CASSINI-SOLDNER COORDINATE SYSTEM

The Cassini-Soldner( also called cassini projection) coordinate system is the ellipsoidal version of the Cassini projection for the sphere. It is not conformal but as it is relatively simple to construct it was extensively used in the 20th century and is still useful for mapping areas with limited longitudinal extent. This system has a straight central meridian along which the scale is true, all other meridians and parallels are curved, and the scale distortion increases rapidly with increasing distance from the central meridian. This system is extensively used in Kenya.In simple terms it may be referred to as a non-perspective cylindrical projection. In a transverse version of the cylindrical equidistant projection, the easting of a point A is the length (on the model) of a line AD which is perpendicular to a chosen central meridian. But on a spheroid, what line AD is to be used? It could be the geodesic, the shortest route from A to the chosen meridian. Another possibility is to locate D so that A is on the plane vertical to section perpendicular to the meridian at D. Development of the system Let A be the latitude of a point, longitude L reckoned from meridian PGQ. EAD is the transverse meridian through A, giving rise to the right angled spherical triangle PAD with elements as shown on the figure. The angle(GD),can be calculated by standard formulas. , is the angle GED. We can now think of p as the latitude in the transverse system with PGQ as the equator and as the longitude referred as the transverse meridian FGE. If we now plot the linear lengths of GD and DA as rectangular coordinates; N=R, E =Rpwe get the transverse version of the structure of the cylindrical equidistant projection. This is basically the geometry of the cassinisoldner system which is used in topographical mapping. Similarly, plotting E as Rsinp, will construct the transverse cylindrical equal-area projection. In the cassiniprojectin, the scale is true along the transverse meridians such as DA and thescale factor is sec p along the transverse parallels that are small circles centered on point E.

A E

As far as the Ordnance Survey was concerned the complexity arises not so much from the general adoption of this simple projection as from the mode of its application. The essence

of Ordnance Survey practice throughout the nineteenth century was that there was not one national Cassini projection covering the whole country, but a series of independent Cassini projections relating either to a county or a group of counties. Such an approach to map projections in a national survey was widely accepted. A commonly held view in the nineteenth century was that maps of small districts should be complete in themselves: large scale surveys, not only in Great Britain, but also in countries such as France and Belgium, were plotted on a series of separate meridians. It was recognised that this could give accurate results for the purpose for which the maps were designed.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A REFERENCE SYSTEM AND A COORDINATE SYSTEM

A reference system is a system for defining the positions of points on the earth and objects, including datums using projections. Reference systems are introduced in order to model the geodetic parameters as a function of unknown parameters of interest. As with the earth, reference systems can be defined for the moon and the other planets in the solar system. All reference systems are supposed to be geocentric in nature. e.g gravity reference system, which provide homogeneity of gravimetric surveys by realizing a gravity standard. Global networks allow the realization of reference systems defined by international conventions. Any type of map is based on such a positional reference system: each point on the earths surface corresponds to a point referenced on the map.

A coordinate system is a mathematical means of expressing the projected positions of points on various surfaces. In terms of the earth, a coordinate system(also called a spatial reference system) is a means of assigning coordinates to a location and establishing relationships between sets of such coordinates. It enables the interpretation of a set of coordinates as a representation of a position in a real world space. The coordinate systems are defined in terms of orientation, metrics and curvature; they are three dimensional in principle. A fourth dimension, time enters the mutual motion of the earth and other celestial bodies through the earths deformations. Examples can include;

Geodetic Coordinates (Geographic Coordinates) Geodetic coordinates (sometimes called geographic coordinates) are angular coordinates (longitude and latitude), closely related to spherical polar coordinates, and are defined relative to a particular Earth geodetic datum. Projected Coordinates

Projected coordinates are planar Cartesian coordinates that result from performing a mathematical mapping from a point on the Earth's surface to a plane. There are many such mathematical mappings, each used for a particular purpose. Local Coordinates Local coordinates are Cartesian coordinates in a non-Earth coordinate system. They are used while using, for example, the instrument positions as the origin of the coordinate system whereby all the other positions of the other objects can be determined. Basically it is used in the system of assigning longitude and latitude to geographical locations. Coordinate systems are used for mapping or the representation of the relative horizontal positions of the features on the earths surface. Coordinate systems are also used to get around the sky.

1. Geocentric. Type of coordinate reference system that deals with the earths curvature by taking the 3D spatial view, which obviates the need to model the earths curvature. 2. Geographic coordinate reference systems can be 2D or 3D. A 2D Geographic coordinate reference system is used when positions of features are described on the surface of the reference ellipsoid; a 3D geographic coordinate reference system is used when positions are described on, above or below the reference ellipsoid. 3. Projected-based on an approximation of the shape of the earths surface by a plane. The distortion that is inherent to the approximation is carefully controlled and known. 4. Engineering reference system is used only in a contextually local sense. This sub-type is used to model two broad categories of local coordinate reference systems:earth-fixed systems, applied to engineering activities on or near the surface of the earth; coordinates on moving platforms such as road vehicles, vessels, aircraft or spacecraft.

REFERENCES SPHERE,SPHEROID AND PROJECTIONS ROF SURVEYORS by J.E JACKSON