E. The Determination of Coordinates for
Inclusion on the HAZSITE Database
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- More detailed information regarding the application of the HAZSITE
Database can be obtained by reviewing NJDEP's Electronic Data Interchange
(EDI) manual. Discussed below are strategies for determining the coordinates
required for inclusion in the HAZSITE Database.
- Establishment of the coordinate framework for reporting site specific
sampling locations. Concern has been expressed regarding the requirement
to survey each sampling point during each field sampling event. Specifically,
there is concern regarding the cost of hiring a licensed surveyor or
the development and/or implementation of GPS capability every time a
sampling event occurs at a contaminated site. Several options for reducing
the expenses for determining these coordinates that are acceptable to
the DEP are presented below.
- Establishment of control point coordinates
- Standard Surveying Techniques
Using traditional survey equipment and techniques during initial
sampling activities, it will be necessary establish one(1) surveyed
control point for the site and for reference in future sampling
events. The control point should be located as close to the center
of the property and areas of investigation as feasible. To facilitate
registering the point on the site plan, it is recommended that the
control point be located on or adjacent to existing surface construction
features already reflected on existing architectural or CAD drawings.
The control point must represent, within 1.5 meters, the actual
location on the facility property.
- Global Positioning System (GPS)Another method for establishing a control point for grid system development
is GPS. As with traditional survey techniques, it is necessary to
establish one control point for the site and for reference in future
sampling events. The control point should be located as close to the
center of the property and areas of investigation as feasible. To
facilitate registering the point on the site plan, it is recommended
that the control point be located on or adjacent to existing surface
construction features already reflected on existing architectural
or CAD drawings. The control point must represent, within 3 meters,
the actual location on the facility property.The GPS receiver employed
should be designed for GIS data collection or precise surveying. Critical
receiver collection parameters must be set by the receiver operator
to ensure the collected control point positions are of acceptable
quality and meet DEP requirements. These parameters include position
(or fix) collection mode, PDOP mask, satellite elevation mask, signal
to noise ratio (SNR) mask, and number of sample fixes collected per
point.(a) The position collection mode should be 3D (4 or more GPS
satellites used to determine position) or over-determined 3D (5 or
more satellites). And the GPS unit should be a code based, 6 channel
receiver at a minimum. (b) Satellite geometry conditions should be
such that PDOP is less than or equal to 6 during GPS collection. The
receiver's PDOP mask should be set to 6. (c) The receiver's elevation
mask should be set to 15 degrees.(d) The receiver's signal to noise
ratio mask should be set to six (6).(e) The minimum number of sample
fixes required will depend on the quality of the receiver employed.
Regardless of receiver used, a minimum number of fixes must be collected
so that when differentially corrected (either post processed or in
real time), the final averaged position is accurate to within 3 meters
2drms (with a 95% level of confidence). (f) Additional, more detailed
information regarding GPS use and techniques is in section 7.0 GLOBAL
POSITIONING SYSTEM of "Mapping and Digital Data Standards."
- Establishment of a facility grid coordinate system
The coordinates established using survey or GPS techniques become
the control point, and are included on the facility map to establish
a baseline to determine coordinates for past and future sampling activities.Upon
generation of New Jersey State Plane coordinates for the control point,
it is necessary to register (locate) that point on the facility map.
Note that registering of the control point is aided by being able
to identify the point on the facility map where the survey or GPS
sighting was taken. Accordingly, it is helpful to capture the point
in the field as near as possible to an object identifiable both on
the facility plan as well as on the ground. For example, one way the
create a grid could include use of a hard copy architectural plan
of the facility or CAD drawing. Establish a 2 dimensional, 1 foot
square x-y grid system using the control point coordinates as a basis
for determining additional grid based coordinate points. When preparing
the grid, precisely identify true north on the map to ensure that
future coordinates developed using this method are accurate. Grid
dimensions must be established in NAD83 and in New Jersey State Plane
feet, since it very difficult to establish a grid system using latitude
and longitude coordinates. The Department's primary concern when developing
coordinates for the HAZSITES Database is that spatial distribution
of the coordinates is consistent. Note that it is not necessary to
generate a 1'x 1' grid over the entire site plan, but only around
those points and areas where the sampling activities are occurring.Once
a grid with x and y coordinates has been established, the coordinate
information correlating to the locations of sampling points and well
placement can be used to complete the HAZSITES Database requirement
for position information.
- Locating a control point using orthophotography
Another method for determining point coordinates involves the use of
aerial orthophotography. Statewide 1995 digital imagery will be available
on a county by county basis in the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM),
coordinate system, in NAD83 at a cost of approximately $150.00 to $300.00
per county. The product available will be 1 meter, resolution, JPEG,
color infrared digital orthophoto quarterquads. The imagery is expected
to be available for sale from the USGS, Earth Science Information Center
at 1-800-USA-MAPS in the fall of 1997. This imagery, when available,
can be used to develop coordinates as the base map for identification
of sampling points. Built into the imagery is the UTM coordinate system
that will allow for the establishment of facility field coordinates.
Since the orthophoto coordinates are in UTM the respondent must convert
the point to NAD83 and New Jersey State Plane feet before submission
of the digital record to the DEP in the HAZSITE
Database. Additional guidance regarding suggested methodologies
for this conversion will be provided in subsequent editions of this
guidance.
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Note:
This 1997 edition does not reflect updates for the various
documents referenced in it. If a referenced document has been
updated, its current version is to be used rather than the
older edition.
Some sections with contact information have been modified to reflect organizational and personnel changes in the Department. |
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