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NTv2 means "National Transformation Version 2" and describes a method for the transfer of georeferenced data from one Reference System to another. Originally developed in Canada, it has grown to a worldwide standard. Many countries use NTv2 files to homogeneously transform country-specific geotopographic data into new, continent-wide Reference Systems.
The advantage of the NTv2 method is that it is available as a standard method in many geodetic transformation programs and GIS. Furthermore, there are some RunTime-Libraries, which support an implementation in own software. Examples are the program TRANSDATpro for worldwide coordinate transformations and the Geodetic Development Kit GeoDLL by KilletSoft.
The NTv2 concept is based on a regular grid of geographic coordinates for which shift values are stored as the difference between two Reference Systems. For a coordinate transformation between the Reference Systems, the grid mesh first is determined, in which a point to be transformed lies. The point lying inside the grid mesh is interpolated from the shift values of the four grid points in the corners of this mesh. The interpolated shift values of the longitude and latitude are then added to the coordinate of the Source Reference System to obtain an equivalent coordinate in the Target Reference System. The use of an NTv2 grid file with suitable software offers the advantage that the coordinate transformation can be done quickly and, depending on the mesh size, very accurately.
So much about using already existing NTv2 files. But how is an NTv2 file created from a cloud of irregularly distributed geodetic points in a base point field? First of all, all points of the base point field must be available as so-called identical points, which have been precisely measured and calculated in two different reference systems. From the identical points, the shift values of the grid points for a defined working area are elaborately calculated in a one-time process and stored in an NTv2 file. Since modelling an NTv2 file is a very time-consuming process, a lot of time must be expected depending on the size of the working area, the number of identical points in the base point field and the fineness of the grid meshes.
As results the program NTv2Creator creates two variants of NTv2 files. One variant is a file in readable ASCII format, which has the file name suffix "gsa". The other variant is a binary NTv2 file with the file name suffix "gsb", which can be processed very quickly by coordinate transformation software and a GIS.
In order to create an NTv2 file, first of all some characteristics concerning the extension of the grid, the mesh size, the ellipsoids of the source and target reference systems and some designations for the reference systems and for the grid have to be defined. The program NTv2Creator writes this data in a file header and in a grid header of the NTv2 file. In the ASCII variant, you can see this clearly in plain text. The shift values of the grid points and quality characteristics are entered behind the headers. There are four decimal numbers for each grid point. These are the shift values for the latitude and longitude of the grid point and the quality characteristics for the latitude and longitude of all grid points.
At the beginning of the processing, the coordinates of the identical points are tested for outliers and deviations using statistical methods. Then all grid points are calculated. To calculate a grid point, the program NTv2Creator collects all identical points from the point files of the source reference system and the target reference system, which lie in a certain radius around the grid point. With these points a small spatial three-dimensional 7 parameter Helmert transformation is performed. During the subsequent coordinate transformation of the grid point of the source reference system, the Helmert parameters determine the coordinate of the same grid point in the target reference system. To increase the accuracy the Natural Neighbour interpolation is used for the distribution of the residual gaps. The difference between the coordinates of the grid point in both reference systems is entered as a shift value in the NTv2 file. The calculated shift values include the compensation of regional and local tensions and they consider the different dimensions and bearings of the ellipsoids used in both reference systems.
The quality feature of the grid point results from the weighted distance of the identical points that have been collected to determine the 7 parameters of the Helmert transformation. The quality feature varies from 1.0 for the highest quality and goes close to zero for lower qualities.
The program NTv2Creator provides three different mathematical models for the creation of NTv2 files:
An NTv2 file always contains a "rectangular" grid with defined boundaries. The three mathematical models differ only in the handling of so-called fault points. Fault points are defined as grid point that lie inside the rectangle but outside the actual working area, which is usually represented in a polygonal structure. Furthermore, fault points occur when the identical points found around a grid point are too inhomogeneous to realize a small-spatial Helmert transformation.
The model "Grid-wide transformation" replaces fault points with coordinates that have been transformed using previously determined grid-wide Helmert parameters.
The model "Polygonal Validity Scopes" marks fault points with so-called "exopolygonal values" in the quality feature as invalid. Polygonal Validity Scopes are supported by all geodetic programs and development tools of KilletSoft. So e.g. the program TRANSDATpro issues a warning, if it is tried to transform a coordinate outside of the Polygonal Validity Scoope.
The model "Forced grid point values" forces the calculation of fault points even from far away identical points. If calculations fail, the program replaces the fault points with valid neighboring grid points.
The newly created NTv2 binary file is verified by cross-calculation and the result is stored in a cluster field. Bad matching identical points are determined and suggested for rectification. Such so-called outliers can also be excluded from the calculation by a program setting.
The program NTv2Creator is equipped with an up-to-date graphic user surface which handling can be understood intuitively. For each window detailed help texts can be shown. The country dependent layout of the user surface can be chosed from different languages.
The program NTv2Creator is equipped with a modern graphical user interface of which handling is to understand intuitively.
For each window detailed help texts can be shown.
The detailed electronic documentation of the program NTv2Creator is available in both English and German language.
However, the user interface can be represented in many languages.
For this purpose, external language files are used.
When starting the program, it notes which language files are available in the calling directory.
The found languages then are provided for selection in a list box.
By creating new language files, new languages can be added by users to the program NTv2Creator at any time.
The program NTv2Creator can be run on most common networks. The client installations works automatically. It is possible to use Terminal Services on WINDOWS Servers like e.g. "Citrix Terminal Server".
Pricing and ordering information can be found in the Price list.
For available licensing options have a look to the License page.
Order the program with the electronic Order Form.
The free test version of the program with a detailed user manual can be downloaded as ZIP packed file by the Internet.
Managing Director Fred Killet explains why you should never use an illegal version of our geodetic program NTv2Creator.
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new languages can be added at any time by creating new language files.
Everybody who is interested can translate a new language file into his native language for himself and all users.
