All posts by Dru Smith

C&GS magnetic station disk

2022 Monumental Changes, Part 2

The U.S, National Geodetic Survey continues its examination of the impacts to passive geodetic control networks by the planned 2022 reference frame modernization. Editor’s note: A Field Notes article by Scott Martin posed the question, “Are HARNs on Death Row?” and Dru Smith began answering that in the December 29017 xyHt cover story. Here in...

xyht 2022

2022: Monumental Changes, Part 1

The National Geodetic Survey of the U.S. responds to surveyors’ questions on how legacy physical geodetic monuments will be affected by the planned 2022 reference framework modernization. Editor’s note: A recent article in xyHt’s online newsletter, Field Notes, prompted a discussion among surveyors on the pending 2022 modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) for...

The Modernized NSRS (A Summary)

Editor’s Note (from Scott Martin): When I learned that NGS and Dru Smith (the NSRS modernization manager for the NGS) had requested to respond to my August Field Notes, I was quite intimidated. However, my fears were quickly quelled. Thank you, Dr. Smith! As mentioned below, a more extensive and informative response on the monumental...

2022

The NGS discusses the upcoming national spatial reference framework modernization. Reference framework shift happens. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS)—the federal steward of the National Spatial Reference Framework (NSRS)—is planning a major (if not fundamental) update of the framework. This pending update is common knowledge among geodetic, surveying, and other geospatial communities.  Among the information circulating...