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Check out photos from 2021 campaign!

Here we go again!

National Geodetic Surveys (NGS) has extended the deadline for collecting GPS on Benchmarks data until September 30, 2023.

The Central Coast chapter of CLSA, initiated a series of successful GPS on Benchmark Campaigns in 2021 and 2022. We want to continue this effort through September of this year

In the NGS webinar "A GPS on Bench Marks Odyssey: Stories from the Pacific Southwest" you can hear the chapter and Robert Reese mentioned as to our efforts, as well as some interesting information on GPS on Benchmarks.

Chapter Plans

We are in it to win it!

The Education Committee has come up with a new idea for 2023. We are going to have a competition!

See current standings!

The rules are simple (sort of):

  • To compete your occupations must be not a part of your work (Volunteer your time)
    • As a side note if you are doing GPS on Benchmark occupations while at work, we think that is GREAT!
  • The time frame is start of 2023 until the end of September 2023
    • NGS has the current deadline as the end of September 2023
  • You must submit your occupation to Ed Reading (EdwardReading@gmail.com) for submittal to NGS
    • It must be complete
    • It must be accepted by NGS
  • It must be submitted to Ed by September 25

The awards are even simpler.

  • At the Summer BBQ
    • Top 5 contestants will receive some raffle tickets
      • Must be there to receive the tickets
    • At a chapter meeting following the September dealine
      • Winner will be awarded a free Dinner!

Update 2023 information

We have about 103 possible benchmarks still that need to be done within our sphere of influence. We have updated the GPS on Benchmark list for review. In addition, we have some information on the previous occupations that have taken place within our sphere.

Benchmarks Needed Map
This is a shot of Control point Negranti during GPS on Benchmark event
Benchmarks Needed List
Timeline of previous Occupations
Stats of previous occupations
Click on Icon to go to link; Most Current information on Benchmark Needed List

Ready to Head out!!

Use our checklist, so you are prepared

What is GPS on Benchmarks

This is a program created by National Geodetic Survey (NGS) to bolster the new vertical datum and geoid model as well as to support the continued use of passive benchmarks within the national infrastructure. According to the NGS Website, the program is to support the following objectives.

  • Improve the 2022 Transformation Tool, which will enable conversions from current vertical datums to the North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 (NAPGD2022) and will be integrated into the NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT).
  • Update Passive Control Status: mark recoveries and shared solutions provide NGS and other users of the NSRS with insight into the health of the passive control network and updated information for project planning.
  • Automatic Reprocessing in 2022: Shared data will be automatically reprocessed and given new coordinates after the NSRS modernization occurs in 2022.
  • Here is a link to the current GPS on Benchmarks Newsletter from NGS

How can you help

We need volunteers to perform static occupations on selected sites. Each occupation requires a minimum of 4 hours of collecting data. Ideally you will work in teams, which either you or we can coordinate. At least one of the team members will need to have the equipment required for the occupation. We have a checklist of equipment and supplies.

You will select your preliminary monument from the list and let us know what that point is when you sign up. If you don't have a specific point, just select the area you are interested on working in and we will suggest some monuments.

  • Step 1 - Select your monument or area
  • Step 2 - Select the date or dates you want to go out in the field
  • Step 3 - See if you have someone you want to work with
  • Step 4 - Sign up with all that information
  • Step 5 - Collect the data
  • Step 6 - send the raw data in

The Details page has the information on the monuments, list of items you need to have, what to do when you are in the field and who to send the raw data to

We will contact you before the day just to verity we have your information or to help you in selecting a monument or a partner.

What makes a benchmark a priority?

NGS developed a priority system initially on a 10km Hexagon system. It has never been clear to the author as to why they used hexagonal lattice other than it seemed more scientific (read "cooler") than just a bunch of squares. Within each hexagon they created two types of priority monuments: Priority A and Priority B. From the NGS Website:

Priority A

Priority A marks meet the following specific criteria from their datasheets and are most likely to be used to create the transformation tools:

  • Vertical Order: FIRST, SECOND
  • Stability: A, B, C
  • Satellite: USEABLE
  • Last Recovery Condition: excluding “MARK NOT FOUND”

Priority B

Priority B marks are lower quality marks that will only be considered for use in the transformation tool to fill data gaps if no other data exists in the region.

Once the had two observations on a single Priority A benchmark in 10km Hexagon, they considered that Hexagon complete and then created thirteen 2km hexagons to cover that 10km hexagon for denser coverage. For each 2km hexagon, if a suitable benchmark was found that would become a priority benchmark.

As the GPS on Benchmark activity developed, NGS considered one more criterion for selection, population. The rational is that more populated areas would benefit more from the transformation tools than sparsely populated areas; that makes sense. So they classified their hexagons as either in a populated area or not. If you look at their selection of populated hexagons in the Central Coast area, you will see that it does not take much of a population to be ranked as "Populated".

Now all of this information is available at the NGS GPS on Benchmark website for your viewing. At the bottom of that page you will see a link to their Dashboard which will show you different statistics and their Web Map which is where you can see the Hexagons, and Benchmarks based on priorities.

On the toolbar at the bottom of the web map, the two most common tools are;

  • the legend tool, second from the left, which will show a legend for the visible layers
  • The Layer tool, third from the left that allows you to turn on and off the layers you may want to see.

For additional instructions on how to use the map go to the NGS Web Map Application Instructions

Table Sorted by PID
PIDNamePriorityCalTransIssuesLatitudeLongitude
AB5072CARR PARKFIELD MONUMENTB - 1 Obs. Requested0THIS IS A CORS SITE!35.8883470528-120.4308250417
DH6701SWANB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.8905619528-120.8420836667
DZ0291E 27A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOIn RR R/W34.5127777778-120.4997222222
DZ0516Q 531B - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.8116666667-120.5977777778
DZ0749E 537A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOTripod cannot be used34.6868611111-120.5873888889
DZ0797J 26A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.9077777778-120.5513888889
DZ0812A 1214A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOIn RR R/W34.9783333333-120.5672222222
DZ0814D 1214A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.9911111111-120.5675000000
DZ0817S 1215B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO034.9590666667-120.5267111111
DZ0818R 1215B - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.9585555556-120.5436666667
DZ0833Y 1049A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.5577777778-120.5786111111
DZ0970C 1050B - 2 Obs. RequestedNOIN Vandenberg34.5171027778-120.5029194444
DZ1271YOUNGB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.7386273056-120.2653656417
DZ1272FINCHB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.6489895556-120.3093671083
DZ1326EL JALAMAB - 1 Obs. RequestedNO034.5863997000-120.4097691083
DZ1339CLARKB - 1 Obs. RequestedNO034.8653217417-120.3976853333
DZ1791M 1441A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.9415277778-120.5740277778
DZ1792N 1441A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.8863888889-120.5227777778
DZ1808HPGN D CA 05 BQB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.6214848667-120.1909845194
DZ1810HPGN D CA 05 GNB - 1 Obs. RequestedNO034.9193460639-120.4409305639
DZ1811SAN ANTONIOB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.7742288944-120.4293515000
DZ1812SB 1 PM 26.2B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.7073697778-120.4863834722
EW3943M 303A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOMay have been disturbed34.9345040944-119.5850343722
EW5500Y 1100A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO?034.8822222222-119.4986111111
EW5506V 369A - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.8420282028-119.4763493722
EW6844R 1292A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO034.9344444444-119.5536111111
EW6848T 1292A - 2 Obs. RequestedNONoted not found in 199634.8966666667-119.5052777778
EW8154BURRO RESETB - 1 Obs. RequestedNONeed FAA approval and Young Americans Approval34.5091493361-119.7711543222
EW9583HPGN D CA 05 BRB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.5630980167-119.9315904278
EW9584SB 33 PM 1.9B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES034.8148965778-119.4590002806
FU1257B 559A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.3311111111-119.8808333333
FU1258C 559A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.3366666667-119.8983333333
FU1260D 559B - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.3425000000-119.9136111111
FU1261E 559A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.3513888889-119.9247222222
FU3239E 1292A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.3516666667-119.9508333333
FU3827HPGN D CA 05 KSB - 1 Obs. RequestedNOSLO County Maintenance Yard35.3502423194-119.9958915778
FV0081692A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOSet on Railroad Headwall35.6517500000-120.6921388889
FV0096635A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOSet on Railroad Headwall35.7199722222-120.6965555556
FV014113=D 25 RESETA - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.3933333333-120.6047222222
FV0144Z 65A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.3886944444-120.5816388889
FV0176A 1095A - 1 Obs. RequestedNOAs a replacement for FV014136.403933-120.605279
FV0209V 154A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.8619250000-120.7697111111
FV0250H 1189A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOSet on Railroad Headwall35.7643611111-120.6961944444
FV0260M 1189A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.7994500000-120.7425555556
FV0263565 RESETA - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.8255166667-120.7506638889
FV0267Q 694 RESET 1956A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOOn Bridge Abutment35.7650000000-121.3194444444
FV0273T 694B - 2 Obs. RequestedYES035.8194444444-121.3738888889
FV0314B 66A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.3240111111-120.5167583333
FV0372E 693B - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.3316666667-120.7369444444
FV0393E 259 RESETA - 2 Obs. RequestedNO?May have been disturbed35.3528777778-120.7790111111
FV039724 RESETA - 2 Obs. RequestedNO?035.3615333333-120.8053694444
FV0410BROMELAB - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.0379019583-120.5948178972
FV0417Z 25A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.0953055556-120.6084722222
FV0455G 561A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.3661111111-120.0591666667
FV0682L 532A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOIn RR R/W35.1730555556-120.6216666667
FV0692L 533A - 1 Obs. RequestedNOIn RR R/W35.2230055556-120.6205500000
FV0703Y 1213A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.1413888889-120.6322222222
FV0723115.23 RESETB - 2 Obs. RequestedNO?035.1638888889-120.6872222222
FV0745N 693B - 2 Obs. RequestedNO?035.4285555556-120.8811388889
FV0754T 693B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO?035.4721409139-120.9818221444
FV0777E 66A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.3024444444-120.3949111111
FV0780U 903A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.2911388889-120.4265833333
FV0803F 530A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.3104166667-120.3272500000
FV0808J 66A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.3378333333-120.3068055556
FV0818Y 903A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOTop of 6' high Granite outcrop35.3580555556-120.2758333333
FV0955254 RESETB - 2 Obs. RequestedNO?035.5008333333-121.0127777778
FV0960W 693B - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.5377777778-121.0566666667
FV0971A 707A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.5705555556-121.0602777778
FV098619A - 1 Obs. RequestedNOSet on bridge35.6440277778-121.1890333333
FV1003Z 259A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.6767750000-121.2853944444
FV1032K 707B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.5694895500-120.9243863667
FV1057GWM 33 RESET 1975B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.5640922333-120.9068914222
FV1103Q 1314B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.3803527778-120.8547638889
FV1110V 1314A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO?035.4633000000-120.9687027778
FV1115D 1315A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOSet in Boulder, Last recovery 197735.5466666667-121.0675000000
FV1117F 1315A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.6269444444-121.1594444444
FV1129K 1315A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.6936111111-121.2916666667
FV1133V 1315A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOSet in Boulder35.8230555556-121.3791666667
FV1137B 1316A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.8644444444-121.4305555556
FV1143S 1315A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOSet in Boulder, some obstruction issues35.8077500000-121.3591666667
FV1151H 1316A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.9459785806-121.4761233000
FV1155F 1316A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.9147222222-121.4688888889
FV1177B 1294A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.3036222222-120.3768138889
FV1183H 1294A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.3844444444-120.1806388889
FV1184J 1294A - 2 Obs. RequestedNOLast recovery note 197735.3877777778-120.1500000000
FV1188Z 1294A - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.3663250000-120.0769805556
FV1445GREENB - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.4007979000-120.4911004250
FV1805GARRISON RESETB - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.8374825722-120.7512204028
FV1942X 1449B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.9988306000-120.8863477472
FV1959B 1451A - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.6311388889-120.6885555556
FV1974Z 1450A - 1 Obs. RequestedNOWe have picked it up once35.4445583333-120.6318722222
FV2048HPGN CA 05 05B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.0842357333-120.5842088806
FV2052HPGN CA 05 09B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.9922313250-121.4843605972
FV2062F 694 RESETB - 2 Obs. RequestedNO035.6347777778-121.1640833333
FV2064HPGN D CA 05 GPB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.0360602417-120.1830855722
FV2065HPGN D CA 05 HKB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.2686391889-120.6711951417
FV2067HPGN D CA 05 KLB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.3831072500-120.6286870750
FV2073HPGN D CA 05 QDB - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.8800561167-121.4497188750
FV2077SLO 101 PM 46.87B - 1 Obs. RequestedNO035.4968036167-120.6831587056
FV2078SLO 166 PM 15.8B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.0160837889-120.3329347472
FV2080SLO 58 PM 16.4B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.4549389639-120.4032689889
FV2081SLO 58 PM 29.1B - 1 Obs. RequestedYES035.4214527056-120.2381701444

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