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Geodetic Control

Geodetic Control supports accurate horizontal and vertical placement of all other layers, particularly Cadastral (by improving horizontal locations), Hypsography (by providing accurate elevations from Height Modernization), Land Cover, Orthoimagery, Soils and Wetlands from a combined campaign to acquire LIDAR data or other Remote Sensing data collected with accurate positions and elevations provided by Height Modernization.

Goals for Geodetic Control are to work with other theme efforts to provide accurate and accepted control data for Montana. Goals include improving GCDB accuracy enhancement in priority areas, advancing the Height Modernization program in Montana, promoting public access to public control data including GDCB, promoting the use of standards for reporting control data, developing an on-line database for storing, querying & accessing control data, potentially promoting legislation to require that control generated with public funds be submitted to the public database, promoting training and education opportunities to foster an understanding of the value and use of control.

Goals & Objectives

Theme goals for the next two years include:

  • An expanded educational effort promoting the value of geodetic control and the use of the Montana Control Point Database.
  • Integration of geodetic control as a reference layer in GIS databases.
  • Work with the boundary cadastral theme champions to insure non-duplication of efforts.

Status of Framework

Most objects depend on having an on-line Montana Control Point Database (MCDB) for control. The State of Montana continues to work on the development of a functional database. The project has suffered some setbacks but is back on track, under contract with GCS Research, with the database expected to come online mid-summer of 2009. Data may then be entered into the system by surveyors and the public may access the control point data. For information regarding the functional specifications of that project please visit the link below.

MCDB Statement of Work


Some education and outreach has occurred, on a limited basis. The responses have been positive regarding the willingness to contribute control point data.

Major issues:


  • Complete the programming and install the database. This issue is in the hands of the software developer, who is expected to complete phase one of this application in the summer of 2007.
  • Informing the land surveying community that the database is available and encourage the surveyors to submit their data. Once the database is up and running, the existing grant funds from the BLM may be used to fund workshops and outreach around the state to inform and train the survey community. An article and perhaps advertising may be placed in the Montana Association of Land Surveyors trade journal. A presentation may be schedule for the MARLS conference in February- this can be done annually, or perhaps a booth can be shared with the US Geodetic Survey at the MARLS conference.
  • Informing the public that the database is available and should be referred to prior to scoping out any GIS, surveying, engineering and aerial photography project in order to research the availability of control in their project area. Conference presentations may be scheduled, and an article may be submitted to the MAGIP newsletter. A presentation may be schedule for the Northern Rockies GIS conference in April. Perhaps a booth may be shared with the US Geodetic Survey at the Northern Rockies GIS conference.
  • Long term funding to maintain the viability of the database (server hosting, software upgrades, database management). Not addressed at this time.
  • Tying this database to scanned corner records. Not addressed at this time, but dialog has begun on this.

2009 – 2010 Stewardship Plan


A strategic plan to densify control requires, as a first step, the creation of a Geodetic Control Database that documents existing control and serves as a tool to help identify areas in need of densification. An accumulation of the existing Geodetic Control in one single accessible database would likely result in literally thousand of points and may adequately cover the developed portions of Montana. Therefore, it seems prudent that before Montana develops and undertakes a project specifically aimed at densifying geodetic control, an initial effort be aimed at inventorying existing control. Initial efforts to populate a Geodetic Control Database should focus not only on the addition of newly created points, but perhaps more importantly, importation of existing control. Specific tasks for the 2006 - 2008 time frame include:

  • Complete the installation and testing of the Surveying and Mapping Control database (MONTANA CONTROL POINT DATABASE) developed under the direction of the Geodetic Control Implementation Team using funds from the assistance agreement in place between BLM and ITSD. Installation of version one of this database is to take place the week of July 10, 2006 on ITSD servers.
  • Contract with a licensed land surveyor or licensed land surveying firm to administer the control database.
  • Educate the surveying community as to the existence and use of this database.
  • Populate the database.
  • Develop a control densification plan for Montana.
  • Develop state standards for control data submission and dissemination.
  • Test the feasibility of linking scanned corner recordation records to the database.
  • Work with MDT and NGS to develop a Height Modernization program.

History of Framework

Efforts to elevate the awareness of geodetic control and coordinate geodetic control information across Montana began in the late 1990s with a core group of surveying and GIS representatives. This group has representatives from the Montana Department of Administration, Montana Department of Transportation, US Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, local government, the private sector. Since developing the strategic plan for Montana’s geodetic control this working group meets intermittently, typically via conference call, and communicates via email. Many of the members of the geodetic control working group are also on the executive committee for the Montana Height Modernization Program

Stewardship Contact Information

Theme Steward

Department of Administration, ITSD
GIS Bureau
101 North Rodney St, STE 2
Helena, MT 59620-0113

Geodetic Control Framework
Theme Lead

Rj Zimmer, PLS
DJ & A, PC
1400 11th Avenue, Suite 300
Helena, MT 59601
Fax: 406-443-8176
Phone: 406-443-9062
E-mail: RjZimmer@djanda.com

Stu Kirkpatrick
Department of Administration, ITSD
Base Map Service Center
910 Helena Ave.
Helena, MT 59620-0115
Fax: 406-444-1255
Phone: 406-444-9013
E-mail: skirkpatrick@mt.gov

Theme Lead's Corner

The Montana Control Point Database (MCPD) is now online (see links below)!

March 3rd, 2010

The MCPD application was developed by GCS Research of Missoula, MT to the specification set forth by the Montana Geodetic Control Working Group. The goals of the application are to provide Montana's land surveyors with a means to store and manage their geodetic and mapping control that is not part of the National Geodetic Survey's (NGS) database, and to provide the public with free access to reliable, up to date geodetic and mapping control.

There are two components of the MCPD: the public viewer and the data loader. The MCPD Viewer application provides search and download access to the MCPD records' the Geographic Coordinate Database (GCDB) point, and a copy of the NGS points. MCPD export options are to ASCII comma delimited text file or to Google Earth compatible KML file format. The application also provides data sheets for the MCPD points and NGS points.

The MCPD Data Loader provides the surveyor with two mechanisms to upload control point data: through a web data entry form; or through a spreadsheet for batch uploads. The spreadsheet uses the .NET framework (which must be installed locally) and the spreadsheet itself also must be installed locally. A completed spreadsheet uploads with a button (labeled "MCPD") that connects to the MCPD website and automates the data upload to the MCPD.

The control point data model is project-centric, and a surveyor may use his or her state registration number and PIN (as provided by the state board of registration) to log into the MCPD Data Loader website to submit control points. All submitted data are first reviewed by an administrator for form and content prior to publication.

We hope to provide training workshops around the state in 2010.

Geodetic Control is a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) and Montana Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI) framework data set. MCPD development has been a cooperative effort of various federal, state, county and private interests. Special thanks go to the US Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the MT Base Map Service Center.
~ Rj Zimmer, PLS

MCPD Viewer URL

MCPC Data Loader URL