GIS-Pro 2026

It is nearly upon us. NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has redefined the entire National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Nearly two decades in the making, preliminary versions of all components of the Modernized NSRS are available for public review and comment. The complete system will be unleashed in 2027. Every coordinate in the U.S. will change. New “horizontal” and “vertical” datums will replace the existing datums. All zones of the State Plane Coordinate System will be replaced, with many new zones added. The international foot will replace the U.S. survey foot. All coordinates will have a date (“epoch”) to account for the fact that everything is moving. This presentation gives a peek behind the curtain to show what was done by NGS and why, along with new tools. Despite its behind-the-curtain complexity, the Modernized NSRS will be easier to use, more consistent, and more accurate than anything before, to better serve the GIS, mapping, surveying, and engineering professions.

 Keywords: National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), NSRS modernization, New datums, State Plane Coordinate System, Time-dependent coordinates, Coordinate epochs, U.S. survey foot, International foot

Attendance at technical short courses is included with full conference registration and pre-registration is not required. Note that seats are available on a first-come/first-served basis.