Importance of Understanding Vertical Datums

Presented by Dr. Davey Edwards, PhD, PLS, LSLS, CFedS

Director of Boundaries and Geospatial Affairs, Dunaway – Fort Worth, Texas

Vertical datums are used to best depict the surface of the Earth. Datums can be as easy as a local benchmark to using the Earth’s orthometric height as established by measurements from global navigational satellites systems (GNSS) and a gravimetric geoid model. No matter what datum your project decides to use, there are a lot of other factors to consider.

At a glance, this presentation will cover how vertical datums are created, the future of datums, and some important considerations when establishing vertical datums for your project.

Dr. Davey Edwards is the Director of Boundaries and Geospatial Affairs for Dunaway in Fort Worth, Texas. He is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in both Texas and Oklahoma, a Texas Licensed State Land Surveyor, and a U.S. Certified Federal Land Surveyor.

Dr. Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in Geospatial Surveying Engineering from Texas A&M University, and a doctorate in Geosciences from the University of Texas, where his research focused on land administration systems and riparian boundary morphology.

An experienced educator and advocate for professional development, Dr. Edwards teaches continuing education courses and has served as a professor at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, New Mexico State University, Weatherford College, and is now an adjunct professor at Lone Star College – Montgomery. He is also the United States Delegate to the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) Commission 2 on Professional Education, contributing to global collaboration in surveying education.

Dr. Edwards is the Immediate Past President of the National Society of Professional Surveyors and a past president of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. He currently serves as a Survey Emeritus Member of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and advises its Surveying Advisory Committee. He continues to serve on various committees with the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying as a delegate from the Texas Board. His previous leadership includes service on the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying, and as Director of the Texas Spatial Reference Center.

With extensive field experience across Texas and Oklahoma, Dr. Edwards specializes in original land grant surveys, riparian boundary surveys, and boundary issue resolution. His expertise has been sought by state and federal officials, and he frequently provides expert consultation on complex boundary and jurisdictional matters.