Geodetic Control Subcommittee
The Federal Geodetic Control Subcommittee (FGCS) of the Federal Geographic Data Committee exercises government-wide leadership in coordinating the planning and execution of geodetic surveys, in developing standards and specifications for these surveys, and in the exchange of geodetic survey data and technical information. FGCS coordinates Federal agencies' aspects of surveying that are governmental responsibilities. These responsibilities include standards setting, testing new geodetic instrumentation and operational systems, coordination of user agency requirements, and dissemination of government data to user agencies.
The FGCS acts to ensure that the Global Positioning System (GPS) will continue to meet the positioning needs of the Federal civilian community and works to strengthen the ties between the GPS positioning and navigation communities. This responsibility will be implemented through its role as GPS Interagency Advisory Council (GIAC) to the Department of Transportation PosNav Executive Committee.
NSDI Strategic Goal 1
Increase the awareness and understanding of the vision and concepts of NSDI through outreach and education
Objective: Continue to identify and address issues associated with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Modernization.
A variety of workshops were conducted concerning GPS related issues. These workshops help to provide the user community with advanced GPS techniques for surveys that provide the basis for all forms of mapping and charting, civil engineering and infrastructure projects, and geophysical monitoring.
Action: Continuously Operating Reference System (CORS) Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Technical session was held in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Responsible Party: FGCS Fixed Reference Stations Work Group, co-sponsor: Mid-Atlantic GPS users group.
Action: GPS-Derived Orthometric Height Workshops.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Workshops held at following sites with respective cosponsors:
Silver Spring, MD - American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Wakulla Springs, FL - Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Atlantic City , NJ - New Jersey Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Responsible Party: FGCS Vertical Reference Working Group.
Next Steps: More of these workshops planned for 1999.
Action: Vertical Control with GPS Techniques Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Workshop was held in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Responsible Party: FGCS Vertical Reference Working Group.
Action: Identifying issues associated with modernizing the vertical component of the National Spatial Reference System.
Results: A compilation of themes common to a broad cross section of both traditional and non-traditional users of accurate height information. These themes identified user needs and the expected Federal role.
Status: In conjunction with preparing NOAA's congressionally mandated Height Modernization Feasibility Study, user forums were held in California and North Carolina provided information and soliciting input from diverse interested constituency.
Responsible Party: FGCS Vertical Reference Working Group, Co-sponsors: North Carolina Geodetic Survey, California Coalition.
Next Steps: Implementation of the recommendations resulting from the Height Modernization Study when it released.
Objective: Continue to identify and address issues associated with positioning accuracy, techniques, and reference frames.
Action: Development and Use of the National Spatial Reference System Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Workshop held in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Work Group, co-sponsor: Mid-Atlantic GPS users group
Action: Geodetic Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Workshop held in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Work Group, co-sponsor: New Jersey Society of Professional Surveyors.
Action: Development, Implementation and Future of the National Spatial Reference System Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Workshops were held at following sites with relative cosponsors:
Detroit, MI - Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors
Niagra Falls, NY - New York Association of Professional Land Surveyors
Fargo, ND - North Dakota Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Houston, TX - Texas Society of Professional Surveyors
Parkersburg, WV - West Virginia Association of Professional Land Surveyors
Bossier City, LA - Louisiana Society of Professional Surveyors
Wakulla Spring, FL - Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Columbia, SC - South Carolina Society of Professional Land Surveyors
Monticello, AR - Arkansas Society of Professional Surveyors
Columbia, MD - Maryland Association of Registered Land Surveyors
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Working Group.
Next Steps: More of these workshops planned for 1999.
Action: State Plane Coordinate and Datum Transformations Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Workshop held in Houston, Texas with co-sponsorship by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Working Group.
Next Steps: More of these workshops planned for 1999.
Objective: Evaluate surveying systems, including the instrumentation, hardware, software, and procedures that comprise that system.
Action: Tested two GPS receivers.
Results: Credible independent evaluation of the tested instruments. Product improvement.
Status: Tests completed
Barriers: Limited staff to complete report
Responsible Party: FGCS/Instrument Working group.
Next Steps: Continue testing GPS receivers with one receiver scheduled for testing in 1999.
Action: Updating of FGCS standard operational procedures, forms, etc.
Results: Enhanced facility in user community.
Status: On going.
Responsible Party: FGCS/Instrument Working group.
Next Steps: Improvements will continue to be made to the testing process. After each test, the manufacturers are asked how the test can be improved. Improvements have been from the updating of forms, to test descriptions, posting information to the web, etc. Focus will be on completing the common documents between testing and posting this and other pertinent data to the web site.
Action: Outreach and education included presentation of test results.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: One presentation given.
Responsible Party: FGCS/Instrument Working group.
Next Steps: Continued outreach to involve more parties within the federal government, as well as state and local governments. Intention is to write articles, present talks and continue general outreach through various web sites, as well as conference activities.
NSDI Strategic Goal 3
Use community-based approaches to develop and maintain common collections of geospatial data for sound decision-making
Objective: Monitor compatibility of Federal fixed reference stations with NAD 83 and their relationship to the development of a single Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) system to meet the requirements of Federal GPS post-processing procedures.
Action: Thirty-four CORS were brought online.
Results: Expanded public access to the National Spatial Reference System. An enhanced public, geospatial positioning capability.
Status: On going
Responsible Party: FGCS Fixed Reference Stations Work Group.
Next Steps:
- Bring approximately 40 CORS on line and incorporate the Nationwide Differential GPS stations into the CORS network.
- Define CORS expansion criteria and priorities for FGCS members.
- Explore issues and methods for relating, via the CORS web site, data sources of GPS reference stations that are not fully compliant with CORS criteria.
- Develop questionnaire and poll membership on above issues.
Objective: Participation in the implementation of the geodetic data framework.
Action: Completed Geodetic Control Framework Profile
Results: A facility, publicly available via the Internet, for transferring geodetic point information in STDS compliant format.
Status: Spatial Data Transfer Standard (SDTS) - Part 6: Point Profile completed and endorsed by the FGDC Steering Committee.
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Work Group.
Next Steps: Continue implementation through education.
Objective: On-going development, publishing, and maintenance of accuracy, collection, content, transfer, and archive standards for geodetic, land and resource surveys, and their related metadata. Promote the use of these standards by Federal, state, and local levels of government and the private sector.
Action: Development of the Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards, Part 1: Reporting Methodology and Part 2: Standards for Geodetic Networks
Results: A publicly available standard for geospatial reporting
Status: Endorsed by the FGDC Steering Committee
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Working Group
Next Steps: Continue implementation through education.
Action: Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards Workshop.
Results: Enhanced user community knowledge base.
Status: Presented in Baltimore, Maryland
Responsible Party: FGCS Methodology Work Group, co-sponsor: American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
Next Steps: Similar workshops to be presented at other venues.
Objective: On-going participation in the nationwide implementation of NAVD 88 and in the development of the Nation's geodetic height system using GPS.
Action: Develop Draft Guidelines for Establishing GPS-derived Orthometric Heights.
Status: Continuing
Responsible Party: FGCS Vertical Reference Systems Work Group.
Action: Incorporate results from Height Modernization Feasibility Study to assist in developing procedures and guidelines for GPS-derived orthometric heights.
Status: Delayed
Responsible Party: FGCS Vertical Reference Systems Work Group.
Barrier: Action is dependent upon Office of Management and Budget's release to Congress.
Next Steps: Implementation of a Height Modernization Awareness program
New Objective for 1999: On-going participation in the nationwide augmentation of US Coast Guard conversion of US Air Force Ground Wave Emergency Network sites to facilitate Nationwide Differential GPS (NDGPS) primary coverage efforts.
Action: Facilitate Federal requirements and compile preferred NDGPS sites in interior of Alaska as requested by Department of Transportation and U.S. Coast Guard.
Expected Result: Report by members released in time to affect summer work season in Alaska.
Status: Planning stage.
Responsible Party: FGCS Fixed Reference Stations Work Group.
New Objective for 1999: On-going participation in the assembly of geospatial resources for disaster response and management. Specifically, develop a strategy for exploring the potential for geospatial assistance for disaster management, including other Federal delivery programs.
Action: Develop the recommended skill mix for team development.
Expected Results: Plan for disaster response technology transfer team.
Status: Planning stage.
Responsible Party: FGCS Fixed Reference Stations Work Group.
Action: Develop FGCS member questionnaire on disaster assistance team development; current member services and deliverables, and potential for team contribution of personnel or resources.
Status: Planning stage.
Responsible Party: FGCS Fixed Reference Stations Work Group.
Action: Begin pilot geospatial assistance to the wild fire command community by providing National Interagency Fire Center with geospatial briefings and guidance during the 1998-9 winter training cycle. Locations can be Boise, ID or the Marana, AZ facilities.
Expected Results: Classes and opportunities identified for technology transfer; instructor added to cadre for course or module for syllabus.
Status: Planning stage.
Responsible party: FGCS Fixed Reference Stations Work Group
Funding issues:
NOAA's National Geodetic Survey is the lead agency. There is no task with associated funding specific to FGDC. Activities related to FGDC are fully integrated into the agency's normal outreach and technology transfer functions.