In 2026, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and NOAA will complete the most significant modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), introducing new horizontal and vertical datums that will permanently replace NAD83 and NAVD88.
While earlier discussions have focused on what is changing and why, this session moves the conversation forward—examining how datum modernization is already affecting real projects and the practical decisions surveyors, engineers, and land developers must make in the near term.
This panel discussion brings together national experts from NGS, NOAA, and private practice to explore current failure points, emerging risks, and strategies for managing data consistency and client expectations during the transition.
Featured Panelists
- Dan Gillins, Ph.D., P.L.S., Chief, Observation & Analysis Division
- National Geodetic Survey (NGS)
- Associate Editor, Journal of Surveying Engineering, ASCE
- Pat McGarrity, P.L.S., Senior Project Surveyor
- Galen Scott, Constituent Resource Manager
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Federico Olivares, Technical Expert / Data Centers
Together, the panel brings perspectives from federal policy, technical implementation, and on-the-ground project delivery—providing attendees with both authoritative insight and practical guidance.
Why This Matters Now
- As projects increasingly span the transition period, firms face growing challenges:
- Inconsistent vertical control across legacy and modern datasets
- Misalignment between survey, design, GIS, and construction platforms
- Increased liability tied to misunderstood or undocumented datum assumptions
- Client risk when elevation differences impact permitting, drainage, floodplain, or construction decisions
- These issues are no longer theoretical—they are showing up in active projects.