National Geodetic Survey: What We Do NGS homepage NOAA home page
NGS: Positioning America
For the Future 

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) defines and manages a national coordinate system. This network, the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), provides the foundation for transportation and communication; mapping and charting; and a multitude of scientific and engineering applications.

Committed to making transportation and navigation safer, NGS conducts aerial photography surveys near airports in the United States and its possessions to position obstructions and aids to air travel. NGS also maps the coastal regions of the United States and provides data for navigational charts.

NGS develops Federal standards for geodetic surveys and helps to coordinate surveying methods. NGS State Geodetic Advisors are stationed in several states to work with local communities to expand surveying capabilities.

 
 

NGS Program Descriptions
(PDF format)

An Introduction to NGS 

  Aeronautical Survey Program 

Federal Base
Network

GPS Orbit Data

Height Modernization
Activities

Mapping The Ionosphere

National CORS Program

National Shoreline

National Spatial
Reference System

Online Mark Recovery Form

State Advisor Program

Shallow Water Positioning System (SWaPS) Program

Vertical Datums

NGS Organization Information describes NGS's organizational structure.

NGS Vision, Mission, and Strategic Goals provides a more detailed description of NGS and its functions.

The Office of National Geodetic Survey, as defined in the NOAA Organizational Handbook.

NGS Information Services
   • Phone: (301) 713-3242
     [Mon.-Fri., 7:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST]
   • Fax: (301) 713-4172
   • E-mail
   • Postal mail:
       NGS Information Services
       NOAA, N/NGS12
       National Geodetic Survey
       SSMC-3, #9202
       1315 East-West Highway
       Silver Spring, MD 20910-3282 		Contact Us
   • NGS Personnel Directory
   • NOAA Personnel Locator
So, what is geodesy?  Who needs it and why?
Geodetic Geodesy Geoid
Of or determined by geodesy. The science concerned with determining the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points upon its surface. The surface of the Earth's gravity field which best fits sea level.
Geodesy On NOAA's National Ocean Service web site, you will find two sections devoted to learning about geodesy: an online tutorial and an educational roadmap to resources.
Geodesy, Imagine the Possibilities A brochure (in pdf format) explaining the role of geodesy in contemporary America. 
Geodesy for the Layman A "classic" report which presents the basic principles of geodesy in an elementary form. [also available in pdf format]
An Online Tutorial in Geodesy A introduction to geodesy by the GeodesyGroup of the University of New Brunswick.

For information, contact: NGS Information Services Branch
Telephone: 301-713-3242; Fax: 301-713-4172
Email: NGS Information Center

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Last updated by NGS.webmaster on July 15, 2004