In the near future, I intend to introduce legislation to update our Commonwealth’s framework and system for establishing and referencing coordinates for maps and geographic datasets.
 
The National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), managed by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), is a consistent coordinate system that defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States. The system also establishes the official geodetic system for surveying and mapping.
 
Presently, the system has established the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) as the official geometric datum used for horizontal positions. Many states have subsequently codified NAD 83 into law for their own surveying purposes, including Pennsylvania.
 
The NGS is in the process of modernizing the NSRS, and NAD83 will be replaced by the “North American Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2022” (NATRF2022). Final definition and acceptance is expected in 2025.
 
The problem is that Pennsylvania law is explicitly tied to a soon-to-be antiquated system. Failure to address this will lead to degraded accuracy of statewide geospatial data, growing inconsistencies along boundaries and borders, and potentially require maintenance of multiple sets of maps and geographic data at significant expense.
 
My legislation resolves this dilemma. It establishes a new, cleaner-looking law without any explicit references to outgoing systems. This essentially future-proofs Pennsylvania’s statute so that it can always remain consistent with any future changes. It also makes necessary repeals for legislative clarity and makes recommended changes by stakeholder groups.
 
This is legislation that all 50 states will need to soon enact, and so far, 12 have done so.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important bill.
EMD/mt/cmc
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0495: P.L.1208, No.310