Global Datum Shift Magnitude Table

Interactive table detailing the physical offset in meters when transforming between legacy national datums and global WGS84/ITRF standards.

CountryTag Source Datum Target Datum Approximate Shift Severity & Industry Impact Recommended Tool
USA NAD27 (USA) NAD83(2011) 10 - 100+ meters Catastrophic (Oil & Gas)
Subsurface trespass limit
NADCON 5
USA NAD83(1986) / (2011) WGS84 (ITRF) 1.0 - 2.0 meters High Risk (Construction)
Boundary scale & stakeout error
HTDP / NADCON5
USA NGVD 29 NAVD 88 (Vertical) -0.5 to +1.5 meters High Risk (FEMA/Flood)
Flood insurance compliance failure
VERTCON 3.0
UK OSGB36 (UK) WGS84 100 - 120 meters Catastrophic (Utility/Civil)
Underground asset mislocation
OSTN15 Grid
Australia GDA94 (Australia) GDA2020 1.8 meters High Risk (Precision Ag)
Autonomous path deviation
GDA NTv2 Grid
Japan Tokyo Datum JGD2011 400+ meters Massive Offset (Real Estate)
Total legal boundary loss
GSI jgdtrans / EPSG:6714
Germany DHDN (Germany) ETRS89 100 - 150 meters Catastrophic (Telecom)
Fiber network misalignment
BETA2007 NTv2 Grid
Canada NAD83(CSRS) Canada WGS84 ~1.5 meters High Risk (Forestry/Mining)
Lease boundary operational trespass
NTV2_0.gsb
New Zealand NZGD49 NZGD2000 200 meters Catastrophic (Cadastral)
Subdivision plot offset
LINZ transformation grid
Europe ED50 (Europe) WGS84 100 - 150 meters Catastrophic (Offshore)
Platform positioning & rig spacing error
Country-specific NTv2
South America SAD69 (South America) SIRGAS2000 60 - 70 meters Catastrophic (Mapping)
Topographic scale distortion
ProGriD
Europe Amersfoort (NL) ETRS89 100 - 120 meters Catastrophic (Waterways)
Dike/flood defense risk limits
RDNAPTRANS
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Professional Risk Notice

Using the wrong datum or applying coordinates without grid-to-ground correction can cause 1–400 metre positional errors — a leading cause of surveying negligence claims and contract disputes.

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