In my October 2025 GPS World Newsletter, I highlighted professional societies forming working groups for the new NSRS — the National Society of Surveyors (NSPS), the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), and the American Association for Geodetic Surveyor (AAGS). Under Gary Thompson’s leadership, the North Carolina Geodetic Survey also established the North Carolina 2022 Reference Frame Working Group (NC RFWG), which includes representatives from NC agencies that produce or use geospatial products and services. This newsletter spotlights several NC RFWG activities to inform and assist other agencies and working groups.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="382" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-1024x382-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115213" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-1024x382-1.png 1024w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-300x112.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-245x91.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-768x286.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-1536x573.png 1536w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-992x370.png 992w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM-268x100.png 268w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-1.16.21-PM.png 1582w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <p>As noted in my previous newsletter, NC RFWG agencies are proactively conducting self-assessments of their needs and processes to identify challenges and opportunities early, enabling a smooth transition and sustained operational efficiency. The working group meets monthly to review progress on activities.</p> <p>One key task of the working group was to develop a short online questionnaire. The goal was to open a dialogue with geospatial professionals and better understand their readiness for the upcoming modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS).</p> <p>The questionnaire was designed to address the following key questions:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Are you prepared to implement the new NSRS once the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) officially adopts it?</li> <li>Do you have the necessary tools and resources in place to ensure a smooth transition?</li> <li>Has your organization established a timeline for transitioning to the modernized NSRS?</li> <li>What concerns do you have regarding the transition to the new NSRS?</li> </ul> <p></p> <p>The section titled “Introduction of North Carolina Questionnaire” explains the purpose and background of the survey, while the section titled “North Carolina Online Questions” presents the list of questions included in the questionnaire.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p><strong>Introduction of the North Carolina Questionnaire</strong></p> <p>This questionnaire seeks stakeholder input on the upcoming modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). Your feedback is welcome on the proposed questions, as well as any concerns about the datum transition, tools (such as updated NCAT, OPUS, and SPCS2022), data transformation strategies, workflow impacts, and preparation needs.</p> <p>The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is replacing the North American Datum of 1983 and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 with new plate-fixed terrestrial reference frames (NATRF2022, PATRF2022, CATRF2022, and MATRF2022) tied to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame 2020, along with the new vertical datum, the North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022.</p> <p>In spring 2027, new horizontal and vertical datums will be implemented:</p> <p><strong>Horizontal</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>North American Terrestrial Reference Frame (NATRF2022)</li> <li>Replaces the North American Datum of 1983 (2011)</li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong>Vertical</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 (NAPGD2022)</li> <li>Replaces North American Vertical Datum of 1988 </li> </ul> <p></p> <p><strong>Units</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>14B NCAC 03 .0602 REQUIRED FOOT CONVERSION</li> </ul> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p><strong>North Carolina Online Questions</strong></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="600" height="435" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-Online-Questions-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115214" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-Online-Questions-1.png 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-Online-Questions-1-300x218.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-Online-Questions-1-245x178.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-Online-Questions-1-510x370.png 510w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-Online-Questions-1-138x100.png 138w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="600" height="453" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115215" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-2.png 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-2-300x227.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-2-245x185.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-2-490x370.png 490w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-2-132x100.png 132w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="320" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115216" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-3.png 600w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-3-300x160.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-3-245x131.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/NC-online-questions-3-188x100.png 188w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></figure> <p></p> <p>The section titled “Results of North Carolina Online Questionnaire” summarizes the survey responses collected as of April 27, 2026.</p> <p><em>[Note: NCPMA refers to the North Carolina Property Mappers Association, and LGUC refers to the North Carolina Local Government Committee.]</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p><strong>Results of the North Carolina Online Questionnaire</strong></p> <p><strong>(April 27, 2026)</strong></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="864" height="848" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115217" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change.png 864w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-300x294.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-214x210.png 214w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-768x754.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-377x370.png 377w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-102x100.png 102w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="425" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115218" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-2.png 720w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-2-300x177.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-2-245x145.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-2-627x370.png 627w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-change-2-169x100.png 169w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="780" height="765" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115219" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3.png 780w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3-300x294.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3-214x210.png 214w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3-768x753.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3-377x370.png 377w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-3-102x100.png 102w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="780" height="660" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115220" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4.png 780w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4-300x254.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4-245x207.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4-768x650.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4-437x370.png 437w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-4-118x100.png 118w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="780" height="740" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115221" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5.png 780w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5-300x285.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5-221x210.png 221w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5-768x729.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5-390x370.png 390w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-5-105x100.png 105w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="936" height="740" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115222" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6.png 936w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6-300x237.png 300w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6-245x194.png 245w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6-768x607.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6-468x370.png 468w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-6-126x100.png 126w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="791" height="1024" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-791x1024-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115223" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-791x1024-1.png 791w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-232x300.png 232w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-162x210.png 162w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-768x994.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-286x370.png 286w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7-77x100.png 77w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-7.png 936w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="791" height="1024" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-791x1024-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115224" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-791x1024-1.png 791w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-232x300.png 232w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-162x210.png 162w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-768x994.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-286x370.png 286w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8-77x100.png 77w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-8.png 936w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px" /></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="792" height="1024" src="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-792x1024-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-115226" style="width:793px;height:auto" srcset="http://coordinates.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-792x1024-1.png 792w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-232x300.png 232w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-162x210.png 162w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-768x993.png 768w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-286x370.png 286w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9-77x100.png 77w, https://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2022-datum-9.png 936w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px" /></figure> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p>This questionnaire solicited input from the North Carolina Property Mappers Association (NC PMA), the North Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council (GICC), and the North Carolina Local Government Committee (LGC). Although focused on North Carolina, the results may benefit other working groups. The NC working group is reviewing all feedback—especially regarding the Spring 2027 datum change—and will develop materials to address it.</p> <p>In addition to the questionnaire, the working group prepared a short guidance document on the new reference frames for local governments and state agencies. It outlines how to prepare for the 2027 datum change and covers:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Preliminary steps for transitioning when NGS and North Carolina officially adopt the new datums in 2027.</li> <li>Actions users can take now to ready NSRS‑referenced data for the modernized NSRS and the shift from U.S. Survey Foot/International Foot.</li> <li>Estimated coordinate changes with the 2027 adoption of: <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>North American Terrestrial Reference Frame (NATRF2022)</li> <li>North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 (NAPGD2022)</li> <li>New national geoid model (Geoid2022)</li> <li>North Carolina State Plane Coordinate System of 2022 (SPCS2022)</li> </ul> </li> <li>Current NC statewide digital orthoimagery acquisition cycle and statewide lidar collection schedule.</li> <li>How the NC CORS and Real-Time Network (RTN) will support the modernized NSRS.</li> <li>Web links to more detailed resources.</li> </ul> <p><br>The working group is developing a case study on preparing a FEMA Elevation Certificate using the modernized NSRS (NATRF2022 and NAPGD2022). It will be featured in upcoming newsletters. The North Carolina Geodetic Survey will host the materials on its website, and I’ll share the public link once it’s available.</p> <p></p> <p><p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com/update-on-nc-2022-reference-frame-working-group-preparing-information-for-nc-geospatial-providers-and-users/">Update on NC 2022 reference frame working group: Preparing information for NC geospatial providers and users</a> first appeared on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gpsworld.com">GPS World</a>.</p></p>