Blueprint Documents

Policy Decisions

Read publications and watch webinars that describe technical decisions about the definition of the new reference frames.

• Blueprint for the Modernized NSRS, Part 1: Geometric Coordinates (1.2 MB PDF)

  Publication outlines technical and policy decisions about replacing NAD 83.

  Watch Webinar (7/13/2017)

• Blueprint for the Modernized NSRS, Part 2: Geopotential Coordinates (2.4 MB PDF)

  Publication discusses the planned replacement of all vertical datums of the NSRS.

  Watch Webinar (2/1/2018)

• Blueprint for the Modernized NSRS, Part 3: Working in the Modernized NSRS (5.9 MB PDF)

  Publication addresses how geospatial professionals can expect to work within the newly-modernized NSRS when NAD 83 and NAVD 88 are replaced.

  Watch Webinar (3/11/2021)

• Progress Toward a Modernized NSRS (Webinar)

  Four new terrestrial reference frames and a geopotential datum will replace the many disparate pieces of the current NSRS (including NAD 83 and NAVD 88). Watch a February 2024 webinar with Dr. Dru Smith, NSRS Modernization Manager at NGS.

  Watch Webinar (2/8/2024)

• NSRS Modernization - Big Steps Forward and What Comes Next

  This webinar will discuss the key foundational products recently released to our Beta site for testing and feedback, and will look towards the next steps towards a modernized NSRS.

  Watch Webinar (8/14/2025)