EPISODE · Mar 17, 2026 · 8 MIN

NOAA Improves Geospatial Accuracy With NSRS Modernization | GovCast

from GovCIO Media & Research Podcasts · host GovCIO Media & Research

NOAA is integrating GPS and new gravity data to improve accuracy of its National Spatial Reference System. Guest: Galen Scott, NGS Constituent Manager, NOAA Description: As agencies increasingly rely on data to drive precise decision-making, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Geodetic Survey is modernizing the National Spatial Reference System to account for shifts in the Earth caused by tectonic plate movement. It hadn't been updated in 40 years. Speaking at the Esri FedGIS Conference in Washington, D.C., NOAA National Geodetic Survey Constituent Manager Galen Scott said the updated system integrates GPS technology, enabling more efficient methods to locate survey markers and collect field data. Scott said the modernized NSRS will also incorporate new gravity data through a geoid model, improving the accuracy of surface elevation measurements compared with legacy models. He added that NSRS data serves as foundational infrastructure for agencies supporting urban planning, infrastructure development and emergency response efforts.