pitfalls and instead moves forward with a unified approach. Committee Purpose The committee’s charter lays out a clear mission: • Review and Align Statutes: Assess Utah’s existing laws that reference outdated datums and recommend modernized language consistent with the NSRS. • Support the SPCS2022 Transition: Develop strategies for adopting the new coordinate system and retiring the U.S. survey foot. • Promote Technical Standardization: Provide guidance on projection choices, conformal mapping and related best practices. • Outreach and Training: Help surveyors, GIS professionals and agencies understand and implement the changes effectively. Leadership and Membership The committee is chaired by myself, representing the Utah Geospatial Resource Center (UGRC), with Bracken Davis of UDOT as our secretary. Membership is open to representatives from state and federal agencies, local governments, professional survey and engineering firms, academic institutions and geospatial organizations. This broad representation ensures that the committee reflects the perspectives of those who will be most affected by the changes from crews in the field to decision-makers in government. Moving Forward The committee will meet quarterly (or more frequently as needed) to align recommendations with legislative cycles and evolving policy. Its deliverables will include: • Proposed statutory updates • A formal recommendation on statewide adoption of the international foot • Technical guidance on using conformal map projections under SPCS2022 • An outreach and education plan for stakeholders across Utah Why It Matters for Utah Surveyors For members of the Utah Council of Land Surveyors, this work will have very tangible impacts. From coordinate transformations to project specifications, from contract language to education of new professionals, the transition to modern geodetic standards will influence daily workflows. By engaging through the Utah Geodetic Advisory Committee, surveyors will have both a voice in shaping these changes and access to the resources needed to adopt them successfully. A Call to Participate The modernization of the NSRS is a once-in-a-generation event. As surveyors, engineers and geospatial professionals, we have an opportunity and responsibility to make sure Utah is prepared. The Utah Geodetic Advisory Committee is the forum where that preparation happens. I encourage UCLS members to stay informed, participate in discussions and take advantage of upcoming outreach opportunities. Together, we can ensure that Utah continues to set the standard for precision, consistency and professionalism in the geospatial sciences. UCLS Foresights 35
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