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HomeAboutNOS Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report

# National Geodetic Survey

## NOS Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report

## National Geodetic Survey Hosts 2015 Geospatial Summit 

            -  **Supports NOS priority**: coastal intelligence 

The National  Geodetic Survey (NGS) hosted the 2015  Geospatial Summit in Arlington, Virginia, to share plans to release new geodetic datums in the year 2022. Huge benefits are associated with the adoption of  the new datums. The new vertical reference system is estimated to produce $522  million in annual economic benefits to the nation, with approximately $240  million saved from improved floodplain management.

During the  Summit, NGS discussed the tools available for its customers to transition to  the new datums and shared strategies to enable the mapping and surveying  communities to prepare well in advance of the changes. Surveyors; GIS  professionals; federal, state, and local government agencies; and others then  had the opportunity to comment and ask questions regarding the effect the new  datums will have on their work. 

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## Collecting Damage Assessment Imagery Before and After Disasters

            -  **Supports NOS priority**: coastal resilience 

FY15 is the  first year the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has collected aerial oblique imagery prior to disastrous events (i.e. hurricanes,  tornadoes, oil spills, etc.). This provides two major benefits: it covers the  shoreward-facing side of structures and other infrastructure not visible with  traditional aerial photography, and it allows us to photograph coastal damage  much more quickly than traditional methods.  In a natural  disaster, emergency responders can compare georeferenced oblique imagery from  before and after the event to help them make time-critical decisions for  response and recovery efforts.

NGS  collected aerial imagery following two major natural disasters in FY15. In January, NGS collected aerial  damage assessment imagery in the aftermath of the Nor'easter that blanketed the  region in snow and caused significant storm surge along the New England coast. The  following April, more than 2,800 images were collected in areas most impacted  by multiple tornado strikes in Northern Illinois to support Illinois’ Tornado  Emergency.  Aerial imagery provides a cost-effective way to better  understand the damage sustained to both property and the environment and is a  crucial tool used by federal, state, and local officials and the public.

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## 2015 "GPS on Bench Marks" Campaign

            -  **Supports NOS priority**: coastal intelligence 

The National  Geodetic Survey (NGS) initiated a  2015 GPS on Bench Marks Campaign as part of National Surveyors Week. The  campaign increased awareness about professional surveying while improving the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS)—the coordinate system that provides latitude,  longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation for the United States and  delivers over $2.4 billion in potential annual benefits to the U.S. economy.        

NGS will use  data received from the campaign to improve the next vertical positioning model  and facilitate conversions to the new vertical datum in 2022. While  observations made with survey-grade equipment were preferred, NGS encouraged  geocachers and anyone with a GPS-enabled phone or hand-held device to join  in.  

To promote  the campaign, NGS held a webinar for over 400 attendees and developed a web map/planning  tool.  The event produced noteworthy news  stories in industry-affiliated press and an article in *the Wall  Street Journal*. 

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## Completion of Topo-bathy Project in St. Croix

            -  **Supports NOS priority**: coastal resilience, coastal intelligence 

The National  Geodetic Survey (NGS) completed a  three-week project in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to collect airborne topographic-bathymetric  (“topo-bathy”) light detection and ranging (lidar) data and imagery of the  shoreline, using the NOAA Twin Otter aircraft. The survey supports data  requirements for both NOS’s Office of Coast  Survey (OCS) and the National  Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and will help update charted depths for most of the island. The last  survey of the island was acquired via single-beam sonar in 1980.          Topo-bathy  lidar acquires land values—or heights—and depths under the water surface. It is  used to supplement hydrographic survey data for updating NOAA  Nautical Charts and to enable NCCOS  to create habitat maps.

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## The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and The COMET® Program Develop Lesson to Educate Users on Heights and Datums

            -  **Supports NOS priority**: coastal resilience, coastal intelligence 

In a FY15 collaborative  effort between the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and The COMET® Program, the first in a series of training lessons for  scientists, engineers, and mapping professionals was developed and released.  The lesson provides a basic understanding of vertical datums and how to choose  the appropriate datum for a given application. A conceptual understanding of  ellipsoidal, geopotential, and tidal datums was also introduced. 

Accurate heights are vital for emergency preparedness, floodplain  mapping, restoration, urban planning, and more. This training lesson represents  NGS’s commitment to engaging and educating its customers for a successful  transition to the new vertical datums NGS plans to release in 2022. This interactive presentation provides participants  with knowledge to better understand the impact of the new datums. NGS has  received positive feedback and plans to add to its educational library. 

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###### **NGS** Highlights

            - ** National Geodetic Survey Hosts 2015 Geospatial Summit
            - ** Collecting Damage Assessment Imagery Before and After Disasters
            - ** 2015 "GPS on Bench Marks" Campaign
            - ** Completion of Topo-bathy Project in St. Croix
            - ** The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and The COMET® Program Develop Lesson to Educate Users on Heights and Datums

###### **NOS Accomplishments**

          -  Fiscal Year 2015 Highlights
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