Types of Coordinate Systems What Are Map Projections?
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What are map projections? Page 1 of 155 What are map projections? ArcGIS 10 Within ArcGIS, every dataset has a coordinate system, which is used to integrate it with other geographic data layers within a common coordinate framework such as a map. Coordinate systems enable you to integrate datasets within maps as well as to perform various integrated analytical operations such as overlaying data layers from disparate sources and coordinate systems. What is a coordinate system? Coordinate systems enable geographic datasets to use common locations for integration. A coordinate system is a reference system used to represent the locations of geographic features, imagery, and observations such as GPS locations within a common geographic framework. Each coordinate system is defined by: Its measurement framework which is either geographic (in which spherical coordinates are measured from the earth's center) or planimetric (in which the earth's coordinates are projected onto a two-dimensional planar surface). Unit of measurement (typically feet or meters for projected coordinate systems or decimal degrees for latitude–longitude). The definition of the map projection for projected coordinate systems. Other measurement system properties such as a spheroid of reference, a datum, and projection parameters like one or more standard parallels, a central meridian, and possible shifts in the x- and y-directions. Types of coordinate systems There are two common types of coordinate systems used in GIS: A global or spherical coordinate system such as latitude–longitude. These are often referred to file://C:\Documents and Settings\lisac\Local Settings\Temp\~hhB2DA.htm 10/4/2010 What are map projections? Page 2 of 155 as geographic coordinate systems. A projected coordinate system based on a map projection such as transverse Mercator, Albers equal area, or Robinson, all of which (along with numerous other map projection models) provide various mechanisms to project maps of the earth's spherical surface onto a two- dimensional Cartesian coordinate plane. Projected coordinate systems are sometimes referred to as map projections. For a conceptual overview, see Georeferencing and coordinate systems. Coordinate systems (either geographic or projected) provide a framework for defining real-world locations. In ArcGIS, the coordinate system is used as the method to automatically integrate the geographic locations from different datasets into a common coordinate framework for display and analysis. ArcGIS automatically integrates datasets whose coordinate systems are known All geographic datasets used in ArcGIS are assumed to have a well-defined coordinate system that enables them to be located in relation to the earth's surface. If your datasets have a well-defined coordinate system, then ArcGIS can automatically integrate your datasets with others by projecting your data on the fly into the appropriate framework—for mapping, 3D visualization, analysis, and so forth. If your datasets do not have a spatial reference, they cannot be easily integrated. You need to define one before you can use your data effectively in ArcGIS. The spatial reference or coordinate system is metadata. It describes the coordinate framework that the data is already using. Caution: When you define the coordinate system for a dataset using the Define Projection tool or the dataset property page, you are updating the metadata to identify the current coordinate system. The dataset's extent and coordinate values will not change. The dataset must already be using the coordinate system. To change a dataset's coordinate system, including its extent and values, use the Project or Project Raster tools. What is a spatial reference in ArcGIS? A spatial reference in ArcGIS is a series of parameters that define the coordinate system and other spatial properties for each dataset in the geodatabase. It is typical that all datasets for the same area (and in the same geodatabase) use a common spatial reference definition. An ArcGIS spatial reference includes settings for: The coordinate system The coordinate precision with which coordinates are stored (often referred to as the coordinate resolution) Processing tolerances (such as the cluster tolerance) The spatial or map extent covered by the dataset (often referred to as the spatial domain) Learning more about coordinate systems Here is a series of links to help you learn more about applying map projections and coordinate systems in your work. Learning more about map projection and coordinate system concepts file://C:\Documents and Settings\lisac\Local Settings\Temp\~hhB2DA.htm 10/4/2010 What are map projections? Page 3 of 155 Concept Where to go for more information To understand geographic coordinate systems and See What are geographic coordinate latitude–longitude systems? To understand projected coordinate systems See What are projected coordinate systems? To learn which map projections are supported See List of supported map projections To learn about datums See Datums To learn about spheroids and spheres See Spheroids and spheres To choose a map projection See Choosing a map projection To learn about the geodatabase spatial reference. See the Geodatabase Spatial Reference. Map projection and coordinate system tasks Common coordinate system and map projection tasks in ArcGIS Here is a series of links to guidance on how to perform a number of common coordinate system tasks in ArcGIS. Defining the coordinate systems, re-projecting, and transforming datasets Common task Where to go for more information To define the spatial reference for a See An overview of spatial references in the new dataset in the geodatabase geodatabase To record the coordinate system of an See the "Define Projection" tool in An overview of existing dataset the Projections and Transformations toolset To define the coordinate system for See Defining or modifying a raster's coordinate external raster and image files system To project feature, rasters, and image See An overview of the Projections and data layers Transformations toolset To identify an unknown coordinate See Identifying an unknown coordinate system system Coordinate system definition and projection Datum transformation and rubber-sheeting Common task Where to go for more information To learn transformation concepts See Geographic transformation methods To transform and rubber-sheet See Performing spatial adjustment data layers To georeference unregistered See Changing the geographic coordinates of a raster raster data dataset: georeferencing To georeference unregistered See Georeferencing a CAD dataset CAD data Data transformation tasks Working with Vertical Coordinate Systems Common task Where to go for more information To learn vertical coordinate system concepts See What are vertical coordinate systems? file://C:\Documents and Settings\lisac\Local Settings\Temp\~hhB2DA.htm 10/4/2010 What are map projections? Page 4 of 155 To define a vertical coordinate system for a See Defining_feature_class_properties feature class Working with vertical coordinate systems What existing coordinate systems and transformations are available? Object type Where to go for more information Geographic or vertical coordinate systems See geographic_coordinate_systems.pdf Projected coordinate systems See projected_coordinate_systems.pdf Geographic (datum) transformations See geographic_transformations.pdf What existing coordinate systems and transformations are available? Related Topics About map projections Geographic transformation methods What are geographic coordinate systems? What are projected coordinate systems? Copyright © 1995-2010 ESRI, Inc. All rights reserved. Projection basics for GIS professionals Coordinate systems, also known as map projections, are arbitrary designations for spatial data. Their purpose is to provide a common basis for communication about a particular place or area on the earth's surface. The most critical issue in dealing with coordinate systems is knowing what the projection is and having the correct coordinate system information associated with a dataset. There are two types of coordinate systems—geographic and projected. A geographic coordinate system uses a three-dimensional spherical surface to define locations on the earth. It includes an angular unit of measure, a prime meridian, and a datum (based on a spheroid). In a geographic coordinate system, a point is referenced by its longitude and latitude values. Longitude and latitude are angles measured from the earth's center to a point on the earth's surface. The angles often are measured in degrees (or in grads). Learn more about geographic coordinate systems. A projected coordinate system is defined on a flat, two-dimensional surface. Unlike a geographic coordinate system, a projected coordinate system has constant lengths, angles, and areas across the two dimensions. A projected coordinate system is always based on a geographic coordinate system that is based on a sphere or spheroid. In a projected coordinate system, locations are identified by x,y coordinates on a grid, with the origin at the center of the grid. Each position has two values that reference it to that central location. One specifies its horizontal position and the other its vertical position. Learn more about projected coordinate systems. When the first map projections were devised, it was assumed, incorrectly, that the earth was flat. Later the assumption was revised, and the earth was assumed to be a perfect sphere. In the 18th century, people began to realize