Louisiana Transportation Research Center Final Report 539 DOTD Standards for GPS Data Collection Accuracy by Joshua D. Kent Clifford Mugnier J. Anthony Cavell Larry Dunaway Louisiana State University 4101 Gourrier Avenue | Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808 (225) 767-9131 | (225) 767-9108 fax | www.ltrc.lsu.edu TECHNICAL STANDARD PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/LA.539 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date DOTD Standards for GPS Data Collection Accuracy September 2015 6. Performing Organization Code 127-15-4158 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Kent, J. D., Mugnier, C., Cavell, J. A., & Dunaway, L. Louisiana State University Center for GeoInformatics 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Center for Geoinformatics Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering 11. Contract or Grant No. Louisiana State University LTRC Project Number: 13-6GT Baton Rouge, LA 70803 State Project Number: 30001520 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Louisiana Department of Transportation and Final Report Development 6/30/2014 P.O. Box 94245 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9245 14. Sponsoring Agency Code 15. Supplementary Notes Conducted in Cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 16. Abstract The Center for GeoInformatics at Louisiana State University conducted a three-part study addressing accurate, precise, and consistent positional control for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. First, this study focused on Departmental standards of practice when utilizing Global Navigational Satellite Systems technology for mapping-grade applications. Second, the recent enhancements to the nationwide horizontal and vertical spatial reference framework (i.e., datums) is summarized in order to support consistent and accurate access to the National Spatial Reference System. Third, the Center provides quality control information to the Pavement Management System section against which Moving Vehicle Rapid Mapping data may be compared and assessed. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement GNSS, GPS, GIS, Datum, LASER, C4G Unrestricted. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 21161. 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Project Review Committee Each research project will have an advisory committee appointed by the LTRC Director. The Project Review Committee is responsible for assisting the LTRC Administrator or Manager in the development of acceptable research problem statements, requests for proposals, review of research proposals, oversight of approved research projects, and implementation of findings. LTRC appreciates the dedication of the following Project Review Committee Members in guiding this research study to fruition. LTRC Administrator/Manager Zhongjie “Doc” Zhang Gavin Gautreau Members Paul A. Ensminger, U.S. Geological Survey Kurt Johnson, DOTD Eric Lanier, DOTD Jim Mitchell, DOTD Nathan Baylot, DOTD Directorate Implementation Sponsor Janice Williams, P.E. DOTD Chief Engineer DOTD Standards for GPS Data Collection Accuracy by Joshua D. Kent Clifford Mugnier J. Anthony Cavell Larry Dunaway Center for GeoInformatics (C4G) Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering College of Engineering Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 LTRC Project No. 13-6GT State Project No. 30001520 conducted for Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Louisiana Transportation Research Center The contents of this report reflect the views of the author/principal investigator who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development or the Louisiana Transportation Research Center. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. September 2015 ABSTRACT The Center for GeoInformatics (C4G) at Louisiana State University (LSU) has conducted a three-part study addressing accurate, precise, and consistent positional control for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). First, this study focused on Departmental standards-of-practice when utilizing Global Navigational Satellite Systems technology for mapping-grade applications. Second, the recent enhancements to the nationwide horizontal and vertical spatial reference framework (i.e., datums) was summarized in order to support consistent and accurate access to the National Spatial Reference System. Third, the C4G provided quality control information to the Pavement Management System section against which Moving Vehicle Rapid Mapping (MVRM) data may be compared and assessed. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS C4G acknowledges the support from the project review committee, each of whom have provided valuable contributions for the successful implementation of this project. C4G also wishes to acknowledge the support from the Pavement Management System section for providing coordination for traffic control along the highway. J. Ashley Horne with DOTD chose the test sites, coordinated the arrangements with local districts, and kept things on track. The leaders and safety teams at each district earned the authors’ thanks for their expertise and diligence keeping the data collection operations safe at each of the chosen sites. v IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT The deliverables from this report will help the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) users, contractors, and staff meet a minimum standard for mapping, clarify and recommend ways to deal with recent changes to the national geoid model, and perform quality assurance measurements on the Department’s inventory of road survey points. Research findings and recommendations have been compiled within this final report and the survey data produced by this study is included and available to the DOTD Pavement Management System staff via internet (FTP) services maintained by the investigators. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................................................... v IMPLEMENTATION STATEMENT ...................................................................................................... vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................................... xi LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................. xii INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 1 OBJECTIVE ............................................................................................................................................... 3 Objective 1: Standard Operating and Collection Procedures ................................................................. 3 Objective 2: Horizontal and Vertical Datum Research Summary ......................................................... 5 Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Objective 3: Provide Updated Control Point Measurements for the Pavement Management System .. 6 SCOPE ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 Scope 1: Standard Operating and Collection Procedures Development ................................................ 7 Scope 2: Horizontal and Vertical Datum Research ................................................................................ 8 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Scope 3: Control Point Measurements for the Pavement Management System .................................... 8 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................... 11 Task 1: Standard Operating and Collection Procedures for GNSS Technologies at DOTD ............... 11 Literature Review and Research on the Existing State of Practice ................................................... 11 Evaluate the Technology Proposed by the GPS Technology Oversight Committee ........................ 11 Evaluate the Pros/Cons & the Cost/Benefit (Short & Long Term) of Enterprise GNSS Implementation. ................................................................................................................................. 15 Task 2: Horizontal and Vertical Datum Research Summary ............................................................... 19 Literature Review and Research on the Existing State of Knowledge