Modernizing the National Spatial Reference System

The National Spatial Reference System, or NSRS, serves as our nation’s foundational framework for all positioning, defining critical data such as latitude, longitude, and elevation. Though often operating behind the scenes, the NSRS provides the foundation for essential services—from transportation and agriculture to conservation and emergency response. Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the NSRS is vital to the stability and success of our communities, businesses, and infrastructure.

Building on this foundation, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is modernizing the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) to enhance the framework of observations and models that will deliver more accurate, precise, and reliable positioning data across the U.S. Updates and resources regarding the modernized NSRS will appear below.

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Beta Products and Tools Made Available for Public Testing - September 15, 2026

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has reached an important milestone in the modernization of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) with the public beta release of its core supporting products and tools. These beta products are now available through the NGS Beta website for stakeholder evaluation and feedback.

Surveyors, engineers, GIS professionals, mapping agencies, software developers, researchers, and other members of the geospatial community are encouraged to explore these tools, test them using real-world workflows, and provide feedback. The products available on the NGS Beta website are preliminary releases for testing and evaluation only. They should not be used for operational or authoritative purposes.

The product and tools are:

1. The Data Delivery System (DDS) serves as the primary gateway for discovering, visualizing, and accessing geodetic data and products in the modernized NSRS. It integrates a modernized NGS Map, with two new products—Geodetic Station Pages, and Geodetic Mark Pages—into a consistent, API-driven experience for accessing geodetic control information and products. Geodetic Station Pages replace the current NOAA CORS Network (NCN) station pages and provide access to station metadata, reference epoch coordinates, updated CORS coordinate functions (CCFs), and related geodetic products. Geodetic Mark Pages replace the current ASCII datasheets with interactive pages that provide access to mark metadata, reference epoch coordinates, and related geodetic products.
2. The NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT) has been updated to support coordinate conversions and transformations involving both the current and modernized NSRS. NCAT supports horizontal coordinate transformations using NADCON, vertical datum transformations using VERTCON, coordinate conversions, and expanded geopotential calculations, including conversions between ellipsoid and orthometric heights. Additionally, support for international reference frames is available through 14-parameter Helmert transformations. Finally, support for estimating the changes of coordinates between two epochs has also been added.
3. OPUS-Static has been updated to process static Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations directly in the modernized NSRS using multi-constellation data. Solutions are provided in any of the four 2022 terrestrial reference frames, as well as in the International Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2020 (ITRF2020), and includes State Plane Coordinate System of 2022 (SPCS2022) coordinates, where available, and orthometric heights referenced to the North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 (NAPGD2022), where available. OPUS-Share functionality remains available during the beta testing period, allowing users to share solutions. Solutions shared through the beta system are temporary and will not be retained nor migrated to the operational system when beta testing concludes.

Feedback can be provided to ngs.feedback@noaa.gov and is essential to ensure the modernized NSRS meets the needs of the geospatial community.

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Online Positioning User Service Updates - July 13, 2026

To ensure a smooth transition to the modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is reviewing its products and workflows. A key focus of this initiative is the Online Positioning User Service (OPUS).

As part of the transition to the modernized NSRS, NGS will no longer accept new data as of January 13, 2027. OPUS, along with existing programs like WinDesc and Translev, will remain available until the modernized NSRS is fully implemented. Users can still submit geodetic survey projects and should continue to collect and archive data under the current NSRS to process existing data and complete ongoing work. NGS will also continue to review and approve project proposals, accept and publish projects, and offer technical assistance and training. NGS may decline any project proposals that are unlikely to be completed and submitted prior to the January 13, 2027, deadline.

As the modernized NSRS requires updated products, NGS will also release a new version of OPUS for positioning static data, which will be known as OPUS 6. Similar to the current OPUS, these products will allow users to share solutions and contribute observations that are aligned with the modernized NSRS. In the meantime, users should also evaluate their own workflows and software to identify any dependencies related to the modernized NSRS and ask their geospatial hardware and software vendors about plans to support the modernized NSRS.

While this transition represents a significant operational change, NGS remains committed to minimizing service disruptions and keeping users informed along the way. For questions or feedback, please contact NGS at NGS.Feedback@noaa.gov.