Track Our Progress
— BETA PUBLIC FEEDBACK PERIOD COMPLETE. — This suite of models allows people to derive accurate height information, especially from GPS. It will serve as the reference surface for height measurements in the future.
— BETA PUBLIC FEEDBACK PERIOD COMPLETE. — These frames will serve as the future reference for all measurements of latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height in the United States. They are defined by transformation from international models using Euler Pole Parameters that were found for each tectonic plate.
— BETA PUBLIC FEEDBACK PERIOD COMPLETE. — This system of map projections is how most surveyors will use and reference the NSRS. Also most statewide Geographic Information System (GIS) managers will want to adopt new statewide zones.
— INITIAL VERSION RELEASED TO BETA — This software tool is being rolled out in a limited capacity for SPCS2022, allowing for accurate “transformations” between different coordinate systems so people can use the system they need regardless of how the original data was provided. (Later beta versions will include the ability to transform between reference frames and vertical datums, not just for SPCS2022.)
— RELEASED TO BETA FOR FEEDBACK — The Data Delivery System landing page will provide an updated version of the “NGS Map” and “Looking for Benchmarks” pages. This new landing page will allow you to access modernized informational pages about geodetic stations and geodetic marks.
— RELEASED TO BETA FOR FEEDBACK — Geodetic station pages will offer an updated version of the current NOAA CORS Network (NCN) station pages. Geodetic mark pages will be updated datasheets, replacing the current ASCII text file version of datasheets. The updated coordinates (reference epoch coordinates) for marks and updated CORS coordinate functions (CCFs) for CORSs in the modernized NSRS will be available through these pages.
— RELEASED TO BETA FOR FEEDBACK — NCAT will be updated through multiple versions, currently with state plane coordinates, then later adding support for various geopotential calculations including ellipsoid/orthometric height conversion as well as NADCON (geometric) and VERTCON (orthometric) transformations from the current NSRS to the modernized NSRS.
— RELEASED TO BETA FOR FEEDBACK — OPUS-Static will function similarly to today’s tool, but it will operate with the modernized NSRS, including the support of multi-GNSS data. Additionally, the popular function of “sharing” your solution with others (colloquially called “OPUS-Share”) will be retained, but with appropriate caveats that the shared solution should not be used as geodetic control. These shared solutions will be available through the geodetic mark pages of the DDS.
The following products will not be included in the release of the modernized NSRS. However, plans to replace the services or mitigate gaps are described below.
- OPUS-Projects 5 will not be included in the modernized NSRS. Instead, NGS will focus on both developing an improved software suite for OPUS, known as OPUS 6, and minimizing any gap in service in which the current OPUS-Projects functionality is not available for users to organize, process, adjust, and submit high-accuracy GPS surveys for use by NGS in expanding and improving the NSRS. As noted above, OPUS-Share will remain available as a means to submit data to NGS.
- OPUS-Rapid Static (OPUS-RS) will not be included in the modernized NSRS. Instead, the modernized version of OPUS-Static, noted above, will be capable of processing multi-GNSS static data files that are shorter in duration (i.e., less than 2 hours).
Submission Deadline Notice: All OPUS Projects and differential leveling submissions for creating or updating geodetic control within the current NSRS must be submitted to NGS by January 13, 2027. More info is available on this New Datums FAQ page.
To stay informed about these releases, please subscribe to NGS News. If you have questions, please email NGS.Feedback@noaa.gov.
NSRS Modernization News
NGS used to publish a quarterly update about the modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) but no longer does. Most of the content in the newsletter focused on the new terrestrial reference frames and geopotential datum that will replace NAD 83 and NAVD 88.
Key Milestones
2017: Blueprint Documents (revised in 2021) - Documents describing the design and operation of the modernized NSRS.
2021: GVX file format for RTNs - GVX file format in collaboration with industry experts will allow OPUS to ingest and use data from real time networks.
2022: Deprecation of the US survey foot - Retired to align with international standards and to decrease errors in reference to the modernized NSRS.
2024: GRAV-D - Airborne data collection program for the U.S. and all territories for use in developing GEOID2022.
2024: LASER - A software suite capable of performing least-squares adjustments within OPUS and other NGS projects critical to NSRS modernization.
2024: SPROCCET - Software capable of projecting geodetic information through time, that will be used in both the modernized version of OPUS and in REC adjustments.
2024: GPS on Benchmarks - Crowdsourced data collection campaign to collect GPS data on survey marks to enable conversions from current vertical datums to the NAPGD2022 heights. These heights will be integrated into the updated NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT).
2026: State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS2022) - Provides coordinates in map projections based on the four newest 2022 terrestrial reference frames of the modernized NSRS.
2026: GEOID2022 - A gravimetric geoid model which defines the surface of zero elevation in the modernized NSRS.
2026: Euler Pole Parameters (EPP2022) - model of the rotation of the tectonic plates to account for horizontal changes over time, used to define the relationship between the four plate-fixed terrestrial reference frames of the modernized NSRS and the ITRF2020.
2026: Multi-Year CORS Solution v3 (MYCS3) - When the Multi-Year CORS Solution 3 (MYCS3) is complete, ITRF2020 coordinate functions will exist for every station in the NOAA CORS Network (NCN).
2026: MPAGES - Software for processing multi-GNSS data.
2026: Updated OPUS-S - A modernized version of the online positioning tool used to access the modernized NSRS to provide coordinates from a single GNSS occupation of a mark.
2026: Updated OPUS-Projects - A modernized version of the online positioning tool used to process a network of GPS occupations, and estimate coordinates within the modernized NSRS.
2026: Updated NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT) - The updated NCAT will support coordinate conversions and transformations into the modernized NSRS reference frames.
2026: Updated Vertical Datum Transformation (VDatum) - The updated VDatum will enable users to vertically transform geospatial data among a variety of tidal, orthometric, and ellipsoidal datums including the modernized NSRS reference frames.
2026: Geometric Reference Epoch Coordinates - Geometric coordinates at over 120,000 survey marks estimated in ITRF2020, as well as in all four frames of the modernized NSRS, at epoch 2020.00.
2026: Orthometric Reference Epoch Coordinates - Orthometric heights at nearly 1,000,000 survey marks estimated in NAPGD2020 at epoch 2020.00.
2027: New Datums presented to FGCS for approval
Many of the milestones that have been accomplished have been presented and recorded in the NGS Webinar Series. The 2025 NGS webinar series will host webinars on upcoming milestones as the products and tools are made available to the public for testing.
