Important Geospatial News: Last Hybrid Geoid for NAVD 88 to be released

Important Geospatial News: Last Hybrid Geoid for NAVD 88 to be released The National Geodetic Survey will be releasing a new geoid which will replace Geoid 12B for (beta)Geoid18. GEOID18 will be the last hybrid geoid model that NGS will create before NAVD 88 is replaced by the North American-Pacific Geopotential Datum of 2022 (NAPGD2022). NGS is expected to have this finalized by Q4 2019. Hybrid geoid models convert NAD 83 ellipsoid heights to NAVD 88 orthometric heights by constraining a gravimetric geoid to published heights at benchmarks. Specifically, GEOID18 is intended for use with coordinates in the NAD 83 (2011) reference frame. GEOID18 only covers CONUS, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Users in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and CNMI should continue to use GEOID12B. The below is a detailed map showing the Geoid 18 differences from Geoid12B.

When Trimble and Spectra Precision release the final version, Duncan-Parnell will be sure to keep you informed. As always, do not hesitate to give us a call to answer any questions or concerns you may have about this upcoming change.