NAMRIA through its __________ establish and maintain a national geodetic control network to serve as common reference for all surveying and mapping activities in the country.

• A. Hydrography Branch
• B. Geospatial Information System Management Branch
• C. Resource Mapping and Analysis Branch
• D. Mapping and Geodesy Branch

Answer: (D)

Establishing and maintaining a national geodetic control network hinges on geodetic science—designing a national reference frame, coordinating precise point measurements, linking local surveys to a stable system, and maintaining the network over time. NAMRIA, as the country’s mapping authority, assigns this to the Mapping and Geodesy Branch, which specializes in map production and the geodetic infrastructure that underpins all surveying and mapping. That branch’s work ensures a single, consistent reference frame that all surveys can align to, enabling accurate transformations between local and national coordinates and ensuring maps from different sources are compatible. The hydrography branch focuses on ocean-related surveying and charts, not the nationwide control network. The GIS Management Branch handles data systems and software, not the field network establishment. The Resource Mapping and Analysis Branch concentrates on applying maps to study resources, not on maintaining the geodetic reference framework. Therefore, the Mapping and Geodesy Branch is the one responsible for establishing and maintaining the national geodetic control network.