U. S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Survey
Date: June 16, 1972
Reply to Attn of: CF171x2
Subject: Project Report and Information for Project OW21247F1
To: Director, National Geodetic Survey
Thru: Director, NGSOC - CAPT G. L. Short
Project Report and Information
Project OW21247F1 - Reconnaissance for Urban Horizontal Control, Springfield, Missouri.
Authorization for the reconnaissance was provided by agreement, dated 3-13-72, and signed by the Director, NGS and the Missouri State Land Surveyor.
The reconnaissance provides for the selection for horizontal control stations and recovery of existing National Geodetic Survey stations so as to provide area coverage with station spacing at 2 to 5 mile intervals, at a planned accuracy of 1 part in 100,000.
Chronology and Comments:
Field activity was undertaken on 5-15-72 and continued until 5-26-72. A meeting was attended at Springfield City Hall with the Missouri State Land Surveyor, Mr. R. E. Myers, and the Springfield Director of Public Works, Mr. Gaylord Weeks, just prior to beginning the field reconnaissance. Mr. Norman Brown of the State Land Survey Authority and Mr. W. M. Aldous, Engineer representing the city of Springfield, also attended the meeting. Mr. Norman Brown assisted with the reconnaissance throughout the field work period. His comments and interests, which were oriented toward placement of the control station to accommodate the local surveyor, was most helpful during the station site selections.
A total of nine (9) National Geodetic Survey Control Stations were recovered to provide the necessary connections with the national survey network. Thirty-one (31) selected station sites were chosen for the desired coverage of new control. In two situations, where the occupied station is atop a tall building, a ground level station is to be established to be more suited for use by the local surveyor. At all station sites selected, consideration of its placement for extending local surveys along the road or street was given perference. A total of five (5) U.S. Geological Survey traverse stations are included, or connections provided for control stations within the project area.
The Springfield area is mostly covered by timber with average tree height of approximately 60 feet. In one area trees were measured that are over 80 feet tall. The timber cover makes it necessary to erect towers at sixteen (16) stations with a maximum height of 90 feet. A first-order urban area control survey over the Springfield metropolitan area is not feasible unless tall steel towers are utilized. The high-rise buildings which would serve are closely grouped in a 6 square mile area. The project area covered is approximately 90 square miles.
It was possible to select a total of 22 station sites at which a 4 foot stand or instrument tripod will serve. At two additional stations a 16 foot wooden tower and a 8 foot stand are required for observations. The majority of 4 foot stand stations are along U.S. Highway 65 and Glenstone Avenue. By utilizing the advantage of geodimeter traverse along the highway cleared right-of-way, it was possible to eliminate the need for steel towers at a total of 10 stations.
The permission to establish the stations on the highway property was discussed in some detail with Mr. V. B. Unsel, District Highway Engineer at Springfield, Missouri. The questions of limited access and illegal parking along the high speed highway was of some concern. Mr. Unsel's concern is mostly in regard to the traffic hazard created by private surveyors using the stations during local surveys later on. It was agreed that the State Land Survey Authority would contact the state highway officials at headquarters in Jefferson City, Missouri for approval. One solution was suggested that a substitute station or reference station be off-set to accommodate the local surveyor so as he need not occupy the NGS station in the highway proper.
After towers are erected at the primary stations it should be possible to select additional satellite stations to be established by electronic spur traverse. The State Land Survey Authority personnel or Springfield City Engineers should assist in the satellite station project.
A total of twenty-eight (28) prominent natural objects such as water tanks, stacks, TV and radio towers, are being included as intersection stations throughout the project area. Photographs of the objects are included as part of the reconnaissance data. Two days were required to photograph and identify the intersection stations.
All personnel of the State Land Survey Authority and the Springfield City Engineers Office gave their full cooperation during this reconnaissance project. Mr. Norman Brown of the State Land Survey Authority was a very capable assistant. His assistance was greatly appreciated.
The reconnaissance sketch and station descriptions will be forwarded under separate cover.
Garald C. Randall
Reconnaissance Party
cc: Mr. R. E. Myers
Mr. Gaylord Weeks
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U. S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Survey
Rockville, Md. 20852
Jul 14 1972
Mr. Robert E. Myers
Missouri State Land Survey Authority
P. O. Box 1158
Rolla, Missouri 65401
Dear Mr. Myers:
The reconnaissance for the Springfield metropolitan area has been completed as agreed to in our cooperative agreement, dated March 13, 1972. The main scheme network, as designed by Mr. Garald C. Randall, would require a total of approximately 40 points, including connections to the National Geodetic Network. In Mr. Randall's report, he indicates it would be very difficult to design a reconnaissance omitting the use of steel towers and still obtain the required accuracy. We understand from discussions between officials of your office and the National Geodetic Survey planning staff, that funds are not available from the Missouri State Land Survey Authority, nor the Springfield metropolitan area to accomplish the surveys at this time.
Estimated cost information has been prepared to enable you to plan for future accomplishment of the surveys. The estimated cost for accomplishing the main scheme survey, if all 40 stations were utilized, would be $130,000. The approximate cost to the State and local interest would then be $65,000. Local effort would also have to bear the cost of additional subsidiary points established in conjunction with the main scheme network survey.
Your office has indicated a desire to aim for accomplishment of the surveys next year. We are willing to discuss the accomplishment of the survey next year; however, it will be necessary that the decision be made with several months' advance notice.
We would appreciate receiving information regarding the status of the funding as soon as possible from your office. Any such projects discussed are subject to budgetary and personnel limitations and administrative approval.
Mr. Randall reports that the personnel of the Missouri State Land Survey Authority and the Springfield City Engineers office gave their full cooperation during the reconnaissance phase of the project. We appreciate this effort and it is essential that we receive such cooperation if the projects are to be successful.
Instructions are being prepared for our field party to assist the Missouri State Land Survey Authority with the problems encountered in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Additional base lines will be measured in an attempt to resolve the adjustment difficulties there.
Sincerely,
Leonard S. Baker
Captain, NOAA
Director, National Geodetic Survey
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Transcribed by Steven E. Weible
