center

• Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON)

• Improve geoid model in Texas/Gulf Coast Region

• Co-locate GPS CORS at Water Level gauges

• Measure/monitor subsidence in Harris Galveston Coastal Subsidence District

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

1st -- CORS2nd -- GPS on BMs

Improved Geoid Model

Kentucky Height ModernizationMorehead State University

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

Summary • Good control produces consistent, accurate

results• Eliminates inconsistencies between horizontal and

vertical control data• Supplements control where marks have been

destroyed or are deemed unusable• Utilizes GPS technologies as a cost effective

positioning tool• Denser control can reduce survey costs

N E E D S & B E N E F I T S

• Program Management -- Congressional briefings, budget, grants management, coordination, outreach

• Outreach/Technology Transfer -- advisors, forums, workshops, conferences, publications, training, outsourcing

• Project Leadership -- project planning, specifications, guidelines, CORS management

• Quality Control -- training, assess techniques, survey control, load projects into NGS database

• Research and Development -- software development, remote sensing, modeling, investigate GPS techniques, antenna calibrations

NGS’ Role and Responsibilities O U T R E A C H & E D U C A T I O N

N O A A T e c h n i c a l M e m o r a n d u m N O S N G S - 5 8

G U ID E L I N E S F O R E S T A B L IS H IN G G P S -D E R IV E D E L L IP S O ID H E IG H T S( S T A N D A R D S : 2 C M A N D 5 C M )V E R S IO N 4 .3

D a v id B . Z i lk o s k iJ o s e p h D . D 'O n o f r ioS te p h e n J . F r a k e s

S i lv e r S p r in g , M D

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U .S . D E P A R T M E N T O F N a t io n a l O c e a n ic a n d N a t io n a l O c e a n N a t io n a l G e o d e t icC O M M E R C E A t m o s p h e r ic A d m i n i s tr a t i o n S e r v i c e S u r v e y

Harris-Galveston Subsidence District

State Agencies – North Carolina Geodetic SurveySouth Carolina Geodetic SurveyWisconsin Department of Transportation Alabama Department of Revenue Washington Department of Natural Resources

Spatial Reference Centers – California, Louisiana, Washington

Universities – University of Southern Mississippi North Carolina A&T State University Louisiana State University University of California/Scripps Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Morehead State University

Partnerships O U T R E A C H & E D U C A T I O N

Forums, Conferences & Workshops Height Modernization Forum, AL GPS Real-Time Networks in the Northwest, WA Height Modernization Workshop, NC Height Modernization Workshop, MO Height Modernization Forum, AK National Height Modernization Workshop, MD Trimble International User Conference, NV

Height Modernization Forum, Marquette, MIHeight Modernization Forum, Flint, MIHawaii Association of Land Surveyors, HIKentucky Association of Professional Surveyors, KYTennessee Association of Professional Surveyors, TN

O U T R E A C H & E D U C A T I O N

www.ngs.noaa.gov O U T R E A C H & E D U C A T I O N

Height Modernization Web Page O U T R E A C H & E D U C A T I O N

The Future

• Continue to investigate opportunities to modify procedures and processes to improve efficiencies.

• Provide outreach training and support to states interested in Height Modernization.

• Continue efforts to maintain and grow the program.

• Research new technology to enhance HMP efforts.

C O N C L U S I O N

Contact Information:

Juliana BlackwellHeight Modernization Program Manager

301-713-1054Juliana.Blackwell@noaa.gov

www.ngs.noaa.gov/heightmod/