NGA Issues Advisory Notice on Web Mercator for Mission-Critical Operations
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has issued an advisory notice on the use of Web Mercator for mission-critical operations.
The notice outlines application risks to operations and adherence to Department of Defense World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84).
“This message outlines the risks associated with the use of Web Mercator applications for DoD and GEOINT user community operations. The NGA Geomatics Office has assessed the use of Web Mercator and other non-WGS 84 spatial reference systems may cause geo-location / geo-coordinate errors up to 40,000 meters. This erroneous geospatial positioning information poses an unacceptable risk to global safety of navigation activities, and Department of Defense, intelligence community, and allied partner systems, missions, and operations that require accurate and precise positioning and navigation information. The NGA Geomatics Office reminds the community to use DoD approved World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) applications for all mission critical activities.”
Many popular commercial visualization, mapping and mobile web device applications use a Web Mercator spherical earth reference. “These applications are not an equal alternative to DoD WGS 84, as they do not provide the same geo-coordinates or geo-location accuracies,” the advisory states.
About the Author: Tracy Cozzens
Senior Editor Tracy Cozzens joined GPS World magazine in 2006. She also is editor of GPS World’s newsletters and the sister website Geospatial Solutions. She has worked in government, for non-profits, and in corporate communications, editing a variety of publications for audiences ranging from federal government contractors to teachers.
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This advisory is intended for the novice Warfighter and not the expert. Using such civilian applications is the “perfect storm” that can result in “Friendly Fire” accidents. The Geodesy and Geophysics Professionals at NGA are the ONLY people qualified to offer practical advice to the Warfighter, and ONLY their geospatial products have been properly vetted to keep our military alive.
GoogleEarth is a wonderful free product as long as your life doesn’t depend on it.