2025 WA GIS Conference

Are you ready for the new datum? A new National Spatial Reference System (datum will be launched in 2026. Implemented by the National Geodetic Survey, NATRF2022 will supersede NAD83-2011. Per WA RCW, this will become the datum of record when the change happens. With this change will come new state plane projections (north zone, south zone, and a new statewide projection), as well as low distortion projection (in development). In addition, the US Survey foot has bene deprecated, and all new projections will reflect the change to the international foot. This session provides the background, the potential impacts for WA, and examples of how engineering/surveying and GIS firms and organizations are preparing for the changes.

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).