Earthsys 144: Fundamentals of GIScience

Projections and Coordinate Systems

where is your data? gis.stanford.edu

The Size & Shape

of the Earth

(Less complicated, but somehow more complicated, than you think)

Text

spherical vs ellipsoid?

surface & ellipsoid coordinates

the geoid

But, really...

  • Mount Everest: About 8,848 meters
  • Mariana Trench: About 11,034 meters
  • Diameter of the Earth averages 12,742 km

Calculate the ratio of the Earth's variance to its diameter:

Ratio=19.882 km12,742 km≈0.00156

 

 

Apply this ratio to the diameter of a billiard ball to find the scaled variance:
 

Scaled Variance=57.15 mm×0.00156≈0.089 mm     Scaled Variance=57.15mm×0.001560.089mm
 

So, if the Earth were scaled down to the size of a billiard ball, the variance in its surface "smoothness" would be less than 0.089 mm.

World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) equipment specifications, a billiard ball must be uniform with a tolerance of +/- 0.127 mm

geographic vs magnetic north

geographic coordinate systems

(Laying a "frame of reference" on the Earth)

coordinates

Geographic Coordinate Systems

longitude, con't

coordinate notation

coordinate notation, con't

How many locations can one place have?

datum (geographic) transformations

Public Land Survey System (PLSS)

Public Land Survey System (PLSS)

projected coordinate systems

(because the Earth isn't flat, but our desktops are.)

Projected Coordinate Systems

projected coordinate systems

projections & coordinate systems

projections & coordinate systems

projections & coordinate systems

projections & coordinate systems

projections & coordinate systems

Lambert conformal conic

Transverse Mercator

state plane coordinate systems

projections & coordinate systems

The "special" case of Web Mercator

(The "Map Projection" you are most familiar with!)

web map tiling schema

https://a.tile.openstreetmap.org/2/2/1.png

https://a.tiles.mapbox.com/v4/mapbox.satellite/2/2/1.jpg

Credit: @chris_whong

Coordinate Systems & Geodesy

By Stace Maples

Coordinate Systems & Geodesy

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