# Presentation: 309003

## NOAA’s National Height Modernization  Program

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

## THE MISSION of NGS

**THE MISSION of NGS**

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

## NGS Develops Federal standards for geodetic surveys

NGS is Committed to making transportation and navigation safer.

- NGS is Committed to making transportation and navigation safer.

## The NSRS is a National Reference Framework

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

## Slide 5

## 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).

## Benefitsof 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

## NSRS

** **** **

**NSRS**

**NAVD 88**

**GEODETIC CONTROL**

**Reliable**

**Cost-effective**

**Accurate**

**Standardized**

**Legally Established**

- Height Modernization Objective

**Notes:**
Information about where an object or feature is or where an event takes place is known as spatial data.  We use spatial data all the time. 
National Spatial Reference System – a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States and how these values change with time.  Comprised of an accurate, up-to-date national shoreline, a network of CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Stations), a network of ground monuments, and a set of accurate models that describe processes affecting spatial measurements.
Spatial data is crucial to economy, resource management, the environment and emergency response.
Transportation - Surface waters - Boundaries - Geodetic control - Elevation - Aerial imagery 
National Spatial Data Infrastructure – Formalized effort of the federal, state and local government, private groups to develop and use a consistent, reliable means to share spatial data.
Geodetic control is NGS’ responsibility.

## Spatial Reference Centers andHeight Modernization Leaders

**Spatial Reference Centers ****and****Height Modernization Leaders**

_*Spatial Reference Centers*_
- Texas
- Washington
- California
- Louisiana

## Spatial Reference Centers

_**Spatial**__*** ***__**Reference Centers**_

## Partnerships

## 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.
**FEMA’s 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.

## 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**

## 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;**

## 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

## 9.9m

**9.9m**

**2.5m**

**3.75m**

**3.75m**

**9.0m**

**9.6m**

## www.ngs.noaa.gov

**www.ngs.noaa.gov**

## Questions?

**Zelda LeCoat**
**Cartographer**
- N/NGS1, SSMC3, Room 9452
- 1315 East-West Highway
- Silver Spring, MD  20910
- 301-713-3220, x105
- Zelda.lecoat@noaa.gov