Notice2024-23347
Updated Implementation Timeline for the Modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 9, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is in the process of modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). NGS plans to replace all three North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) frames and all vertical datums of the NSRS, including the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), with four new terrestrial reference frames and one new geopotential datum to which all geodetic coordinates and derived coordinates within the NSRS will be referenced. NGS is releasing key details of the transition to the new datums in the modernized NSRS to help users and interested parties prepare for the coming change.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81891-81892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23347]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Updated Implementation Timeline for the Modernized National
Spatial Reference System (NSRS)
AGENCY: National Geodetic Survey (NGS), National Ocean Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of upcoming changes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is in the process of
modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). NGS plans to
replace all three North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) frames and all
vertical datums of the NSRS, including the North American Vertical
Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), with four new terrestrial reference frames and
one new geopotential datum to which all geodetic coordinates and
derived coordinates within the NSRS will be referenced. NGS is
releasing key details of the transition to the new datums in the
modernized NSRS to help users and interested parties prepare for the
coming change.
DATES: The modernization of the NSRS is scheduled to occur in 2025 or
2026. NGS intends to release associated tools and services within five
years of the modernization.
ADDRESSES: National Geodetic Survey, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver
Spring, MD 20910. <a href="http://geodesy.noaa.gov">geodesy.noaa.gov</a>; <a href="http://beta.ngs.noaa.gov">beta.ngs.noaa.gov</a>; <a href="https://geodesy.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/index.shtml">https://geodesy.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/index.shtml</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Dru Smith, NSRS Modernization
Manager, NOAA Office of National Geodetic Survey, 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#224650570c514f4b564a624c4d43430c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b3f292e752836322f331b35343a3a753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>, (240) 533-
9654.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The modernization of the NSRS is designed to
improve the accuracy of Federal geodetic control. For over 200 years,
NGS and its predecessor agencies (including the Survey of the Coast,
which was founded in 1807), have been the stewards of the NSRS--the
geodetic infrastructure of the United States. NGS strives to modernize
the NSRS as technology and scientific knowledge advance. In 2020, NGS
issued a Federal Register Notice (FRN) announcing that the completion
and rollout of the NSRS modernization was expected to occur between
2022 and 2025 (85 FR 44864). This notice announces the updated
projected timeline for the latest modernization effort.
The last significant modernization of the NSRS resulted in the
creation of the original North American Datum of 1983 (54 FR 25318) and
the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (58 FR 34245). These datums
were defined before the widespread use of the Global Positioning System
(GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and were
determined using classical (i.e., terrestrial, line-of-sight) geodetic
measurement techniques. Over the years, minor corrections to and
expansion of the NSRS occurred; however, no significant update was
possible until now. Through modern
[[Page 81892]]
geodetic surveying technology, extensive data collection initiatives,
and advances in scientific knowledge, a more accurate, modern NSRS is
possible. The new frames and datum shall be known as the ``North
American Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022,'' the ``Pacific
Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022,'' the ``Caribbean Terrestrial
Reference Frame of 2022,'' the ``Mariana Terrestrial Reference Frame of
2022,'' and the ``North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022,''
and may be referred to as ``NATRF2022,'' ``PATRF2022,'' ``CATRF2022,''
``MATRF2022,'' and ``NAPGD2022,'' respectively. The new reference
frames will rely primarily on GNSSs, such as the GPS, as well as on a
gravimetric geoid model resulting from the Gravity for the Redefinition
of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Project. The modernized NSRS
will be easier to access and maintain than the existing NSRS, which
relies on physical survey marks that deteriorate over time. The
modernized NSRS will define new, more accurate, and more regularly
updated geodetic coordinates (i.e., latitude, longitude, ellipsoid
height, orthometric height, acceleration of gravity, deflections of the
vertical, and others). Coordinates will be estimated within these
frames and datum at regular reference epochs from all historic survey
data available to NGS, beginning with 2020.00.
The following details outline the process for the rollout of the
modernized NSRS:
<bullet> NGS plans to roll out components of the modernized NSRS in
2025 or 2026. As each component is released at <a href="http://beta.ngs.noaa.gov">beta.ngs.noaa.gov</a>, it
can be publicly tested with feedback provided to NGS. The testing will
continue for at least six months after the final component is released
on <a href="http://beta.ngs.noaa.gov">beta.ngs.noaa.gov</a>.
<bullet> While the modernized NSRS is being rolled out and tested,
the current NSRS will remain the official NSRS of the United States.
The official NSRS (i.e., currently NAD 83, NAVD 88, etc.) may be found
at <a href="http://geodesy.noaa.gov">geodesy.noaa.gov</a>. Only one major improvement to the current NSRS is
expected during this time: ITRF2020 will be integrated in all products
and services.
<bullet> Once testing is complete, and all modernized NSRS
components appear to be stable and correct, the Federal Geodetic
Control Subcommittee (FGCS) will be asked to vote to approve the
modernized NSRS (likely in 2026). If FGCS approves the modernized NSRS,
NGS will publish an FRN announcing the approval of the modernized NSRS
and begin a several-month process of transitioning all modernized NSRS
components to the official website at <a href="http://geodesy.noaa.gov">geodesy.noaa.gov</a>. During this
transition, the beta website may be wiped of submitted data and no
further submissions to the NGS IDB (the repository for the current
NSRS) will be allowed.
Additional information regarding the modernization of the NSRS may
be found at <a href="https://geodesy.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/index.shtml">https://geodesy.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/index.shtml</a>.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.
Shachak Pe'eri,
Acting Director, Office of National Geodetic Survey, National Ocean
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-23347 Filed 10-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-JE-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 9, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.