COORDINATE SYSTEMS IN GIS

As GIS is based on geographic location you need to

understand basics of Coordinate Systems:
Geographic and Projected Coordinate Systems.
 Geographic Coordinate
Systems
A geographic coordinate system (GCS) uses a three-dimensional
spherical surface to define locations on the earth. A point is
referenced by its longitude and latitude values

In ArcGIS:
Longitude
is X.
Latitude is
http://www.geographyalltheway.com
Y.

Copyright 2014 Natural

Environmental Research Council 2
(NERC)
 Geographic Coordinate
Systems
Examples: WGS 84, OSGB36, ED50

WGS 84 basis for Global Positioning System (GPS).

Geocentric, GRS 80 ellipsoid (ETRF89, ITRF)
OSGB 36 basis for Ordnance Survey maps. Airy 1830
ellipsoid.
European Datum 1950 North Sea and mainland western
Europe. International 1924 ellipsoid.
Copyright 2014 Natural
Environmental Research Council 3
(NERC)
 Projected Coordinate
Systems
Projections map the spherical Earth onto a plane.

Projections always:
Introduce discontinuities
Introduce distortions.

http://visual.merriam-webster.com/earth/geography/cartography/map-projections.php

Try peeling an orange without breaking the skin!!!

Copyright 2014 Natural

Environmental Research Council 4
(NERC)
 Projected Coordinate
Systems

Conformal maintains shape

Equal-area maintains area
Equidistant maintains
distance
Direction maintains some
directions
Copyright 2014 Natural
Environmental Research Council 5
(NERC)
 Datum
Defines the shape and orientation of an ellipsoid
(mathematical representation of the earth)
Identifies the reference frame in use.
May be global
WGS84
ITRF series
May be local.
Astronomical fix at Hope Bay

Copyright 2014 Natural

Environmental Research Council 6
(NERC)
 Projections recommended for
mapping Antarctica

1: 1 000 000 and smaller

scales Antarctic Polar
Stereographic / WGS84

1: 1 000 000 to 1: 100 000

scales Lambert Conformal Conic or
Polar Stereographic / WGS84

Scales larger than 1: 100

000UTM / WGS84

Note: to accurately analyse your data

you need to use different projection!!!
Copyright 2014 Natural
Environmental Research Council 7
(NERC)
 Map Scale
Map scale is the relationship between the distance on a map and the distance on the Earth

Small scale map

Large scale map

Copyright 2014 Natural

Environmental Research Council 8
(NERC)