Geodetic Control Unit

The role of the Geodetic Control Unit is to advance the provincial Canadian Spatial Reference System (CSRS), and to maintain and improve it as surveying and positioning technologies evolve. The Section does this through the Alberta Survey Control (ASC) network, which serves as the provincial spatial referencing system of the CSRS. This infrastructure and related standards are fundamental for ensuring the compatibility of spatially referenced information from federal, provincial, municipal and private sources. As such, the spatial information can then be merged and exchanged in a seamless manner.

The following technical services are available to users of the Provincial Spatial Referencing system from the Geodetic Control Unit.

  • Advice on integration "to" and "from" the Provincial Spatial Referencing system.
  • Analysis of Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) calibration data (EDM calibration baseline utilities are located near Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge ).
  • EDM Baseline Guidelines available please click here for more details
  • Evaluation of Global Positing System (GPS) Validation Surveys (GPS Validation networks are located near Edmonton and Calgary).
  • General support and advice on issues related to surveying and geodesy.

Data Maintenance and Management:

The data maintenance and management functions of the provincial spatial referencing system are provided through the MASCOT (Multipurpose Alberta Survey Control Operations and Tasks) database. This database includes data input, observation reduction (conventional and GPS), data synthesis and data output of Alberta Survey Control Marker information and EDM calibration evaluation.

  • Updating of the MASCOT database with ASC marker condition(s) via ASC Condition Reports.
  • The ASC Marker Condition Report is available for download on this web site.
  • Final integration and updating of the MASCOT database with new and revising observational data related to the Provincial Spatial Referencing system.
  • Facilitation and coordination of geoid development within Alberta
  • Province-wide readjustment of the Provincial Spatial Referencing system
  • Facilitation and development of specifications for the integration of ASC
  • Liaison with federal and other provincial agencies on issues of common concern

Contact:

Name: Geoff Banham, P.Eng. - Unit Leader
Phone: (780) 422 1291
Fax: (780) 427 1493
E-mail: Geoff.Banham@gov.ab.ca