Geomatics for Air

Navigation
C02: Coordinate systems used in
geodesy.

Eng. Tiberius TOMOIAG, PhD

Phone: 0722.91.46.22
Email: t_tibis@yahoo.com
LOGO
 Introduction
Geo-referencing: The process of
delimiting a given object, either physical
(eg. a lake) or conceptual (eg. an
administrative region), in terms of its
spatial relationship to the land; the
geographic reference thus established
consists of points, lines, areas or volumes
defined in terms of some coordinate
system (usually latitude and longitude, or
projected coordinates).
 Introduction
This overview of coordinate systems for
georeferencing provides a brief description
of local and global systems for use in
precise positioning, navigation, and
geographic information systems for the
location of points in space.
There are many different coordinate
systems, based on a variety of geodetic
datums, units, projections, and reference
systems in use today.
 Basic Coordinate Systems

There are many basic coordinate systems

familiar to students of geometry and
trigonometry.
These systems can represent points in
two-dimensional or three-dimensional
space.
 Basic Coordinate Systems

Ren Descartes (1596-1650) introduced

systems of coordinates based on
orthogonal (right angle) coordinates.
These two and three-dimensional systems
used in analytic geometry are often
referred to as Cartesian systems.
Similar systems based on angles from
baselines are often referred to as polar
systems.
 Basic Coordinate Systems

1. Plane Coordinate Systems

Two-dimensional coordinate systems are

defined with respect to a single plane, as
demonstrated in the following figures:
Basic Coordinate Systems
Basic Coordinate Systems
Basic Coordinate Systems
Basic Coordinate Systems
 Basic Coordinate Systems

2. Three-Dimensional Systems

Three-dimensional coordinate systems

can be defined with respect to two
orthogonal planes.
Basic Coordinate Systems
Basic Coordinate Systems
Basic Coordinate Systems
Basic Coordinate Systems
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - ECEF

Geocentric coordinates, or Earth

Centered, Earth Fixed (ECEF) Cartesian
coordinates.
ECEF X, Y, and Z Cartesian coordinates
define three dimensional positions with
respect to the center of mass of the
reference ellipsoid.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - ECEF

Definition:
The Z-axis points from the center toward the
North Pole.
The X-axis is the line at the intersection of the
plane defined by the prime meridian and the
equatorial plane.
The Y-axis is defined by the intersection of a
plane rotated 90 east of the prime meridian
and the equatorial plane.
Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -ECEF
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -ECEF

This is the system that GPS uses

internally for doing it calculations, but
since this is very unpractical to work with
as a human being ( due to the lack of well-
known concepts of east, north, up, down)
it is rarely displayed to the user but
converted to another coordinate system.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -GCS
Spherical or Geographic coordinate
system (GCS) is probably the most well-
known.
It uses a three dimensional spherical
surface to define locations on the earth.
A point is referenced by its longitude and
latitude values. Longitude and latitude are
angles measured from the earths center
to a point on the earths surface.
The angles often are measured in
degrees.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - GCS
Great and Small Circles
A GREAT CIRCLE is a circle on a sphere's
surface whose plane is passing exactly
through the center of the sphere.
In other words, a great circle divides a sphere
into two symmetrical parts.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -GCS
Great and Small Circles
SMALL CIRCLE - Any circle on a surface of a
sphere which is not a great circle is a SMALL
CIRCLE.
A SMALL CIRCLE is any circle on a surface
of a sphere whose plane is not passing
through the sphere's center.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -GCS

LATITUDE:
Parallels of Latitude or parallels Small
circles whose plan is parallel to the Equator
Measured in degrees usually, relative to the
Equator
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -GCS
LONGITUDE:
Meridians or line of longitude Arc on a Great
Circle from one pole to another (Half of a
Great Circle)
Prime Meridian arbitrary selected in 1884 as
the meridian who passes through the Royal
Greenwich Observatory in Greenwich,
England
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -GCS
LATITUDE or parallels are measured 90
degrees North and South of the Equator
LONGITUDE or meridians are measured
180 degrees East and West of the Prime
Meridian.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics -GCS

Geodetic latitude and longitude

vs.
Astronomical latitude and longitude
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected
A projected coordinate system is defined
on a flat, two-dimensional surface.
A projected coordinate system is always
based on a geographic coordinate system,
on a projection and on a sphere or
ellipsoid (will be covered later).
It is very easy to work with, fairly accurate
over small distances making
measurements such as length, angle and
area very straightforward.
Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected
Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected

Projected coordinate system will naturally

have a center from which measurements
can originate, and coordinates are
specified by their linear distance east and
north of that point
These measurements are called eastings
and northings, and are given in some
linear measure, typically meters or feet.
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected

Generally, these coordinates are shifted

by adding some amount to each
coordinate so that they are strictly positive
numbers.
The shifting values are generally called
false eastings and false northings
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected
Easting and False Easting
Northing and False Northing
 Coordinate Systems used in
Geomatics - Projected
Easting and Northing works all the time?
 Conclusions

ECEF (Geocentric) coordinates:

Satellite positioning, including GPS.
3D coordinate transformation between
datums and transformation parameters
determination.
 Conclusions

Geographic coordinates:
Widely used in positioning and navigation
Computation of long distances on ellipsoid
 Conclusions

Projected coordinates:
Map representations
Short distances computation
Angles determination
Area computation
QUESTIONS ?