GO-ITS 543TES Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys

1. Introduction

Government of Ontario Information Technology (GO-IT) Standards are the official publications on the IT standards adopted through the Office of the Corporate Chief Information Officer (OCCIO) and IT Executive Leadership Council (ITELC) for use across the government’s information and information technology (I&IT) infrastructure.
These publications support the responsibilities of the Treasury Board Secretariat for coordinating standardization of I&IT in the Government of Ontario. In particular, GO-IT Standards describe where the application of an IT standard is mandatory and specify any qualifications governing the implementation of the IT standards.

2. Summary

2.1 Standard Name and Description

GO-IT Standard 543TES - Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (formerly GO-ITS 45.3). This document defines the updated Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023) as the standard which specifies the requirements for all Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) geodetic control surveys intended for inclusion or loading into the provincial geodetic control database known as COSINE (COntrol Survey INformation Exchange). The Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023) was developed cooperatively by the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). These two ministries carry out or are responsible for the majority of geodetic control survey work in the province intended for inclusion in COSINE.  This standard is not specific to a single ministry or agency.

2.2 Background and rationale

This revised GO-IT Standard is established to specify the document that is to be used as the Specification for GNSS geodetic control surveys in Ontario.

This standard describes the Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023) which specifies the requirements for all Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) geodetic control surveys intended for inclusion or loading into the provincial geodetic control database known as COSINE (COntrol Survey INformation Exchange). The Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023) is an updated version of the Ontario Specification for GPS Control Surveys (2004) which was originally developed for 2D positioning cooperatively by the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). These two ministries carry out or are responsible for the majority of geodetic control survey work in the province intended for inclusion in COSINE.

The expected benefits and results of adopting this revised GO-IT Standard are to:

1. provide a standard for three-dimensional (3-D) geodetic positioning, including horizontal (2-D), vertical (1-D), or horizontal and vertical together (3-D) using GNSS technology for Ontario,
2. allow for the adoption of “Height Modernization” in Ontario and the ability to obtain orthometric heights related to the CGVD2013 (Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum 2013),
3. ensure that all GNSS projects destined for COSINE from provincial government ministries, agencies and municipalities comply with the same standard,
4. enhance awareness that GNSS technology provides different positioning accuracies dependent upon how the technology is used in the field, and
5. help to ensure the integrity of the geospatial reference framework for Ontario held in the provincial geodetic database known as COSINE.

2.3 Target audience

The target audience for this document includes, but is not limited to:

• all Ontario Ministries/IT Clusters
• Conservation Authorities
• The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS)
• Ontario Municipalities
• GIS and GNSS/GPS service providers and users
• Professional Surveyors and Engineers in Ontario
• the Geomatics Community of Ontario

2.4 Scope

2.4.1 In scope

The in scope of this document is to describe the ‘Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023),’ which is required for all geodetic control projects intended for inclusion in the provincial geodetic database known as COSINE.

2.4.2 Out of scope

Requiring the use of the ‘Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023)’ if the geodetic control project is not intended for inclusion in the provincial geodetic database known as COSINE.

2.5 Applicability statements

2.5.1 Organization

All Ministries and I&IT Clusters are subject to Government of Ontario IT Standards.

All adjudicative and advisory agencies are subject to Government of Ontario IT Standards.

All other agencies that are using OPS information and information technology products or services are required to comply with Government of Ontario IT standards if they are subject to either the Governance and Management of Information Technology Directive OR Government of Ontario IT Standards by memorandum of understanding.

As new GO IT Standards are approved, they are deemed mandatory on a go-forward basis (go-forward basis means at the next available project development or procurement opportunity).

When implementing or adopting any Government of Ontario IT standards or IT standards updates, Ministries, I&IT Clusters and applicable agencies must follow their organization’s pre-approved policies and practices for ensuring that adequate change control, change management, and risk mitigation mechanisms are in place and employed. For the purposes of this document, any reference to Ministries or the Government includes applicable agencies.

2.5.2 Other applicability

Municipalities, local or regional governments or agencies do not need to comply with this standard individually, unless they submit data to MNRF for inclusion in the provincial geodetic data base known as COSINE.

2.5.3 Requirement levels

Within this document, certain wording conventions are followed. There are precise requirements and obligations associated with the following terms:

Must - This word, or the terms "required" or "shall", means that the statement is an absolute requirement.

Should - This word, or the adjective "recommended", means that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore the recommendation, but the full implications (for example, business functionality, security, cost) must be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course.

3. Technical specification

The following requirements apply to all I&IT assets and operations within the scope of the Governance and Management of Information Technology Directive.

3.1 Mandatory

GO-IT Standard 543TES - Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys specifies that the Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023) is mandatory for all geodetic control projects intended for inclusion in the Provincial Geodetic Database known as COSINE.

This standard is not specific to a single ministry or agency.

3.2 Non-mandatory

The Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys (2023) is not mandatory for geodetic control projects that are not intended for inclusion in the Provincial Geodetic Database known as COSINE.

4. Related standards and impacted infrastructure

4.1 Impacts to existing standards

Identify any standards that reference or are referenced by this standard and describe the impact.

4.2 Impacts to existing infrastructure

Identify any applications, systems, solutions and technology platforms that could be affected by this standard and describe the impact.

5. Compliance requirements

In order to manage the effectiveness and implementation of this standard, Ministries, I&IT Clusters and applicable agencies are expected to adopt and monitor compliance.

6. Roles and responsibilities

Accountable Role (Standard Owner) Definition
The individual or committee ultimately accountable for the effectiveness of a standard and for its full life-cycle, including development, reviews, revisions, updates, evaluations, and rescindment. Where a committee owns the standard, the committee Chair is accountable for the standard. There must be exactly one accountable role identified.

Accountable Role:

Name: Larissa Mathewson-Brake
Title: Director, Mapping & Information Resources Branch
Ministry/I&IT Cluster: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry/ Land and Resources I&IT Cluster
Division: Corporate Management & Information

Responsible Role Definition

The organization(s) responsible for the development of this standard. There may be more than one responsible organization identified if it is a partnership/joint effort. (Note: the responsible organization(s) provides the resource(s) to develop the standard).

Responsible Organization(s):

Ministry/I&IT Cluster: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry/ Land and Resources I&IT Cluster
Division: Corporate Management & Information
Branch: Mapping & Information Resources Branch 

Support Role Definition

The support role is the resource(s) to whom the responsibility for maintaining this standard has been assigned. Inquiries, feedback, and suggestions should be sent to this resource.

Support Role (Editor):

Ministry/I&IT Cluster: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry/ Land and Resources I&IT Cluster
Division: Corporate Management & Information
Branch: Mapping & Information Resources Branch
Section: Office of the Surveyor General
Job Title: Provincial Geodesist

• Name: Morgan Goadsby
• Phone: 705-313-2789
• Email: morgan.goadsby@ontario.ca

2nd Support Role

Section: Office of the Surveyor General
Job Title: Geodetic Control Survey Specialist

• Name: Hassan Ibrahim
• Phone: 437-881-3190
• Email: hassan.ibrahim@ontario.ca

7. Consultations

Areas consulted as part of the development of this standard. Include individuals and committees, councils and/or working groups:

8. Document history

9. Glossary

GPS -

Global Positioning System (USA).

GNSS -

Global Navigation Satellite Systems – (including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, etc.).

GeoDMC -

OPS Geomatics Directors-Managers Committee.

GeoTASC -

OPS Geomatics Technical Advisory Sub-Committee of GeoDMC.

Geoid -

An equipotential surface representing Mean Sea Level below the Earth’s surface.

Orthometric Height -

A height measured along the plumb line from the Geoid to a point on the Earth’s surface.

NAD83-CSRS -

North American Datum 1983 – Canadian Spatial Reference System – a modern 3-D realization of NAD83.

NAD83-ORIG -

North American Datum 1983 – Original/v0 – the first realization of NAD83.

CCOG -

Canadian Council On Geomatics.

CGRSC -

Canadian Geodetic Reference Sub-Committee – a Sub-Committee of CCOG.

CGVD2013 -

Canadian Geodetic Vertical Datum 2013.

COSINE -

COntrol Survey INformation Exchange (Provincial Database of Geodetic Control Reference Monuments).

NTv2 -

National Transformation Version 2.

MIRB -

Mapping and Information Resources Branch.

CMID -

Corporate Management and Information Division.

10. Appendices

10.1 Normative references

• Governance and Management of Information Technology Directive (for OPS employees/internal users)
• GO-IT Standards
• Ontario Specification for GNSS Geodetic Control Surveys – June 2023

Note: A normative reference specifies a supporting document or GO-IT Standard (in the case of the Government of Ontario's I&IT infrastructure, often another OPS I&IT authorized publication) that must be read to fully understand or implement the subject matter of the main GO-IT Standard. Such authoritative or de facto references may be external and may, or may not be, owned/controlled by the GO-IT Standard owner.

10.2 Informative references

• Ontario Specifications for Horizontal Control Surveys, 1979 (OS 79) and Ontario Guidelines for Horizontal Control Surveys, 1979 (OG 79, published by the Ministry of Natural Resources: 
  Ontario Specifications for Horizontal Control Surveys (gov.on.ca)

This is the current Ontario Provincial Specification governing conventional (non-GPS) geodetic control surveys.

• Guidelines and Specifications for GPS Surveys, Release 2.1, December 1992. Geodetic Survey Division, Geomatics Canada, 615 Booth Street, Ottawa:  Guidelines & Specifications for GPS Surveys (canada.ca)

This is a federal guideline and specifications document recommending how GPS should be used in the field for control surveys.

• Ontario Digital Levelling Vertical Control Survey Specifications (2021): Ontario digital levelling vertical control survey specifications | ontario.ca

This document describes the provincial specifications for digital levelling work performed in Ontario for projects that will be included in COSINE.

• Guidelines for RTK/RTN GNSS Surveying in Canada (PDF) – Natural Resources Canada: User Guidelines for RTK Surveys – Document Review (canada.ca)

This document describes guidelines for Real Time Kinematic (Base Station/Network) GNSS positioning developed by Canadian Geodetic Survey - NRCan

Note: An informative reference is not normative; rather, it provides only additional background information.