1. Texas Spatial Reference Center Gary Jeffress, Ph.D., RPLS Director, Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Height Modernization along the South-Central Gulf Coast – 8 June 2009 Beaumont, Texas

2. Short term sea level rise

3. 3 How do we avoid this? Surveyor certified >10 ft floor level NGVD 29 Actually about 6 ft floor level NGVD 29 Error discovered during Hurricane Ike

4. NAVDNGVD Long term sea level data.. From NOAA, NOS, Co-Ops Galveston rate of increase 2.13 ft / 100 years 6.6 mm / year Galveston rate of increase 2.13 ft / 100 years 6.6 mm / year

5. US Topographic Mapping Latest version downloded from the www 3/19/2009 Oso Creek NE Quad Sheet Latest version downloded from the www 3/19/2009 Oso Creek NE Quad Sheet

6. US Topographic Mapping * * Latest official published USGS elevation data

7. US Topographic Mapping

8. So, the US Quad sheets are very out-of-date. Hence, the need for LIDAR Mapping. What controls this new mapping?

9. Many benchmarks have been destroyed, or worse, unreliable.

10. 10 Up to 80% of these benchmarks have disappeared Answer: The data is old and subject to change and destruction. Why are Elevations so bad?

11. 11 MODERN 1ST ORDER HEIGHTS IN TEXAS Many of these points have been destroyed since maintenance ceased 1980s. As few as 30% may remain usable.

12. 12 The definition of “Professional surveying" within the Act, Tex. Occ. Code § 1071.002(6), does include the location of elevations. (6) "Professional surveying" means the practice of land, boundary, or property surveying or other similar professional practices. The term includes: (A) performing any service or work the adequate performance of which involves applying special knowledge of the principles of geodesy, mathematics, related applied and physical sciences, and relevant laws to the measurement or location of sites, points, lines, angles, elevations, natural features, and existing man-made works in the air, on the earth's surface, within underground workings, and on the beds of bodies of water to determine areas and volumes for: (i) locating real property boundaries; (ii) platting and laying out land and subdivisions of land; or (iii) preparing and perpetuating maps, record plats, field note records, easements, and real property descriptions that represent those surveys; Should a RPLS be concerned?

13. Texas Spatial Reference Center Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi Since 2006

14. GOVERNOR PERRY DESIGNATES TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI TO HOST THE TEXAS SPATIAL REFERENCE CENTER NOW ENACTED BY THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE

15. 15 Texas Legislative Act Texas Education Code Sec. 88.503. SPATIAL REFERENCE CENTER. (a) The board may create and operate a spatial reference center at Texas A&MUniversity--Corpus Christi for the purpose of: (1) facilitating the federal height modernization project for the state; (2) conducting basic and applied research regarding elevation and geodetic and vertical datums in the state; (3) collecting geodetic data for state mapping and control; and (4) establishing and maintaining an official digital spatial reference system for the state, in coordination with: (A) the United States National Geodetic Survey; (B) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (C) the Texas Water Development Board. (b) The board shall adopt rules relating to the operation of the spatial reference center. (c) The spatial reference center may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and appropriations for the purposes of this section.

16. Mr. Garey Gilley, RPLS, LSLS, Director (40%) Dr. Gary Jeffress, RPLS, P.I. (CBI support) Mr. Greg Hauger, RPLS, Snr. Surveyor (100%) Dr. Dan Prouty, Research Scientist (50%) 16 Texas Spatial Reference Center

17. How do we observe elevation? Using a level instrument and Rods graduated in feet.

18. Modern levels are digital

19. Software Development

20. The shift to GPS to establish Heights NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NGS 59

21. Texas CORS Stations

22. 22 VERTICAL DATUMS A set of fundamental elevations to which other elevations are referred. H h Ellipsoid GRS80 H = Orthometric Height (NAVD 88 - Spirit Leveling) N Geoid Mean Sea Level H = h - NH = h - N TOPOGRAPHIC SURFACE h = Ellipsoidal Height (NAD 83 - GPS) N = Geoid Height (GEOID 03) GEOID03

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25. 25 Texas Airborne Gravity Survey Survey resumes next week Working from Lake Charles, LA and Austin, TX 100 flight hours Coverage complete from the AL/GA state line to the Mexican border

26. 26 Proposal to Purchase Portable Absolute Gravimeter Micro’g LaCoste A-10 Proposal to Purchase Portable Absolute Gravimeter Micro’g LaCoste A-10

27. Connect Texas Elevations to Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network

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29. CORS on NOS Tide Gauge Proposed Location NOS Gauge - Galveston Pleasure Pier In cooperation with Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District New CORS Station Galveston Pleasure Pier Tide Gauge

30. Thank you for listening. © Gary Jeffress http://tsrc.cbi.tamucc.edu/