Expressing Position:

Coordinate Systems
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Introduction
Need system to express location

Issues

Coordinate approaches

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Geographic Coordinates
AKA geodetic coordinates

Components

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Geographic Coordinates

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Geocentric Cartesian Coordinates

3-D system

Orthogonal X, Y, Z axes
Origin at geocenter
Orientation of axes based on

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Geocentric Cartesian Coordinates

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Plane Coordinates
Challenge

Most surveys ignore curved earth

Considerations

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Map Projections
Aim of map projections

Application

Example coordinate systems

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Projection Concepts
Transfer earth location to plane

Challenge with map projection

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Developable Surfaces

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Projection Distortion
Challenge

Distortions are acceptable

Limiting distortion

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Transverse Mercator Projection

Use fictitious cylinder

Scale

Applications

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Transverse Mercator Projection

Central Meridian

Lines of equal scale

(intersection ellipse)
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Transverse Mercator Projection Scale Variation

a
a

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b
b

Transverse Mercator Projection Scale Variation

Projected distance
> earth distance

Projected distance
< earth distance

Projected distance
> earth distance

Projected distance
= earth distance

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Lambert Conformal Conic Projection

Use fictitious cone

Scale

Application

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Lambert Conformal Conic Projection

Standard parallels
(line of equal scale)

Central Meridian

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Lambert Conformal Conic Scale Variation

b
b
a
a

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Lambert Conformal Conic Scale Variation

Projected distance
> earth distance

Projected distance
< earth distance

Projected distance
= earth distance

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Geodetic and Grid Azimuths

On projection

Implication
Difference between grid vs. geodetic azimuth varies

Size of difference related to

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Geodetic and Grid Azimuths

GN

TN

P
Graticule
Geodetic
Meridian

Grid
Meridian

Central
Meridian

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State Plane Coordinate Systems

National Geodetic Survey (NGS) designed plane
coordinate system for each state
Use transverse Mercator or Lambert projection
Scale distortions limited to 1:10,000 if:
Width of zones is less than 158 miles
2/3 of zone between lines of zero scale change

Break large states into zones to limit scale distortion

NY has four zones: uses both projections
Alaska and Florida: use both projections

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UTM Coordinate System

U.S. military designed global plane coordinate system

Application

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UTM Zones Over New York State

Zone 17

Zone 19

Zone 18

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Coordinate Systems and Datums

Issue

Horizontal datums
Large area datums: ellipsoidal reference
Examples: NAD27, NAD83, WGS84

Challenges
Coordinate systems may use specific datum
SPCS27 State plane coordinates using NAD27
SPCS83 State plane coordinates using NAD83
Fundamental theory same parameters vary

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Readings
Chapter 20 sections 20.1 20.5, 20.12 20.13

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