Journals of American Congress on Surveying & Mapping

				Surveying and Land Information Science
				Surveying and Land Information Science (SaLIS) is the official publication of the American Association of Geodetic Surveying (AAGS), the Geographic and Land Information Society (GLIS), and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), who are all member organizations of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). It is a scientific journal devoted to reporting research and new work conducted to advance geodetic surveying, land surveying, large-scale mapping, and geographic information systems designed to advance the development and management of the cadastral parcel data layer and other land information applications. The SaLIS journal has been in existence for almost a quarter of a century, and in that time, a number of its editors were geodesists belonging to AAGS. SaLIS publishes research articles, technical papers, technical notes, papers on the current state of surveying education, surveying history, book reviews, and current literature reviews. Every four years, the journal publishes the U.S. Report to the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG). The proceedings of the Surveying Teachers Conference are published bi-annually. SaLIS is published online at Ingenta Connect. Submit papers to the technical editor of SaLIS Professor Steve Frank, Surveying Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, e-mail: sfrank@nmsu.edu. SaLIS is edited and published by Ilse Genovese, SaLIS Managing Editor; e-mail: ilse.genovese@acsm.net. Authors, download here guidelines for preparing manuscripts for submission. History of SaLIS through the prism of its content and editors.

Cartography and Geographic Information Science

Cartography and Geographic Information Science (CaGIS) is the official publication of the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS), a member organization of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM). The Cartography and Geographic Information Society supports research, education, and practices that improve the understanding, creation, analysis, and use of maps and geographic information. The role of the CaGIS journal is to facilitate these objectives by disseminating results and reports in these areas of interest. In 2004, CaGIS became one of the three official journals of the International Cartographic Association (ICA). This distinction has allowed the Journal to expand its reach worldwide, with the benefits of including international submissions and inviting international participation in the editorial and review process of submissions to the International Cartographic Conference.The CaGIS journal is the home of the U.S. National Report to the ICA. More information on the U.S.-ICA National Committee is available at http://www.cartogis.org/usnc-ica. The technical Editor of CaGIS is Dr. Michael Leitner, associate professor of geography at the Louisiana State University. Dr. Jeong Chang Seong (professor of geoscience, University of West Georgia) and Prof. David A. Bennett (University of Iowa) are Associate Editors. Dr. Thomas W. Hodler (University of Georgia) is the Cartographic Editor. CaGIS is edited for language and published by Ilse Genovese, the CaGIS Managing Editor. For more information on submitting to the journal, go to CaGIS site at http://www.cartogis.org. The CaGIS journal is available online at Ingenta Connect.

NGS Geodetic Tool Kit

See the text version of an article about the NGS Geodetic Toolkit that appeared in the Professional Surveyor magazine, May 2003 Volume 23, Number 4

( See all the Professional Surveyor Articles about the NGS Geodetic Toolkit )

To learn more about a particular online program, click on its link for a description:

DEFLEC99 DEFLEC09 DYNAMIC_HT GEOID09 GEOID06 GEOID03 GEOID99 G99SSS USGG2009 USGG2003 HTDP IGLD85	Inverse/Forward/Invers3D/Forwrd3D LVL_DH Magnetic Declination NADCON NAVD 88 Modelled Gravity Online Adjustment User Services Online Adjustment Utilities User Services OPUS State Plane Coordinates	Surface Gravity Prediction Tidal and Orthometric Elevations U.S. National Grid Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates VERTCON XYZ Coordinate Conversion

Software for processing level data

Translev	This program facilitates the process of edtiting, formatting and checking digital leveling observation data and creates abstracts, bok files, and VESTBOS datasets for submission to the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). The program includes many built-in functions such as predicting temperature differences, refaction corrections, rod corrections and plotting. Also included are routines for editing *.lvl files and VERTOBS files.
WinDesc	NGS supported Description Entry Software. Create by Malcolm Archer-Shee while an employee of MD DOT.
LVL_DH	LVL_DH Computes the expected leveled difference in height between two North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) bench marks. PC software is available for download.
VERTCON	Computes the modeled difference in orthometric height between the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88) and the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) for a given location specified by latitude and longitude. This conversion is sufficient for many mapping purposes. PC software is available for download.
Gethvlst 5.01	Designed to work with standard dsdatasheet files, this program allows the user to download and update data via the web; create horizontal and vertical geodetic control listings; view, print, and export datasheets and digital photos; create databases of geodetic control, and much more. Complete built-in help is provided, including instructions for recovering, positioning and photographing geodetic control points. Another tool from Malcolm Archer-Shee.
Vrec.zip	Malcolm Archer-Shee's original Vrec field data recording software used on Dos based handhelds. This software was used by the MD DOT to collect data in the field for later processing in the office. Includes source and executable. Similar to NGS old VERREC field recording software used on the Corvallis MC-V handheld data collector.

What is Geodetic Leveling ?

Vertical surveying is the process of determining elevations above mean sea-level. In geodetic surveys executed primarily for mapping, geodetic positions are referred to an ellipsoid, and the elevations of the positions are referred to the geoid. However, for satellite geodesy the geoidal heights must be considered to establish the correct height above the geoid. Precise geodetic leveling is used to establish a basic network of vertical control points. From these, the height of other positions in the survey can be determined by supplementary methods. The mean sea-level surface used as a reference (vertical datum) is determined by averaging the hourly water heights for a specified period of time at specified tide gauges.

There are three leveling techniques: differential, trigonometric, and barometric. Differential leveling is the most accurate of the three methods. With the instrument locked in position, readings are made on two calibrated staffs held in an upright position ahead of and behind the instrument. The difference between readings is the difference in elevation between the points.Trigonometric leveling involves measuring a vertical angle from a known distance with a theodolite and computing the elevation of the point. With this method, vertical measurements can be made at the same time horizontal angles are measured for triangulation. It is, therefore, a somewhat more economical method but less accurate than differential leveling. It is often the only practical method of establishing accurate elevation control in mountainous areas. In barometric leveling, differences in height are determined by measuring the differences in atmospheric pressure at various elevations. Air pressure is measured by mercurial or aneroid barometer, or a boiling point thermometer. Although the accuracy of this method is not as great as either of the other two, it obtains relative heights very rapidly at points which are fairly far apart. It is used in reconnaissance and exploratory surveys where more accurate measurements will be made later or where a high degree of accuracy is not required.

Google Earth

Google Earth/KML Files

CO-OPS has begun offering its products via KML to users of Google Earth.

• Download Google Earth
• Google Earth User's Guide

Sea Levels

• Sea Level Trends - Sea level trends showing changes in sea level over time (mm/year).
• Sea Level Anomalies by year - Depicts the number of monthly anomalies in a given year from 1900 - 2006.
• Sea Level Anomalies by month - Depicts the positive or negative anomaly for a given station at a given month from 1900 to 2006.

Tide Predictions

• NOAA Tide Predictions - NOAA Tide Prediction locations, including links to daily, weekly, and monthly tide predictions.

CO-OPS Water Level Stations

• Coming soon!

CO-OPS Current Stations

• Historic Data - A list of historic current survey stations. Data for each station is available for various depths.

Coast Survey Development Lab (CSDL)

CO-OPS partners with the National Ocean Service's (NOS) Coast Survey Development Lab (CSDL) to develop, evaluate, and implement real-time computer-based oceanographic Nowcast Forecast modeling systems for seaports and estuaries. CSDL develops and evaluates these systems. Once the forecast systems meet NOS standards, they are transfered to CO-OPS for operational implementation, 24/7 monitoring, and dissemination of model output. The output provides forecast guidance to the coastal coummunity in support of safe and efficient navigation and for the environmentally sound utilization, management, and protection of U.S. coastal waters.

More information about CSDL is available at http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/

Hydrographic Survey Support

The Hydrographic Planning Team (HPT) coordinates all hydrographic survey support activities conducted by NOS's Center for Operational Products and Services (CO-OPS). Following assessment of requirements for water-level data acquisition and datum determination, the HPT provides input for hydrographic and photogrammetric survey project instructions to ensure vertical control in accordance with National Ocean Service standards. Consultation is provided to the Office of Coast Survey's Hydrographic Surveys Division (HSD) and to the National Geodetic Survey's Remote Sensing Division (RSD) for both in-house and contract surveys.

The HPT also develops tidal zoning schemes to facilitate the provision of water levels relative to chart datums across entire survey areas through corrections to time-series data from gauge locations. Requests for final approved tides result in the dissemination of approved time-series data, datum references, and tide note documentation to HSD and RSD for final survey sheet processing. Tidal regime analyses are conducted in support of CO-OPS special projects and user requests.

3D models

3D models enrich your 3D virtual worlds and pull a visitors focus to particular points of interest.

GeoID is able to provide you with 3D models of:

1. buildings
2. monuments & statues
3. landscape elements like trees, hedges, electricity lines, ...
4. dynamic models like cyclists, cars, air planes, ships, ... These can even be linked with GPS feeds

© GeoID & IGN France
© 3D Cities

The National Water Level Program (NWLP) and the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON)

The National Water Level Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Ocean Service's (NOS) Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) manages the National Water Level Program (NWLP) to meet NOAA's mission and goal requirements for water-level information. The NWLP is the foundation for major observational programs within NOS and serves as a component of the Federal backbone for the Integrated Sustained Ocean Observing System (IOOS.) The NWLP consists of networks of long-term and short-term water-level stations and is an "end-to-end" system of data collection, quality control, data management and product delivery. The NWLP serves as a water level datum reference system for the Nation. The tide and water-level datums derived from the NWLP have traditionally been important primarily for navigation and shoreline boundary purposes. For example, the tidal datum of Mean Lower Low Water (MLLW) is used as the reference datum, or Chart Datum, for U.S. nautical chart products in tidal waters. Similarly, Mean High Water (MHW) is used as the reference datum for the National Shoreline.

The National Water Level Observation Network
The fundamental observational component of the NWLP is the National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON). The NWLON is a network of 175 long-term, continuously operating water-level stations throughout the USA, including its island possessions and territories and the Great Lakes. The NWLON has expanded over time in response to increasing national and local needs. NWLON stations are the foundation for reference stations for NOAA's tide prediction products, and serve as controls in determining tidal datums for all short-term water-level stations. Technological advancements in sensors, data collection and data communications have enabled routine real-time automated and event-driven data acquisition using the GOES satellite. NWLON data-collection platforms are now capable of measuring other oceanographic parameters in addition to water levels, including meteorological parameters. Because of these advancements, the application of NWLON data and products has broadened. For instance, the NWLON is a key part of the NOAA Tsunami Warning System and the NOAA Storm Surge Warning System. NWLON stations support Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems (PORTS) in major ports and harbors. NWLON stations have standard configurations of water level sensors (including backup sensors), backup and primary data-collection platforms, solar panel power, GOES satellite radios, and telephone modems. The figure below shows a typical NWLON station. Sensors are calibrated and vertically referenced to nearby networks of benchmarks. The data continuity, the vertical stability and careful referencing of NWLON stations have enabled the data to be used to estimate relative sea-level trends for the Nation.

Other NWLP Applications
In addition to their traditional applications, water-level data tprovide several other beneficial applications and services. CO-OPS recently created the Coastal Oceanographic Applications and Services of Tides And Lakes(COASTAL)Program to focus on non-navigational applications of the NWLP. The COASTAL Program works with internal and external partners to provide "value-added" products and services to local and regional coastal managers and users. Some of these applications include beneficial uses of dredged material, coastal planning, monitoring coastal wetland loss and marsh restoration, storm-surge monitoring, evacuation route planning, emergency preparedness, and HAZMAT response. The COASTAL Program fosters synergy between NOS's water-level and geodetic programs. The ability to use modern surveying techniques, such as GPS surveys, in conjunction with water-level information has resulted in improved baseline information for all of these applications.