NOAA

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NOAAs National Height Modernization Program

• Zelda LeCoat
• National Geodetic Survey
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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THE MISSION of NGS

• NOAAs National Geodetic Survey is responsible
  for defining,
• maintaining and providing access to the National
  Spatial
• Reference System (NSRS) to meet our nations
• economic
• social
• environmental needs
• World leader in geospatial activities, including
  the development and promotion of standards,
  specifications, and guidelines

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• NGS Develops Federal standards for geodetic
  surveys
• NGS is Committed to making transportation and
  navigation safer.

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The NSRS is a National Reference Framework

• The NSRS provides the foundation for
• Transportation
• Commerce
• Mapping and Charting
• Multitude of scientific and engineering
  applications.

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What is Height Modernization?

• A program within NOAA's National Geodetic
  Survey (NGS) that provides
• accurate height information by integrating
  Global Positioning System technology with
  existing survey techniques.
• The program enhances the vertical component of
  the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).

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Benefitsof National Height Modernization

• Better integration of geospatial activities
  within NOAA as well as
• Federal, state and local government
• Improved transportation System
• Subsidence Monitoring
• Sea Level Rise Estimation
• Flood Plain Mapping Storm Surge Modeling
• Emergency Preparedness
• Seismic and Infrastructure Monitoring
• Saving- Billions

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Height Modernization Objective
NAVD 88
NSRS

GEODETIC CONTROL
Reliable
Accurate
Cost-effective
Standardized
Legally Established
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Spatial Reference Centers andHeight
Modernization Leaders

• Spatial Reference Centers
• Texas
• Washington
• California
• Louisiana

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Spatial Reference Centers
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Partnerships
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Why is Height Modernization needed.

• Accurate positioning and heights are necessary
  for
• engineering and construction projects,
• ensure safe transportation of goods and people,
• by land, air, or sea.
• FEMAs Map Modernization for flood insurance rate
  maps.
• If the maps are modernized based on old
  elevation data, the maps will not accurately
  depict the risk of flooding in an area.

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History of Height Modernization

• 1994, California Meetings to discuss height
  issues and whether Height modernization would be
  effective in California and North Carolina and
  determine potential benefits to the nation
• 1998 Congress directed the NGS to perform
  national Height Modernization Study
• 2000 NGS begins Height Modernization
  planning
• 2001 Height Mod program begins in
• NC and CA
• 2001 NGS studies in LA and WI

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FINDINGS from the studies

• The National Height Modernization Program could
  result in
• Improved disaster preparedness
• Accurate digital elevation models, enabling
  better flood plain
• analysis and of flood plain needs
• Improved coastal and harbor navigation, enabling
  safer and
• more cost-effective shipment of goods
• Improved aircraft navigational aids, and safer
  approach and
• landing procedures
• Accurate determination of coastal erosion rates
  and flood
• plain boundaries

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More FINDINGS from the studies

• Improved land and marine geographic information
  systems (GIS)
• Assessment of environmental effects on regions
• Enhanced agricultural practices
• More efficient fish farming
• Infrastructure monitoring of subsidence and
  erosion
• Better management of natural resources
• Improved understanding of tectonic movement
• Significant time and cost savings in field
  surveying.
• Both Louisiana and Wisconsin needed improved
  vertical geodetic control

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9.9m
9.6m
9.0m
3.75m
3.75m
2.5m
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www.ngs.noaa.gov
O U T R E A C H E D U C A T I O N
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Questions?
Zelda LeCoat Cartographer N/NGS1, SSMC3, Room
9452 1315 East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD
20910 301-713-3220, x105 Zelda.lecoat_at_noaa.gov