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Introduction to Coordinate Systems and Projections. Rob Juergens, Annette Locke. Introduction. We want to give you a basic understanding of Coordinate systems Projecting data Transforming data. Coordinate Systems. Geographic (GCS) Projected (PCS). What is a coordinate system?.
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Introduction to Coordinate Systems and Projections Rob Juergens, Annette Locke
Introduction • We want to give you a basic understanding of • Coordinate systems • Projecting data • Transforming data
Coordinate Systems Geographic (GCS) Projected (PCS)
What is a coordinate system? A way of describing points to answer questions about distance, location, and direction
Distance • Q: How far is Redlands? • A: 32 million 32 million what? Seems like a lot. • 32 million feet from Beijing. What were you expecting? • Miles from where I am right now. • A coordinate system defines what is expected
Location • Q: Where is San Diego? • A: (-116.53, 33.82), no wait, it is (-12973635.720, 4006201.638) What do these numbers mean? • (-116.53, 33.82) are longitude and latitude in decimal degrees • (-12973635.720, 4006201.638) are xy-coordinates in meters • How am I supposed to know that? • A coordinate system defines what these numbers mean
Direction • Q: I am looking at a map and want to place a marker at the North Pole. Where do I put it? • A: At the top of the map. Hmm, or at the center. Or … hang on, it’s impossible. The North Pole isn’t on the map! • A coordinate system defines where a particular location is on the map or specifies that it isn’t on the map at all
Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) • Global – 3D spherical surface • Point referenced by longitude and latitude values
Projected Coordinate System (PCS) • Flat – 2D surface based on a GCS • Point referenced by x, y coordinates on a grid Y X < 0 Y > 0 X > 0 Y > 0 (0,0) X X < 0 Y < 0 X > 0 Y < 0
Coordinate System Projected Coordinate System Geographic Coordinate System Projection Linear Unit Prime Meridian Datum Projection Parameters Spheroid Angular Unit
Two ways to specify a coordinate system • Well-known ID (WKID) • Predefined coordinate systems only • Well-known text (WKT) • Predefined or custom
Well-Known ID (WKID) • Every predefined coordinate system has a WKID • For example, GCS_WGS_1984, WKID = 4326 • WKID < 32767 is EPSG assigned • EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset, http://www.epsg-registry.org/ • WKID > 32767 is Esri assigned • Esri WKID may change • Esri EPSG • Old WKID will still work • Example, Web Mercator 102100 3857
Geographic Coordinate SystemWell-Known Text (WKT) GEOGCS[ "GCS_WGS_1984", DATUM[ "D_WGS_1984", SPHEROID[ "WGS_1984", 6378137.0, 298.257223563] ], PRIMEM[ "Greenwich", 0.0], UNIT[ "Degree", 0.0174532925199433] ]
Projected Coordinate SystemWell-Known Text (WKT) PROJCS[ “World_Mercator", GEOGCS[ "GCS_WGS_1984", DATUM[ "D_WGS_1984", SPHEROID[ "WGS_1984", 6378137.0, 298.257223563] ], PRIMEM[ "Greenwich", 0.0], UNIT[ "Degree", 0.0174532925199433] ], PROJECTION[ "Mercator " ], PARAMETER[ "Central_Meridian", 0.0], PARAMETER[ "Standard_Parallel_1", 0.0], PARAMETER[ "False_Easting", 0.0], PARAMETER[ "False_Northing", 0.0], UNIT[ “Meter", 1.0] ]
SADD = Shape Area Direction Distance • Web Mercator distorts area and distance • Which is bigger? • Greenland • South America • Antarctica • South America is 17 million sq km • Antarctica is 14 million sq km • Greenland is 2 million sq km
Preserve Shape and Direction Stereographic
Preserve Area Albers Equal Area Conic
Preserve Direction Gnomonic
Preserve Direction and Distance Azimuthal Equidistant
What is happening when we project data? Case 1: Both PCSs contain the same GCS PCS A1 PCS A2 (x, y) Projection Projection GCS A (lon, lat) (λ, φ)
What is happening when we project data? Case 2: Each PCS contains a different GCS PCS A1 PCS B1 (x, y) Projection Projection (lon, lat) GCS A GCS B (λ, φ) Geographic Transformation Or Datum Transformation
Why do we need to transform our data? European Datum 1950 vs. World Geodetic System 1984
Changing datums My data Earth’s surface Earth-centered datum (WGS 84) Local datum (NAD 27)
Geographic (Datum) Transformation • Converts one GCS to another GCS • Defined in a particular direction • For example, NAD27 to WGS84 • All are reversible • Suitable for a particular area • May be more than one applicable GT
33 transformations between NAD 27 and WGS 84 Which is best? Depends on the region covered by your data
Now you understand … • Coordinate Systems • Projecting your data • Transforming your data
Buffers Demo
That’s all folks!Don’t forget to fill out the surveyIntroduction to Coordinate Systems and Projections
Resources • http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help • Desktop → Guide Books → Map projections • Developer Help • List of ArcGIS APIs • Lining Up Data in ArcGIS, Margaret Maher • ESRI Technical paper: Understanding Coordinate Management in the Geodatabase • ESRI Technical paper: Understanding Geometric Processing in ArcGIS