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Feedback on the New Datums

2015 Geospatial SummitApril 13 to 14, 2015

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)Stephen MalysNGA Senior Scientist for Geodesy and Geophysics

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Our major products/services which will be affected by the new datums:•Homeland Security Infrastructure Program

• Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD)• Collaboration among NGA, DHS, USGS

•Geodetic Surveys on CONUS Weapons Test Ranges will continue to use WGS 84 (Gxxxx) and EGM 2008

• Holloman AFB• White Sands Test Range• Eglin AFB• Patrick AFB• Vandenberg AFB

Our preparations to date include:•N/A

Preparation

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We are excited because...Expected advantages of the new datums for your organization, its products, or services

• The replacement to NAD 83 will be closely aligned with the ITRF and therefore closely aligned with the current (and future, 2022) realizations of WGS 84

• The replacement to NAVD 88 will be more closely aligned with our best global geoid: EGM 2008

• These NGS efforts represent significant milestones toward a common, Global Geodetic Reference Frame for all geospatial data• A major goal of Geodesy for many decades• Will reduce confusion for most practical surveying applications

We are concerned because...Expected challenges of the new datums for your organization, its products, or services

• There will likely be small differences between NAD xx and WGS 84 (Gxxxx)• A topic of scientific interest (1 -10mm level)• Will the community accept these small differences as statistically insignificant?

• Of no practical interest?

Advantages / Challenges

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The tools, products, or services we need most (from NGS or others) are:•GPS and other GNSS data sets from ‘Foundation CORS’•Facilitate direct comparison with WGS 84 reference frame

The outreach we need most (from NGS or others):•Continued close collaboration between NGA, NOAA and NASA•Support and maintain the health of the Geodesy discipline within the US Government

Transition Tools / Outreach Needs