GIS Field Software: Incorrect Vertical Coordinates

See the Support Note for TerraSync 5.2x and up, GPS Pathfinder® Field toolkit versions 1.0 to 1.30 and GPS Pathfinder Office 5.2x and up.

See this Trimble MGIS Support Note per a fix for the DMA10.ggf “Geoid DMA 10×10 (Global)”:   GIS Field Software: Incorrect Vertical Coordinates

Or go to the Trimble GPS Pathfinder Office Support home page. Click on “Support Notes/v5.x Support Notes/Coordinate System Issues.  Scroll down about 1/4 of the way till you see:  “GIS Field Software: Incorrect Vertical Coordinates”.

The Support Note reads as follows:

GIS Field Software: Incorrect Vertical Coordinates:

Recent versions of Trimble GIS software are able to use geoid models interpolated with either WGS-84 (global) or a local ellipsoid. Using the incorrect interpolation can result in significantly different vertical coordinates.
In addition, the default DMA10.ggf file in the recent versions of GIS software is unable to be adjusted in the interpolation method due to a corrupt byte.

Problem:

If the DMA10.ggf file is used, vertical coordinates may be incorrectly interpolated. The DMA10.ggf file that is used in recent Trimble GIS software versions is interpreted as a local ellipsoid rather than WGS-84. This can result in large vertical coordinate differences from previous versions of software.
The DMA10.ggf file included with the software is also unable to be adjusted in the Geoid Model Configuration Utility due to a corrupt byte.
The following software is affected:
• TerraSync™ software versions 5.20 to 5.41
• GPS Pathfinder® Field toolkit versions 1.0 to 1.30
• GPS Pathfinder Office software versions 5.20 to 5.40

Solution:
Download the latest version of the DMA10.ggf and set the interpolation method to WGS-84 (Global). Then copy and paste the updated DMA10.ggf file to your handheld device and, for GPS Pathfinder Office and TerraSync desktop installations, to your desktop computer.
1. Download the latest version of the DMA10.ggf file here: DMA10.ggf file
2. Open the DMA10.ggf file in the Geoid Model Configuration Utility available here: Geoid Model Configuration Utility
3. Set the interpolation method as desired.
4. Save the DMA10.ggf file:

  • To your Windows Mobile handheld device in:  Program FilesCommon FilesTrimbleGeoData.
  • To the desktop computer: * For Windows® 7, in C:Program Files (x86)Common FilesTrimbleGeoData.

* For Windows XP, in C:Program FilesCommon FilesTrimbleGeoData.

Even if you are only using Geoid09 or 12A in North America it’s still a good idea to keep your other Geoid options all up to date.

**Stay tuned for a future blog post about Geoid09 and Geoid 12A.