Frequently asked questions about the local geodetic network

Are there special requirements (qualifications) for the person responsible for the local network of the municipality? If so, which ones?

The recommendation of the Geospatial Information Agency of Latvia - the person responsible for the local geodetic network should meet the qualifications specified in the third part of Article 10 of the Geospatial Information Law, that is, with an education in geodesy or land surveying and practical work experience in geodesy (preferably in creating geodetic networks).

For the successful performance of tasks related to the local geodetic network, in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations of July 24, 2012 No. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network" (hereinafter - the Regulations), the responsible person must be able to solve the following issues:

• accumulate and update local geodetic network information in the Local Geodetic Network database (VTDB);
• prepare the documentation of the description of the improvement of the local geodetic network and the review of the improvement of the local network, but if it is done by a certified company, control the prepared documents;
• monitor the local geodetic network, incl. coordinate construction and street and road reconstruction works in the protection zone of the local geodetic network point;
• manage the identification and evaluation of the local geodetic network in accordance with the Regulations;
• assess the availability of points, if this is done by a certified person, control the prepared documents;
• to issue information and data about local geodetic network points to territory planners, surveyors and other persons;
• other issues related to the local geodetic network should be addressed.

How does the municipality determine the person responsible for the local network?

How the municipality determines the person responsible for the local geodetic network is up to the municipality. There are also no requirements that a separate municipal position must be established for the performance of tasks related to the local geodetic network (for example, the relevant tasks may be assigned to any municipal official or delegated to a legal entity that nominates the responsible person accordingly), while observing that this person will perform tasks and will be responsible for coordinating matters related to local networks and will also be authorized as a natural person to enter data into the Local Geodetic Network database (will receive a username and password to work with VTDB).

The Geospatial Information Agency of Latvia, providing methodological support for local geodetic network issues, will further contact and resolve the necessary issues with the specific person responsible for the local geodetic network.

How can you get all possible information about the points of the local geodetic network in the territory of the county?

In order to receive the information held by the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency about the points of the local geodetic network in the territory of a specific county, a request letter must be sent to the LGIA. LGIA employees will prepare all electronic data at its disposal, including those received from the State Land Service in 2005. It is basically data about polygonometry and leveling points. In addition, a list of the documentation in the Archive and Material Circulation Fund of the LGIA will be prepared - the inventory of the catalogs of geodetic works performed during the Soviet era. The data recorded on the disc is sent by post to the local government together with the transfer - acceptance act, one copy of which must be sent back to the LGIA after signing.

Since September 2012, LGIA also issues scanned materials of historical catalogs. In order to get acquainted with the catalogs in person, it is necessary to contact the LGIA Archive and Materials Circulation Fund in advance.

In addition to obtaining information, it is necessary to identify surveyors practicing in the territory of the county.

Does the Geospatial Information Agency of Latvia provide data on the local geodetic network for a fee?

The data held by the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency are issued free of charge upon request of local governments.

What to do if there are not enough points of the national geodetic network in the territory of the county to connect to the local network?

The coverage of the global positioning network and the system of permanent global positioning base stations "Latvijas Pozicionėnas sistema" (LatPos) is uniform throughout the territory of Latvia and ensures the regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of July 24, 2012 No. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network" (hereinafter - the Regulations) fulfillment of the requirement of paragraph 21, that is, the connection of the local geodetic network to at least three points of the national network. Connection points can also be located outside the county or city territory.

According to point 22 of this Regulation, the existing leveling points of the State Geodetic Network, as well as the leveling points marked in the catalogs issued before 1991 as leveling points belonging to the 1st and 2nd classes, must also be used for measuring heights. The regulations do not set a requirement for their number.

Therefore, we think that situations with an insufficient number of points of the national geodetic network for local network attachment should not arise. If such a problem were to be seen in any region, this specific situation should be considered together with its technical details.
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How is the compliance of the local geodetic network with the accuracy requirements evaluated?

The points of the local geodetic network in Latvia were established and measured in most cases between 1930 and 1990. with the methods and technical possibilities of the time. When transforming these points to LKS-92 TM, their coordinate accuracy remained the same. The data of the local geodetic network obtained with the technologies of the last century do not provide the accuracy corresponding to modern technologies, therefore situations arise in surveying works when they confront global positioning data. The incompatibility of surveying data creates the need to improve the accuracy of local geodetic network data.

The evaluation of points of the local geodetic network is mainly carried out by studying the existing information - reports of network creation, reports and other documents. Compliance with the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of July 24, 2012 No. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network" the accuracy requirements of paragraph 4 can be proven by relevant work reports or technical reports for local geodetic network data obtained after 1992. The accuracy of the data obtained with earlier measurements is lower than required by the regulations. Control measurements in nature could be useful only in certain cases when the available information does not provide a convincing assessment. In other cases, accurate measurements are carried out as part of the improvement of the local network.

What should start the work of arranging the local geodetic network?

The work of arranging the local geodetic network must begin with the identification and evaluation of the existing situation. This means that it is necessary to collect as much as possible information about the geodetic points located in the administrative territory of the municipality. The Geospatial Information Agency of Latvia (hereinafter - the Agency) provides all information available to it free of charge, if the municipality sends a request letter to the agency. Valuable information about geodetic points can also be provided by geodesists, surveyors and surveying companies working in the specific territory. Next, a survey of the points should be carried out in order to find out the real situation - whether the points have been preserved, how many, where, whether they can be used in the future and how to use them.

The evaluation of points of the local geodetic network is mainly carried out by studying the existing information - reports of network creation, reports and other documents. Compliance with the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of July 24, 2012 No. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), the accuracy requirements of paragraph 4 can be proven with relevant work reports or technical reports for the data of the local geodetic network obtained after 1992. The accuracy of the data obtained with earlier measurements is lower than required by the regulations. Control measurements in nature could be useful only in certain cases when the available information does not provide a convincing assessment. In other cases, accurate measurements are carried out as part of the improvement of the local network. The first survey and evaluation of local network points, as determined by the Regulations, must be carried out by December 13, 2012 (Article 64 of the Regulations). All survey materials should be compiled into a survey report, which will then be used for further actions.

Based on the results of the survey and evaluation, the municipality makes a decision on further action in the maintenance of the local geodetic network, i.e. by determining the territory where it is necessary to improve the local geodetic network, and by determining the territory where the local geodetic network meets the accuracy requirements of the Regulations and is usable for surveying works.

What responsibilities will the person responsible for the local geodetic network have to perform?

The person responsible for the local area network will need to be able to perform the following duties:

• accumulate and update local geodetic network information in the Local Geodetic Network database (VTDB);
• prepare the documentation of the description of the improvement of the local geodetic network and the report of the improvement of the local network, but if it is done by a certified person, control the prepared documents;
• monitor the local geodetic network, incl. coordinate construction and street and road reconstruction works in the protection zone of the local geodetic network point;
• lead the identification and evaluation of the local geodetic network in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations of July 24, 2012 no. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network";
• assess the sufficiency of the points, if it is done by a certified person, then control the prepared documents;
• to issue information and data about local geodetic network points to territory planners, surveyors and other persons;
• other issues related to the local geodetic network should be addressed.

What do I need to do to access the Local Geodetic Network database?

Access to the Local Geodetic Network Database (VTDB) requires a username and password. This can be done by sending a written request to pasts@lgia.gov.lv  using the forms available on the website. For the purposes of access to the database, the user details are transferred to the municipality in a sealed envelope. The LGIA user details are activated after receiving the e-mail information that the LGIA details have been received by the database user specified by the municipality. The website provides information on the terms of use of the database. In case of uncertainty, when working with VTDB, you may contact the Database Administrator, Natālija Piļenoka (email: Natalija.Pilenoka@lgia.gov.lv , phone: 25691505) or Aigars Keiselis (email: Aigars.Keiselis@lgia.gov.lv , phone: 29120393).

Is it possible to get advice on improving the local geodetic network?

Yes. If necessary, the specialists of the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency are ready to provide methodological guidance and support to the person designated by the municipality for the local geodetic network. The contact points for the local geodetic network are:

    Ivars Liepiņš, Director of the Department of Geodesy (e-mail: Ivars.Liepins@lgia.gov.lv , phone: 26165678) is the contact person for the development of the local geodetic network and the updating of geodetic data;
    Aigars keiselis, Head of the Geodetic Data Control Division at the Department of Geodesy (e-mail: Aigars.Keiselis@lgia.gov.lv , phone: 29120393) is the contact person for geodetic information circulation and for the Local Geodetic Network Database.

Will the municipality have to pay for the use of the Local Geodetic Network database?

No. The local geodetic network database (VTDB) is free, and municipalities do not have to pay for the methodological instructions and consultations provided by the specialists of the Latvian Geospatial Information Agency.

Can local geodetic point signs be purchased at the Geospatial Information Agency of Latvia?

No. Wall and hard surface signs can be purchased from geodetic instrument distributors - in specialized stores. Primer marks should be ordered from companies engaged in the manufacture of similar equipment. The drawings of the dot marks are given in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation of July 24, 2012 No. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network". in Appendix 4.

Should the points of the local geodetic network be represented in the area plans?

Yes. All geodetic points have protective zones defined in the Protection Zones Law, so they must be depicted in the territory plan, local plan, and detailed plan. Information about the points of the local network should be obtained by planners from the employee responsible for the local geodetic network in the municipality. Plans must be accompanied by lists of geodetic points. If the scale of the graphic part of the plan allows, the points are also shown graphically on the map or plan and their protective zones are marked. The person responsible for the local network should monitor the representation of the points of the local geodetic network on the plans. If there are no points of the local geodetic network in the territory of the local plan or detailed plan, a statement from the municipality about this must be attached to the plan.

What if it is known that construction will destroy a local geodetic point?

In its binding regulations, the municipality must determine that all construction works must be coordinated with the employee responsible for the local network of the municipality, who will inform the construction workers about the need to move the local network point to another place and the procedure on how it can be done.

Who covers the costs associated with moving a local geodetic point?

The costs are covered by the person who ordered or performed the works.

How to ensure protection of local geodetic network points?

The prerequisites for ensuring the protection of the local geodetic point are their representation in the territory plan (textual and/or graphic part), informing the real estate owners of the need to preserve the points of the local network, the direct involvement of the responsible person in the coordination of construction works, receiving information about the points from surveyors and repeated surveying of the points less than once every four years.

Who can survey, evaluate and improve the local network?

In the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of July 24, 2012 no. 497 "Regulations of the local geodetic network" is defined, who can carry out survey, evaluation and development.

The survey report can be drawn up by employees of municipal institutions (in cooperation with the person responsible for the local network), if the qualifications of the relevant employees correspond to the professional standard included in the profession classification for performing geodetic activities or certified persons in this field. Other persons may also be invited to survey the geodetic points in the area, who conduct the survey under the guidance of the person responsible for the local network.

The evaluation can be carried out by employees of municipal institutions, if the qualifications of the respective employees are in line with the professional standard for performing geodetic activities included in the profession classification or certified persons in this field.

The preparation of the improvement description documentation, measurement and report preparation can be carried out by employees of municipal institutions (in cooperation with the person responsible for the local network), if the qualifications of the relevant employees are in line with the professional standard included in the profession classification for performing geodetic activities or certified persons in this field, activities and documents in coordination with for the employee responsible for the local network.