GO-ITS 541TES NAD83-CSRS official horizontal geodetic datum for Ontario

1. Introduction

Government of Ontario Information Technology (GO-IT) Standards are the official publications on the IT standards adopted through the Office of the Corporate Chief Information Officer (OCCIO) and IT Executive Leadership Council (ITELC) for use across the government’s information and information technology (I&IT) infrastructure.

These publications support the responsibilities of the Treasury Board Secretariat for coordinating standardization of I&IT in the Government of Ontario. In particular, GO-IT Standards describe where the application of an IT standard is mandatory and specify any qualifications governing the implementation of the IT standards.

2. Summary

2.1 Standard Name and Description

GO-ITS 541TES - NAD83-CSRS (formerly GO-ITS 45.1) defines the official geodetic horizontal datum for Ontario. Specifically, this revised standard will maintain NAD83-CSRS (Canadian Spatial Reference System), the more accurate and modern/3-D version of NAD83 as the official horizontal datum for Ontario. NAD83-ORIG will still be acceptable for use on existing projects or activities and with existing data sets as required. NAD83-ORIG will transition to historical status over the next five years. After the transition period ends, NAD83-ORIG will be phased out of active use (see Document History section for official approval date). This standard is not specific to a single ministry or agency.

2.2 Background and rationale

This revised standard updates the former GO-IT Standard 45.1 document. With technological advancements and industry trends in the surveying industry there is a need to modernize the former GO-IT Standard 45.1 document. The implementation of satellite technology has allowed for the use of GNSS/GPS technology by implementing the high precision horizontal datum of NAD83, known as NAD83 – Canadian Spatial Reference System or NAD83-CSRS. Prior to this GO-ITS 541TES document, the official horizontal datum for Ontario was NAD83 using two realizations ORIGINAL (ORIG/v0) and CSRS, and both were official for Ontario through the former GO-IT Standard 45.1.

NAD83-CSRS will be the official horizontal geodetic datum for OPS ministries and agencies on a go-forward basis for all new data sets, projects and activities, once this standard is official (see Document History section for official approval date). Only NAD83-CSRS supports accurate heighting using GNSS/GPS – thus supporting the concept of "Height Modernization" through the new vertical datum CGVD2013. Once this standard is official, NAD83-ORIG may only be used for existing/legacy projects or activities, or data sets as needed. NAD83-ORIG may be used as needed on a transitional basis over the next five years. After the transitional period of five years, NAD83-ORIG will be considered historical, and phased out of active use in Ontario.

The expected benefits and results of GO-ITS 541TES NAD83-CSRS are to:

1. provide a standard three-dimensional geodetic datum for referencing geospatial information
2. provide a standard three-dimensional geodetic datum that is compatible with modern satellite positioning techniques (GNSS )
3. enhance awareness that geospatial information is referenced to a three-dimensional geodetic datum
4. enhance awareness that geospatial information is not directly compatible unless the data is consistently referenced to one three-dimensional geodetic datum
5. help ensure the integrity of geospatial information while promoting the sharing and exchange of data across ministries, agencies, and between the public and private sectors

2.3 Target audience

The target audience for this document includes, but is not limited to:

• all Ontario Ministries/IT Clusters
• Conservation Authorities
• The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS)
• Ontario Municipalities
• GIS and GNSS/GPS service providers and users
• Professional Surveyors and Engineers in Ontario
• the Geomatics Community of Ontario

2.4 Scope

2.4.1 In scope

The in scope items for this document are to:

• define the official three-dimensional geodetic horizontal datum for OPS ministries and agencies
• phase out the definition and support for NAD83-ORIG over a defined period of five years once this standard is made official for Ontario

2.4.2 Out of scope

The out of scope items for this document are to:

• define NAD83-CSRS
• define transformation methodology to allow for transitioning data to NAD83-CSRS

2.5 Applicability statements

2.5.1 Organization

All ministries and I&IT clusters are subject to Government of Ontario IT Standards.

All adjudicative and advisory agencies are subject to Government of Ontario IT Standards.

All other agencies that are using OPS information and information technology products or services are required to comply with Government of Ontario IT standards if they are subject to either the Governance and Management of Information Technology Directive OR Government of Ontario IT Standards by memorandum of understanding.

As new GO-IT Standards are approved, they are deemed mandatory on a go-forward basis (go-forward basis means at the next available project development or procurement opportunity).

When implementing or adopting any Government of Ontario IT standards or IT standards updates, Ministries, I&IT Clusters and applicable agencies must follow their organization’s pre-approved policies and practices for ensuring that adequate change control, change management, and risk mitigation mechanisms are in place and employed. For the purposes of this document, any reference to Ministries or the Government includes applicable agencies.

2.5.2 Other applicability

Municipalities, local or regional governments or agencies do not need to comply with this standard individually, unless they submit data to OPS ministries or enter into a joint/cooperative projects or initiatives with one or more OPS ministries.

Land Information Ontario (LIO) is a provincial initiative that supports the province-wide sharing of geographic data. LIO provides centralized access to data through a number of tools and services, including the LIO Warehouse, the Ontario Geospatial Data Exchange, the Ontario Land Information Directory, and LIO Internet Mapping.

LIO uses, supports, and maintains georeferencing standards and tools to ensure that public sector organizations are consistently referencing their geographic data holdings to a single modern referencing system that is GPS compatible and used by most GIS users.

2.5.3 Requirement levels

Within this document, certain wording conventions are followed. There are precise requirements and obligations associated with the following terms:

Must - This word, or the terms "required" or "shall", means that the statement is an absolute requirement.

Should - This word, or the adjective "recommended", means that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore the recommendation, but the full implications (for example, business functionality, security, cost) must be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course.

3. Technical specification

The following requirements apply to all I&IT assets and operations within the scope of the Governance and Management of Information Technology Directive.

3.1 Mandatory

GO-IT Standard 541TES – NAD83 (North American Datum 1983) – CSRS (Canadian Spatial Reference System)

NAD83 has two realizations (coordinate sets) in Canada: an older 2-D realization known as NAD83-ORIG (Original) and a modern 3-D high-precision realization known as NAD83-CSRS (Canadian Spatial Reference system). This standard maintains NAD83-CSRS as the official horizontal datum for Ontario. NAD83-ORIG will be used as needed on an historical status basis over the next five years. After the historical status period of five years, NAD83-ORIG will be phased out of use in Ontario.

All new data capture activities and creation of new geo-spatial data sets (including GIS data/layers) shall be referenced to NAD83-CSRS effective the date this standard becomes official (see Document History section for official approval date). NAD83-ORIG is only acceptable for use during the five-year transition period when the geo-spatial data set being considered has already been referenced to NAD83-ORIG. For any NAD83-ORIG data set that will continue to be used beyond the five-year transition period, the data must be transformed to NAD83-CSRS prior to the end of the transition period using the National Transformation version 2 (NTv2) methodology.

If a 2-D transformation between the North American Datum 1927 (NAD27) or NAD83-ORIG and NAD83-CSRS is required, the standard of the National Transformation version 2 (NTv2) methodology shall be used.

This standard is not specific to a single ministry or agency.

3.2 Non-mandatory

The immediate transformation of NAD83-ORIG data sets (including GIS data/layers) is not required. However, any NAD83-ORIG data sets (including GIS data/layers) that continue to be used beyond the five-year transition period must be transformed to NAD83-CSRS prior to the end of the transition period (see Document History section for official approval date).

4. Related standards and impacted infrastructure

4.1 Impacts to existing standards

Identify any standards that reference or are referenced by this standard and describe the impact.

4.2 Impacts to existing infrastructure

Identify any applications, systems, solutions and technology platforms that could be affected by this standard and describe the impact.

5. Compliance requirements

In order to manage the effectiveness and implementation of this standard, Ministries, I&IT Clusters and applicable agencies are expected to adopt and monitor compliance.

6. Roles and responsibilities

Accountable Role (Standard Owner) Definition
The individual or committee ultimately accountable for the effectiveness of a standard and for its full life-cycle, including development, reviews, revisions, updates, evaluations, and rescindment. Where a committee owns the standard, the committee Chair is accountable for the standard. There must be exactly one accountable role identified.

Accountable Role: 
Name: Larissa Mathewson-Brake
Title: Director, Mapping and Information Resources Branch
Ministry/I&IT Cluster: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry/Land and Resources I&IT Cluster
Division: Corporate Management and Information

Responsible Role Definition
The organization(s) responsible for the development of this standard. There may be more than one responsible organization identified if it is a partnership/joint effort. (Note: the responsible organization(s) provides the resource(s) to develop the standard).

Responsible Organization(s):
Ministry/I&IT Cluster: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry/Land and Resources I&IT Cluster
Division: Corporate Management and Information Division
Branch: Mapping and Information Resources Branch

Support Role Definition
The support role is the resource(s) to whom the responsibility for maintaining this standard has been assigned. Inquiries, feedback, and suggestions should be sent to this resource.

Support Role (Editor):
Ministry/I&IT Cluster: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry/Land and Resources I&IT Cluster
Division: Corporate Management and Information Division
Branch: Mapping and Information Resources Branch
Section: Office of the Surveyor General
Job Title: Provincial Geodesist

Name: Morgan Goadsby
Phone: (705) 313-2789
Email: morgan.goadsby@ontario.ca

2^nd Support Role
Section: Office of the Surveyor General
Job Title: Geodetic Control Survey Specialist

Name: Hassan Ibrahim
Phone: (437) 881-3190
Email: hassan.ibrahim@ontario.ca

7. Consultations

Areas consulted as part of the development of this standard. Include individuals and committees, councils and/or working groups:

8. Document history

9. Glossary

ITRF -

International Terrestrial Reference Frame.

Galileo -

GNSS created by the European Union through the European Space Agency.

GLONASS -

GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (in Russian).

GPS -

Global Positioning System (USA).

GNSS -

Global Navigation Satellite Systems – (including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.).

GeoDMC -

OPS Geomatics Directors-Managers Committee.

GeoTASC -

OPS Geomatics Technical Advisory Sub-Committee of GeoDMC.

Geoid -

An equipotential surface representing Mean Sea Level below the Earth’s surface.

Orthometric Height -

A height measured along the plumb line from the Geoid to a point on the Earth’s surface.

NAD83-CSRS -

North American Datum 1983 – Canadian Spatial Reference System – a modern 3-D realization of NAD83.

NAD83-ORIG -

North American Datum 1983 – Original/v0 – the first realization of NAD83.

CCOG -

Canadian Council On Geomatics.

CGRSC -

Canadian Geodetic Reference Sub-Committee – a Sub-Committee of CCOG.

MIRB -

Mapping and Information Resources Branch.

CMID -

Corporate Management and Information Division.

10. Appendices

10.1  Normative references

• Governance and Management of Information Technology Directive (for OPS employees/internal users)
• GO-IT Standards

Note: A normative reference specifies a supporting document or GO-IT Standard (in the case of the Government of Ontario's I&IT infrastructure, often another OPS I&IT authorized publication) that must be read to fully understand or implement the subject matter of the main GO-IT Standard. Such authoritative or de facto references may be external and may, or may not be, owned/controlled by the GO-IT Standard owner.

10.2 Informative references

Related Documents

NAD’83 Redefinition in Canada and the Impact on Users, 1988, Papers for the CISM Seminars, Edited by John R. Adams, The Canadian Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Ottawa, ON

• This is a collection of papers dealing with the issues of different agencies in Canada in working towards implementing NAD83.

Moving to NAD83 the new address for georeferenced data in Canada, 1990, Papers for the CISM Seminars, Edited by D. Craig Barnes, The Canadian Institute of Surveying and Mapping, Ottawa, ON

• This is a collection of papers dealing with the issues of different agencies in implementing NAD83 within Canada.

NAD83 Implementation Team Report, Recommended Policies and Procedures regarding the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1992

• This report summarizes the work of the NAD83 Implementation Team (NIT) and recommends policies and procedures for implementing NAD83 in Ontario through the leadership of the MNRF addressing both internal and external user/client requirements.

Position yourself on a solid foundation – CSRS, Pamphlet on NAD83-CSRS (Canadian Spatial Reference System) published by the Geodetic Survey Division of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) in cooperation with the Canadian Geodetic Reference System Committee members.

• This is a bilingual pamphlet briefly describing the high-precision realization of NAD83 known as NAD83-CSRS (Canadian Spatial Reference System).

Specifications

• North American Datum of 1983, NOAA Professional Paper NOS 2, National Geodetic Information Center, NOAA, Rockville, MD, December 1989
  • This official report from the United States government describes the defining parameters for NAD83.
• Mathematical Models for Use in the Readjustment of the North American Geodetic Networks, Dr. Robin R. Steeves, Geodetic Survey of Canada, Technical Report Number 1, Geodetic Survey of Canada, Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, April 1994
  • This report from the Geodetic Survey of Canada describes the defining parameters and related information regarding NAD83 from a Canadian perspective.
• The Geodesists Handbook, Journal of Geodesy, Vol. 70, No. 12, October 1996
  • This document provides the defining parameters for the GRS80 reference ellipsoid upon which NAD83 is based.
• Accuracy Standards for Positioning, Version 1.0
  • This document provides positioning standards from Geodetic Survey Division of Natural Resources Canada that support the use of the NAD83-CSRS reference system.
• Realization and Unification of NAD83 in Canada and the U.S. via the ITRF, M. Craymer, R. Ferland, R. Snay, Geodetic Survey Division, Natural Resources Canada, Revised March 11, 1998.
  • This document describes how the standardized transformation parameters were derived to relate NAD83-CSRS to the ITRF.
• Integration of Local Surveys into the Canadian Spatial Reference System, Michael R. Craymer, Geodetic Survey Division, Natural Resources Canada, Revised May 25, 1998.
  • This document describes different approaches to integrating local geodetic control surveys with the Canadian Spatial Reference System.
• The Evolution of NAD83 in Canada, Michael R. Craymer, Geomatica, Vol. 60, No. 2, pp. 151-164, 2006.
  • This document describes the development and refinement of NAD83 Canadian Spatial Reference System.
• Snay, R., M. Craymer. Evolving from NAD 83. Eos Transactions, AGU, 85(17), Joint Assembly Supplement, Abstract G21D-01 Invited, 2004
  • This presentation provides an explanation of the transformation parameters of NAD83-CSRS and various versions of ITRF.
• Canadian Spatial Reference System
  • This link connects to the Canadian Geodetic Survey – NRCan website

Note: An informative reference is not normative; rather, it provides only additional background information.