The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). NGS manages a network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) that provides Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data and serves as the backbone of the NSRS.  Our goal is to maintain a network of stations to serve as control for any project undertaken by local surveyors.  In addition, numerous other applications benefit from an accurate, consistent coordinate system and the fastest growing community of users is Agriculture.  

 

The National Geodetic Survey’s National Height Modernization Program is an initiative focused on establishing accurate, reliable heights using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology in conjunction with traditional leveling, gravity, and modern remote sensing information.  Precision agriculture applies GNSS technology along with remote sensing data to determine accurate field boundaries and slope (contour) management for land use. 

 

Benefits that the National Spatial Reference System and the National Geodetic Survey’s Height Modernization Program provide to the agriculture community include the use of accurate heights to more efficiently control equipment (machine guidance) and apply fertilizer; thus providing savings to farm businesses and minimizing the amount of non-point source pollution (fertilizer, herbicides, or pesticides) that enters the streams and rivers. 

 

In 2008, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) CORS, a subset of the National CORS were made available to the Agriculture community.  During the first year, there were 4 farms that begin using the products provided by MDOT.  As of January 2014 there are 241 users that have signed up and are using CORS for their agriculture needs.  Dansby Farm LLC, a family owned business, has seen a reduction of chemical usage by 3 – 5%, a 2% reduction of fertilizer, and estimates a savings of $3000 - $5000 in their first year of using the CORS.  The user community ranges from family to corporate owned businesses.