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 Global Positioning System (GPS) locations, within a
common geographic framework.

Each coordinate system is defined by the following:

 Its measurement framework (structure), 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)
 Units 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, one or
more standard parallels, a central meridian, and possible shifts in the x- and y-directions

Several hundred geographic coordinate systems and a few thousand projected coordinate systems
are available for use. In addition, you can define a custom coordinate system.

Types of coordinate systems

The following are two common types of coordinate systems used in a geographic information
system (GIS):

 A global or spherical coordinate system such as latitude-longitude. These are often

referred to as geographic coordinate systems.
 A projected coordinate system provides various mechanisms to project maps of the
earth's spherical surface onto a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate plane. Projected
coordinate systems are referred to as map projections.

Coordinate systems (both geographic and projected) provide a framework for defining real-world
locations.

What is a spatial reference?

A spatial reference 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.

A spatial reference includes the following:

  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 extent covered by the dataset (often referred to as the spatial domain)

Geographic coordinate systems

A geographic coordinate system (GCS) uses a three-dimensional spherical surface to define
locations on the earth. A GCS includes an angular unit of measure, a prime meridian (peak), and
a datum (based on a spheroid). The spheroid defines the size and shape of the earth model, while
the datum connects the spheroid to the earth's surface.

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). The following illustration shows the world as a globe with longitude and
latitude values:

In the spherical system, horizontal lines, or east–west lines, are lines of equal latitude, or
parallels. Vertical lines, or north–south lines, are lines of equal longitude, or meridians. These
lines encompass the globe and form a gridded network called a graticule.

The line of latitude midway between the poles is called the equator. It defines the line of zero
latitude. The line of zero longitude is called the prime meridian. For most GCSs, the prime
meridian is the longitude that passes through Greenwich, England. The origin of the graticule
(0,0) is defined by where the equator and prime meridian intersect.

Latitude and longitude values are traditionally measured either in decimal degrees or in degrees,
minutes, and seconds (DMS). Latitude values are measured relative to the equator and range
from –90° at the south pole to +90° at the north pole. Longitude values are measured relative to
the prime meridian. They range from –180° when traveling west to 180° when traveling east. If
the prime meridian is at Greenwich, then Australia, which is south of the equator and east of
Greenwich, has positive longitude values and negative latitude values.
It may be helpful to equate longitude values with x and latitude values with y. Data defined on a
geographic coordinate system is displayed as if a degree is a linear unit of measure. This method
is basically the same as the Plate Carrée projection. A physical location will usually have
different coordinate values in different geographic coordinate systems.

Geographic (datum) transformations

If two datasets are not referenced to the same geographic coordinate system, you may need to
perform a geographic (datum) transformation. This is a well-defined mathematical method to
convert coordinates between two geographic coordinate systems. As with the coordinate
systems, there are several hundred predefined geographic transformations that you can access. It
is very important to correctly use a geographic transformation if it is required. When neglected,
coordinates can be in the wrong location by up to a few hundred meters. Sometimes no
transformation exists, or you have to use a third GCS like the World Geodetic System 1984
(WGS84) and combine two transformations.

Projected coordinate systems

A projected coordinate system (PCS) is defined on a flat, two-dimensional surface. Unlike a
GCS, a PCS has constant lengths, angles, and areas across the two dimensions. A PCS is always
based on a GCS that is based on a sphere or spheroid. In addition to the GCS, a PCS includes a
map projection, a set of projection parameters that customize the map projection for a particular
location, and a linear unit of measure.

Map projections
Whether the earth viewed as a sphere or a spheroid, it must transform its three-dimensional
surface to create a flat map sheet. This mathematical transformation is commonly referred to as a
map projection. One easy way to understand how map projections alter spatial properties is to
visualize shining a light through the earth onto a surface, called the projection surface. Imagine
the earth's surface is clear with the graticule (network of lines representing meridians on which a
map can be reprensented) drawn on it. Wrap a piece of paper around the earth. A light at the
center of the earth will cast the shadows of the graticule onto the piece of paper. You can now
unwrap the paper and lay it flat. The shape of the graticule on the flat paper is different from that
on the earth. The map projection has distorted the graticule.

A spheroid cannot be flattened to a plane any more easily than a piece of orange peel can be
flattened—it will tear. Representing the earth's surface in two dimensions causes distortion in the
shape, area, distance, or direction of the data.

A map projection uses mathematical formulas to relate spherical coordinates on the globe to flat,
planar coordinates.

Different projections cause different types of distortions. Some projections are designed to
minimize the distortion of one or two of the data's characteristics. A projection could maintain
the area of a feature but alter its shape. In the following illustration, data near the poles is
stretched:

Projection parameters
A map projection by itself is not enough to define a PCS. You can state that a dataset is in
Transverse Mercator, but that's not enough information. Where is the center of the projection?
Was a scale factor used? Without knowing the exact values for the projection parameters, the
dataset cannot be reprojected.

You can also get some idea of the amount of distortion the projection has added to the data. If
you're interested in Australia but you know that a dataset's projection is centered at 0,0, the
intersection of the equator and the Greenwich prime meridian, you might want to think about
changing the center of the projection.

Each map projection has a set of parameters that you must define. The parameters (limits)
specify the origin and customize a projection for your area of interest. Angular parameters use
the GCS units, while linear parameters use the PCS units.

Linear parameters
False easting is a linear value applied to the origin of the x-coordinates. False northing is a linear
value applied to the origin of the y-coordinates.

False easting and northing values are usually applied to ensure that all x- and y- values are
positive. You can also use the false easting and northing parameters to reduce the range of the x-
or y- coordinate values. For example, if you know all y- values are greater than 5,000,000
meters, you could apply a false northing of –5,000,000.

Height defines the point of perspective above the surface of the sphere or spheroid for the
Vertical Near-Side Perspective projection.
Angular parameters

 Azimuth defines the centerline of a projection. The rotation angle measures east from
north. It is used with the azimuth cases of the Hotine Oblique Mercator projection.
 Central meridian defines the origin of the x-coordinates.
 Longitude of origin defines the origin of the x-coordinates. The central meridian and
longitude of origin parameters are synonymous.
 Central parallel defines the origin of the y-coordinates.
 Latitude of origin defines the origin of the y-coordinates. This parameter may not be
located at the center of the projection. In particular, conic projections use this parameter
to set the origin of the y-coordinates below the area of interest. In that instance, you do
not need to set a false northing parameter to ensure that all y- coordinates are positive.
 Longitude of center is used with the Hotine Oblique Mercator center (both two-point and
azimuth) cases to define the origin of the x-coordinates. It is usually synonymous with
the longitude of origin and central meridian parameters.
 Latitude of center is used with the Hotine Oblique Mercator center (both two-point and
azimuth) cases to define the origin of the y-coordinates. It is almost always the center of
the projection.
 Standard parallel 1 and standard parallel 2 are used with conic projections to define the
latitude lines where the scale is 1.0. When defining a Lambert Conformal Conic
projection with one standard parallel, the first standard parallel defines the origin of the
y-coordinates.

For other conic cases, the y-coordinate origin is defined by the latitude of origin parameter:

 Longitude of first point

 Latitude of first point
 Longitude of second point
 Latitude of second point

The previous four parameters are used with the Two-Point Equidistant and Hotine Oblique
Mercator projections. They specify two geographic points that define the center axis of a
projection.

 Pseudo standard parallel 1 is used in the Krovak projection to define the oblique cone’s
standard parallel.
 X,y plane rotation defines the orientation of the Krovak projection along with the x-scale
and y-scale parameters.
Unitless parameters

 Scale factor is a unitless value applied to the center point or centerline of a map
projection. The scale factor is usually slightly less than one. The UTM coordinate system,
which uses the Transverse Mercator projection, has a scale factor of 0.9996. Rather than
1.0, the scale along the central meridian of the projection is 0.9996. This creates two
almost parallel lines approximately 180 kilometers, or about 1°, away where the scale is
1.0. The scale factor reduces the overall distortion of the projection in the area of interest.
 X and y scales are used in the Krovak projection to orient the axes.
 Option is used in the Cube and Fuller projections. In the Cube projection, option defines
the location of the polar facets. An option of 0 in the Fuller projection displays all 20
facets. Specifying an option value between 1 and 20 displays a single facet.

Vertical coordinate systems

A vertical coordinate system defines the origin for height or depth values. Like a horizontal
coordinate system, most of the information in a vertical coordinate system is not needed unless
you want to display or combine a dataset with other data that uses a different vertical coordinate
system.

Perhaps the most important part of a vertical coordinate system is its unit of measure. The unit of
measure is always linear (for example, international feet or meters). Another important part is
whether the z-values represent heights (elevations) or depths. For each type, the z-axis direction
is positive "up" or "down," respectively.

In the following illustration, there are two vertical coordinate systems: mean sea level and mean
low water. Mean sea level is used as the zero level for height values. Mean low water is a depth-
based vertical coordinate system.

One z-value is shown for the height-based mean sea level system. Any point that falls below the
mean sea level line but is referenced to it will have a negative z-value. The mean low water
system has two z-values associated with it. Because the mean low water system is depth based,
the z-values are positive. Any point that falls above the mean low water line but is referenced to
it will have a negative z-value.

You cannot define a vertical coordinate system on a dataset without a corresponding geographic
or projected coordinate system.