NAD83(2011) epoch 2010.0 vs WGS84(G1762) Offset

Technical Summary: Highly technical analysis of the 1 to 2 meter datum shift between the current US standard survey datum and the global satellite navigation datum.
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.

See Legal Cases ($25K—10M) Contract Datum Risk Calculate My Exposure

While early versions of NAD83 and WGS84 (in 1986/1987) were virtually identical, they have diverged significantly. The North American Plate moves relative to the global reference frame. Because NAD83 is 'plate-fixed', coordinates on the ground remain relatively stable over time. WGS84, being a dynamic global frame, moves with the earth's general rotation and plate mechanics.

The Current realization: G1762

If you take a raw RTK GPS shot today (which resolves natively to WGS84 or an ITRF equivalent) and plot it natively in a CAD system expecting NAD83(2011), the point will be shifted roughly 1-2 meters. Official NGS transformation tools must be used to execute a 14-parameter Helmert transformation to shift the time-dependent WGS84 coordinates into the fixed NAD83 frame.

Frequently Asked Technical Questions

Are WGS84 and NAD83 the same?

No. While they were functionally equivalent in 1986, tectonic drift has caused them to separate by 1 to 2 meters in the continental US today. They must be mathematically transformed for engineering work.

重要:計算結果の正確性を確認してください

座標精度はデバイスや測地系によって異なります。以下の確認を行わずに実務で使用しないでください:

GPS精度の警告

スマホのGPSは最大30メートルずれることがあります。これが原因でデータに重大なエラーが発生します。

精度を今すぐチェック →

測地系のリスク

誤った測地系(例:WGS84と日本測地系)を使用すると、常に数百メートルのズレが生じます。

測地系を確認する →