2025 WA GIS Conference

In 2025 and 2026 the US will implement a new spatial datum — NATRF2022. The adoption of the new reference scheme will be pervasive and impact every area of GIS and spatial data handling in the US. Not only does the basic measurement premise change but the conceptual datum model is different as well. The change, however, will not be instantaneous and legacy data will need to be used alongside that generated in the new datum for years to come.

This presentation will provide insight into the origins and purpose of the new datum, how it may affect your work, what you should be aware of as the plan proceeds, key pitfalls to look for with new data products, and how you can better prepare yourself for the coming changes. The talk will address the key datum design issues, State Plane Coordinates, low-distortion projection concerns, as well as legal and regulatory issues.

This is an opportunity to learn about the coming changes and hear about the potential issues from someone who experienced the last datum change from NAD27 to NAD83 (and lived to tell about it).