# Presentation: 308993

## Toward National Height

- 			Assistant Administrator
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- 			National Ocean Service

- September 18, 2008

**John H. Dunnigan**

**Toward National Height**
**Modernization**
**Keynote**

## Outline

- Definition of Height Modernization
- History of Height Modernization
- Where We Are Today
- How Height Modernization fits into NOAA’s Goals
- The Future of Height Modernization: GRAV-D
- Conclusion

## Height Modernization is ...

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

**Notes:**
You may wonder why I, as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s), National Ocean Service, am here in talking to you today. 
It’s to emphasize the importance of height modernization to NOAA programs and the nation.
The definition on the slide is technical jargon.  I want to talk to you about why height modernization is important...contrary to popular belief it is not all about trips to the Caribbean as pictured at the top.
Top Pic:  Gravity measurements being conducted in the Cayman Islands. Daniel Winester of NOAA-NGS (left) and Colin Rankin of C.I. L&S at Fisherman's Rock located in North Sound of Grand Cayman.  
Middle left Pic: By using a GPS receiver, NOAA can determine accurate elevations quickly, inexpensively, and in places where traditional methods are impractical, such as this marsh.  Critical for habitat restoration. 
Middle right Pic:  Brass benchmark that shows obvious land movement.  Benchmarks move due to earthquakes, postglacial uplift, and subsidence due to the withdrawal of underground liquids such as water and oil. 
Bottom Pic: An air gap (bridge clearance) sensor was installed on the Gerald Desmond Bridge, in Long Beach, California, to help ships know whether or not they can safely pass underneath the bridge. 

## NOAA’s Geospatial Foundation

**NOAA’s Geospatial Foundation**

**Boundaries **

**Height Modernization provides heights to ALL NOAA programs and observation systems requiring accurate heights. The positional framework NGS provides is integral to supporting the agency’s and the nation’s data collection and validation efforts.**

**Notes:**
The need for accuracy and precision horizontally and vertically is accomplished through proper geodetic control.  An example, as this image shows, is that geodetic control is the foundation of GIS. As the accuracy of this control layer has increased, so have the applications for GIS.  The same is true for NOAA programs and observations requiring accurate heights. 

This is all part of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), which NOAA, more specifically NOS and NGS are responsible for.  The NSRS is a consistent national coordinate system that defines 
latitude, 
longitude,
height, 
scale, 
gravity, and 
orientation 
throughout the Nation, and how these values change with time.

## The History of Height Modernization

**In 1994** - First meeting held in Sacramento, CA
**In 1998**, $1.0 M was added to NGS budget to perform Height Modernization Study
- From **2002-2006**, Height Modernization driven mostly by state-specific earmarks
**In 2007**, competitive Height Modernization grants process begins

**Notes:**
History 
California first state to draw attention to deficit in NAVD 88.  Hard to pin down movement in CA.  A lot of the state geodetic network did not get adjusted in NAVD 88.  Especially southern California because the leveling was so old.  Grassroots effort to begin Height Modernization.

In 1994 - First meeting held in Sacramento, CA, of CA agencies interested in accurate heights
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 88
In 1997, Height Modernization was mentioned in our appropriation language for the first time. No money allocated, but NGS encouraged to investigate the concept of height modernization.
In 1998, $1.0 M was added to NGS budget to perform Height Modernization Study.

Picture left- Earthquakes in California that affect Geodetic Control
Earthquakes shown as red are > or = to 4.0 and occurred between 1852-2001
Earthquakes shown in yellow are > or = 6.5 and occurred between 1852-2003
Picture right – Cover of 1998 Height Mod Study

## Growing Number of External Partners

| Fiscal Year | States |
| --- | --- |
| FY 2001 | CA, NC |
| FY 2002 |   CA, NC, LA, WI |
| FY 2003 | CA, NC, LA, WI, MS |
| FY 2004 | CA, NC, LA, WI, MS,  AL, WA, SC |
| FY 2005 | CA, NC, LA, WI, MS, AL, 
WA, TX, KY |
| FY 2006 | CA, NC, WI, MS, 
AL, SC, TX, KY, AZ |
| FY2007 | CA, NC, WI, MS, 
AL, WA, SC, TX, KY, AZ |
| FY2008 | CA, NC, WI, MS, AL, WA, SC, TX, KY, AZ, CO, IL, MI, MN, MT, NM |

- Growing **Number** of External Partners

**Notes:**
The orange colored states are those that were new to the program in that year.

We’ve had a steadily growing number of outside partners, but our resources haven’t kept up with the growing number of states interested in Height Modernization.

Partners are a mix of Academic and State entities

## In FY 2007, Moved to a Competitive, National Process

**Notes:**
From 2002 – 2006, Height modernization grants were mostly driven by earmarks.

As you can see, we’ve provided a lot of money to a growing number of partners.

In 2007 and 2008, NOAA has provided over $10M in Height Modernization grants to 17 states through a competitive grants process.  Since 2002, NOAA has provided more than $40 million in grants to these States.

## Height Modernization: Where we are today

- 	NOAA has provided over $3.6M in Height Modernization grants to 17 states in FY 2008.

- 	The FY 2009 House and Senate marks allot no **discretionary** Height Mod Partner funds (only $2.5M National Height Mod Program and $3.376M in earmarks to LA, WI and IL)

**Notes:**
Height Modernization reaches across American from coast to coast in every one of NOAA’s Regional Teams.

NOAA provided over $3.6M in Height Modernization grants to 17 states in FY 2008.

The FY 2009 House and Senate marks allots no discretionary Height Mod funds (only $2.5M National Height Mods funds).

##   What Height Modernization Brings   to NOAA’s Climate Goal 

- NSRS Supports GEOSS
- GPS-Met Water vapor studies
- Monitoring land movement and effects of ground water extraction
- Accurate flood plain elevations

**Notes:**
I borrowed and modified slightly these next few slides from a presentation Height Mod Partners gave to the VADM last November.
NSRS Supports GEOSS by providing positioning infrastructure for monitoring effects of climate change, like sea level rise, through the CORS program
GPS-Met Water vapor studies from the CORS program - fundamental to understanding the formation and propagation of weather; enhances capability for improved weather forecasting
Monitoring land velocities, effects of ground water extraction due to adverse affects of climate change; crustal motion (earthquakes, subsidence, uplift) 
Accurate flood plain elevations to prepare for large rainfall events
Height Modernization brings the critical vertical positioning infrastructure to measure local sea-level changes.
From measuring crustal motion to develop accurate flood plain maps, Height Mod supports NOAA’s climate goal.

Picture Top:  GOES Image of Hurricane Gustav crossing the LA coast while Tropical Storm Hanna spins near the Turks and Caicos Islands
Picture Bottom:  Water Level Plot from CO-OPS, Galveston Pier from 1900 - 2000

##   What Height Modernization Brings    to NOAA’s Ecosystem Goal:

- 1)	Ecosystem Restoration
- - Surface Elevation Tables
- 2)	Emergency response
- - Forest fires
- - Flooding
- - Earthquakes
- 3)	Precision agriculture

**Notes:**
From improving ecosystem restoration by providing millimeter level heights throughout the restoration area to emergency response to precision agriculture, NOAA’s Height Modernization brings tangible benefits to the Ecosystem Goal.

 For Ecosystem Restoration, Heights in restoration sights are connected to the NSRS and using Surface Elevation Tables (SETs), for example, we know that local sea level rise at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is 3.5 mm per year.  
For Emergency Response, Height Modernization provides the information needed for  accurate 3D digital mapping to combat forest fires, and predict where flooding will occur as well as help predict and mitigate damage from earthquakes. 
Height Modernization can have a huge impact on precision agriculture. CORS network provides geospatial information necessary for precision agriculture allowing for:
More efficient effective application of fertilizers/pesticides and irrigation
Increased crop production with minimal negative Environmental impact

Picture top:  Wabash River at Riverton Indiana Stream gage during June 2008 Flood, courtesy of USGS
Picture bottom:  University of Kentucky’s autonomous vehicle for performing field operations 24 hrs a day. 

##  What Height Modernization Brings  to NOAA’s Weather and Water Goal 

**More accurate  geospatial**
**information for:**** **
- 	More accurate flood prediction
- 	Better Local forecasts and warnings
- 	Improved Heights on levees and dams
-   	Flood damage mitigation and reservoir management

**Notes:**
Height Modernization Provides More accurate geospatial information for
Developing inundation and storm surge models for more accurate flood prediction
Local forecasts and warnings for extreme weather events using tide gage and CORS data
Heights on levees/dunes/dams/stream gages
Flood damage mitigation, reservoir management

Picture top right:  Church under water, Pottawatomie River, MO,June 2007
Picture left:  Waters Rising at the Hard Rock Cafe Hotel/Casino in Biloxi, MS, as Gustav makes landfall
Picture bottom:  Winds pushing waves over a levee in New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast. 

##  What Height Modernization Brings to  NOAA’s Commerce & Transportation Goal 

**Common consistent geospatial data for:**
- 1)	Accurate GIS Mapping
- 2)	Emergency response information
- 3)	Under keel and overhead clearance for ships
- 4)	Accurate vertical datum for ship channel maintenance and dredging
- 5)	Airport obstruction surveys
- 6)	Hurricane Evacuation Routes

**Notes:**
Height Modernization brings a great deal of benefit to the Commerce and Transportation Goal.  In fact, the mandate to conduct Height Modernization is located in the Commerce and Transportation Goal (where the Geodesy Program is located).

Height Modernization Brings Common consistent geospatial data for:
1)	Accurate GIS Mapping
2)	Emergency response information 
3)	Under keel and overhead clearance for ships/ GPS buoys
4)	Accurate vertical datum for ship channel maintenance and dredging 
5)	Airport obstruction surveys
6)	Hurricane Routes

Top Picture:  Katrina Flood Depths
Bottom Picture:  Dredging areas, Galveston Bay

## Height Modernization Activities with Other NOAA Program Offices

- National Hurricane Center
- National Weather Service
- Marine Fisheries
- Ocean and Atmospheric Research
- National Ocean Service

**Some NOAA PPBES Programs the benefit from Height Mod:**
- Coastal & Marine Resources (CMR)
- Coral Reef Conservation (COR)
- Ecosystem Observations (EOP)
- Ecosystem Research (ERP)
- Habitat (HAB)
- Climate Observations & Monitoring (COM)
- Climate Research & Modeling (CRM)
- Climate Service Development (CSD)
- Coasts, Estuaries, & Oceans (CEO)
- Environmental Modeling (MOD)
- Hydrology (HYD)
- Local Forecasts & Warnings (LFW)
- Space Weather (SWX)
- Tsunami (TSU)
- Aviation Weather (AWX )
- Marine Transportation System (MTS)
-  Marine Weather (MWX)
- NOAA Emergency Response (EMR)
- Surface Weather (SFC)
- Regional Decision Support (RDS)

**Notes:**
As you can see there a slew of NOAA Programs and Program Offices that benefit from Height Modernization Activities.

National Hurricane Center
Inundation models
National Weather Service
Tsunamis
GPS Ionosphere 
Weather Models  
NOAA  Fisheries
SWaPS, Benthic Mapping
Ocean and Atmospheric Research
Climate Change and Sea Level Rise 
Atmospheric Models
National Ocean Service
NWLON (CO-OPS)
Digital coasts (CSC)
Coastal mapping/shoreline (NGS/Coast survey)
Coral Reef Conservation Program (OCRM/NCCOS)
Coastal Zone Managers (OCRM)

## The Future of Height Modernization : GRAV-D

**GRAV-D:**  **G**ravity for the **R**edefinition of the **A**merican **V**ertical **D**atum
- Will redefine and improve the vertical component of the **National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).**
- Will improve GPS elevation accuracy to within 2cm compared to as much as 2m today

**Enabling at-risk communities to:**
**  ****plan evacuation routes**
**  ****model storm surge**
**  ****monitor sea-level rise**
**  ****monitor levee subsidence**
**  ****improve flood plain maps**

- The Future of Height Modernization : **GRAV-D**

**Notes:**
It is critical that current height modernization efforts continue to build on already established partnerships and the work they have accomplished.   Upon completion of GRAV-D, a new vertical datum will produce all of the same benefits as height modernization, and more.  

Until GRAV-D is fully implemented and a new vertical datum established, physical infrastructure (survey marks in the ground, as frequently funded by height modernization) remain the best way to realize accurate heights in the current vertical datum (NAVD 88).  

Picture Top:  Gravity Anomaly map from GRAV-D Pilot Project over Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Pictures:  NOAA Citation Aircraft over Kennebunkport
Picture:  Inside of NOAA Citation Aircraft, airborne gravity meter and close-up of display from gravity meter.

## Take Home Message - Conclusion

- NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey / Geodesy Program is leading the National Height Modernization Program effort
- Height Modernization provides the fundamental infrastructure for all NOAA activities requiring accurate heights
- Height Modernization is critical to NOAA planning and decision making

**Notes:**
Height Modernization provides the fundamental infrastructure for all NOAA activities requiring accurate heights, including climate change, sea level rise analysis, and community resilience efforts. 

During this meeting, we want you to let us know your positioning requirements and be thinking about how your positioning requirements can be incorporated into the Geodesy Program Plan.