WHAT YOU NEED TO USE THE STATE PLANE

COORDINATE SYSTEMS
N & E State Plane Coordinates for Control Points
AZIMUTHS
- True, Geodetic, or Grid
- Conversion from Astronomic to Geodetic
(LaPlace Correction)
- Conversion from Geodetic to Grid
(Mapping Angle)

DISTANCES
- Reduction from Horizontal to Ellipsoid
Sea-Level Reduction Factor
- Correction for Grid Scale Factor
- Combined Factor

THREE DISTANCES:
GROUND DISTANCE = NORMAL TO GRAVITY BETWEEN TWO
POINTS
GEODETIC DISTANCE = ALONG THE ELLIPSOID

GRID DISTANCE = ALONG THE MAP PROJECTION SURFACE

----------------------------------------------------------------- PROJECTED COORDINATES ARE ALWAYS DISTORTED

DEFINITIONS
GRID SCALE Factor
Multiplier to change geodetic distances based on the
Earth model (ellipsoid) to the grid plane.
ELEVATION Factor (a.k.a. Sea Level Reduction or
Ellipsoid Reduction Factor)
Multiplier to change horizontal ground distances to
geodetic (ellipsoid) distances
GRID-ELEVATION or COMBINED Factor
Gird Scale Factor times the Elevation Factor
This factor changes horizontal ground distances to
grid distances

Normal to
ellipsoid

AZIMUTH RELATIONSHIP
True Azimuth Derived from astronomic
observations (e.g. Solar/Polaris) this can usually
be considered the same as a geodetic azimuth.
Geodetic Azimuth Derived from the inverse
between two points of known latitude and longitude,
or from a LaPlace corrected astronomic azimuth or a
grid azimuth with the mapping angle () applied
Grid Azimuth Derived from the inverse between
two points defined in northing & easting, or from a
geodetic azimuth - the mapping angle ()
(e.g. State Plane, UTM, local grid coordinates)

ELLIPSOID - GEOID RELATIONSHIP

LaPlace Correction
+/- 0 ~ 25 Lower 48 states
NGS Tool DEFLEC09

Geoid
Ellipsoid
GRS80

LAMBERT CONFORMAL CONIC

WITH 2 STANDARD PARALLELS
STANDARD PARALLELS

Approximately 154 miles

O
CENTRAL MERIDIAN

CONVERGENCE ANGLE
(Mapping Angle)
The Convention of the Sign of the Convergence Angle
is Always From Grid To Geodetic

Convergence angles ()
always positive (+) East
Convergence angles ()
always negative (-) West

O
CENTRAL MERIDIAN

SCALE > 1

SCALE < 1

SCALE EXACT

TRANSVERSE MERCATOR

O
CENTRAL MERIDIAN

SCALE > 1

Pennsylvania State Plane Coordinate System NAD 83

Geometric Parameters remain the same
As NAD 27
Zone Boundaries
Central Meridian
North/South Standard Parallels
Latitude/Longitude of Origin

False Northing and Easting Changed

and defined in meters
Conversion to Feet left up to
individual states
U.S. Survey or International Feet

N=0m
E = 600,000 m

ORIGIN
39o 20 00
77o 45 00

COORDINATE CHANGES
(STATE PLANE)
STATION:

STRAUSS (pid KW0527)

PENNSYLVANIA SOUTH ZONE (NAD 27/NAD 83)

Northing

Easting

428,352.11 ft. 2,433,279.72 ft.

130,575.318 m. 732,088.384 m.

Converg Angle
+1o 00 39.0
+1o 00 39.8

Scale Factor
0.99995985
0.99995985

(428,395.86 ft)* (2,401,859.97 ft)*

(428,396.71 ft)# (2,401,864.78 ft)#
(0.15)
(4.81)
* Converted using U.S. Survey Foot, 1 M = 3.2808333333 Ft.
# Converted using International Foot, 1 M = 3.2808398950 Ft.

Michigan Compiled Laws, Public Act 9 of 1964, Sections 54.231- .239,

STATE PLANE COORDINATE

COMPUTATION
STRAUSS (pid KW0527)
N=
428,395.86 U.S. Survey Feet
E = 2,401,859.97 U.S. Survey Feet
Orthometric Height (H) = 642.24 Feet
Geoid Height (N) = - 113.32 Feet
Laplace Correction = - 2.6
Grid Scale Factor (k) = 0.99995985
Meridian Convergence () = + 1o 00 39.8
Observed Astro Azimuth (A) = 253o 26 14.9
Horizontal Distance (D) = 3,314.91 Feet

STATE PLANE COORDINATE

COMPUTATION
N1 = N + (Sg x cos g)
E1 = E + (Sg x sin g)
Where:
N = Starting Northing Coordinate
E = Starting Easting Coordinates
Sg = Grid Distance
g = Grid Azimuth

REDUCTION TO THE ELLIPSOID

D
h
H
N

R
Earth Radius
6,372,200 m

S = D * ___R__
R+h
Where: h = H + [N]

20,906,000 ft.
S = D * ___R___
R + H + (N)

REDUCTION TO THE ELLIPSOID

(The correct method)
N
R = _____________
1 e2 cos2 f cos2
WHERE

a
_____________
N=
(1 e2 cos2 f)1/2
e2 = (a2 b2) / b2

N = Radius of Curvature in Azimuth

a = Ellipsoid semi-major axis
b = Ellipsoid semi-minor axis
= Azimuth of the line
f = Latitude of the Station

REDUCTION TO ELLIPSOID
Ellipsoid Ht /Orthometric Ht
Sgeodetic = D x [R / (R + h)]
D = 3,314.91 ft (Measured Horizontal Distance)
R = 20,906,000 ft (Mean Radius of the Earth)
h = H + N (H = 642 ft, N = - 113 ft)
= 529 ft (Ellipsoid Height)
S = 3,314.91 [20,906,000 / 20,906,000 + 529]
S = 3,314.91 x 0.99997470
S = 3,314.83 ft
Sgeodetic = 3,314.91 [20,906,000 / 20,906,000 + 642]
Sgeodetic = 3,314.91 x 0.99996929
Sgeodetic = 3,314.81 ft
Diff = 0.02 ft or ~ 1:166,000

REDUCTION TO ELLIPSOID
Mean Radius vs. Computed Earth Radius
Sgeodetic = D x [R / (R + h)]
D = 3,314.91 ft (Measured Horizontal Distance)
R = 20,906,000 ft (Mean Radius of the Earth)
R = 20,936,382 ft (Computed Radius of the Earth)
h = 529

Sgeodetic = 3,314.91 [20,906,000 / 20,906,000 + 529]

Sgeodetic = 3,314.91 x 0.99997470
Sgeodetic = 3,314.83 ft
Sgeodetic = 3,314.91 [20,936,382 / 20,936,282 + 529]
Sgeodetic = 3,314.91 x 0.99997473
Sgeodetic = 3,314.83 ft
Diff = 0.00 ft

GRID SCALE FACTOR (k) OF A POINT

GRID CONVERGENCE ANGLE () OF A POINT

Easiest to obtain by using

NGS SPCs tool kit utility
or
CORPSCON

GRID SCALE FACTOR (k) OF A LINE

12

= (k1 + 4km + k2) / 6

(m = mean of k1 & k2)

Typically the Average Value Works Fine

12

= (k1 + k2) / 2

REDUCTION TO GRID

Sgrid = Sgeodetic * k (Grid Scale Factor)

Sgrid = 3,314.83 x 0.99995985

Sgrid = 3,314.70 meters

COMBINED FACTOR (CF)

CF = Ellipsoidal Reduction x Grid Scale Factor (k)
= 0. 0.99997470 x 0.99995985
= 0.99993455
CF x D = Sgrid
0.99993455 x 3,314.91 = 3,314.69 ft

GRID AZIMUTH COMPUTATION

grid = Astro + Laplace Correction Convergence Angle ()
= 253o 26 14.9 (Observed Astro Azimuth)

- 2.6 (Laplace Correction)

= 253o 26 12.3 (Geodetic Azimuth)
(Convergence Angle)
- 1 00 39.8
= 252o 25 32.5 (Grid Azimuth)
The convention of the sign of the convergence angle
is always from Grid to Geodetic

STATE PLANE COORDINATE

COMPUTATION
N1 = N + (Sgrid x cos grid)
E1 = E + (Sgrid x sin grid)
N1 =
=
=
=

428,395.86
428,395.86
428,395.86
427,395.01

+ (3,314.70 x Cos 252o 25 32.5)

+ (3,314.70 x -0.301942400)
+ (-1,000.85)
U.S. Survey Feet

E1 = 2,401,859.97 + (3,314.70 x Sin 252o 25 32.5)

= 2,401,859.97 + (3,314.70 x -0.953326170)
= 2,401,859.97 + (-3,159.99)
= 2,398,699.98 U.S. Survey Feet

GROUND LEVEL COORDINATES

SURFACE LEVEL COORDINATES
PROJECT DATUM COORDINATES
LOW DISTORTION PROJECTIONS
I WANT STATE PLANE COORDINATES
RAISED TO GROUND LEVEL
GROUND LEVEL COORDINATES ARE

NOT STATE PLANE COORDINATES!!!!!

GROUND LEVEL COORDINATES

PROBLEMS
RAPID DISTORTIONS*
PROJECTS DIFFICULT TO TIE TOGETHER*
CONFUSION OF COORDINATE SYSTEMS
LACK OF DOCUMENTATION
* Can be minimized with LDP

GROUND LEVEL COORDINATES

IF YOU DO
TRUNCATE COORDINATE VALUES
SUCH AS:
N=
404,648.89 ft becomes 4,648.89
E = 26,341,246.75 ft becomes 1,246.75
AND

The NSRS has evolved

1 Million
70,000
Monuments
Passive Marks
(Separate
(3-Dimensional)

Horizontal and
Vertical Systems)

Passive
Marks
(Limited
Knowledge of
Stability)

1,500+ GPS
CORS
(Time Dependent
System Possible;
4-Dimensional)

GPS CORS GNSS CORS

Problems with NAD 83 and NAVD 88

NAD 83 is not as geocentric as it could be (approx 1-2 m).
Data users dont see this Yet
NAD 83 is not well defined with positional velocities.
Most users still think of NAD 83 as 2-dimensional (lat/long, N/E)
NAVD 88 is realized by passive control (bench marks) most of which have not
been releveled in 40 years.
NAVD 88 does not account for local vertical velocities (subsidence and uplift)
Post glacial isostatic readjustment
Subsurface fluid withdrawal
Sediment loading
Sea level rise
.

The National Geodetic Survey 10 year plan

Mission, Vision and Strategy
2008 2018
http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/INFO/NGS10yearplan.pdf

Official NGS policy as of Jan 9, 2008

Modernized agency
Attention to accuracy
Attention to time-changes
Improved products and services
Integration with other fed missions
2018 Targets:

NAD 83 and NAVD 88 re-defined

Cm-accuracy access to all coordinates
Customer-focused agency
Global scientific leadership

Simplified Concept of NAD 83 vs. ITRF00

h83
h00

Earths
Surface

ITRF 00
Origin

NAD 83
Origin

Identically shaped ellipsoids (GRS-80)

a = 6,378,137.000 meters (semi-major axis)
1/f = 298.25722210088 (flattening)

Predicted Positional Changes in 2018

Vicinity of Silver Spring, MD.
(Computed for HASSLER pid HV9698)

HORIZONTAL = 1.31 m (4.3 ft)

ELLIPSOID HEIGHT = - 1.25 m (- 4.1 ft)
Predicted with HTDP
ORTHOMETRIC HEIGHT = - 0.47 m (- 1.5 ft)
Predicted with HTDP and USGG2009

2020 GEOMETRIC DATUM OPTIONS

Option 1: Adopt ITRF20xx and compute new
coordinates based on the best available
Velocity model
(Coordinates du Jour)
Option 2: Adopt a reference frame that agrees
with ITRF20xx at some instant of time,
(e.g. Epoch 2020.00)
but does not move relative to stable North
American tectonic plate similar to NAD 83

GOOD COORDINATION BEGINS WITH

GOOD COORDINATES

GEOGRAPHY WITHOUT GEODESY IS A FELONY