Geodetic datum

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A geodetic datum or geodetic system (also: geodetic reference datum or geodetic reference system) is a coordinate system, and a set of reference points, used to locate places on the Earth (or similar objects). An approximate definition of sea level is the datum WGS 84, an ellipsoid, whereas a more accurate definition is Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008), using at least 2,159 spherical harmonics. Other datums are defined for other areas or at other times; ED50 was defined in 1950 over Europe and differs from WGS 84 by a few hundred meters depending on where in Europe you look. Mars has no oceans and so no sea level, but at least two martian datums have been used to locate places there.

Datums are used in geodesy, navigation, and surveying by cartographers and satellite navigation systems to translate positions indicated on maps (paper or digital) to their real position on Earth. Each starts with an ellipsoid (stretched sphere), and then defines latitude, longitude and altitude coordinates. One or more locations on the Earth's surface are chosen as anchor "base-points".

The difference in co-ordinates between datums is commonly referred to as datum shift. The datum shift between two particular datums can vary from one place to another within one country or region, and can be anything from zero to hundreds of meters (or several kilometers for some remote islands). The North Pole, South Pole and Equator will be in different positions on different datums, so True North will be slightly different. Different datums use different interpolations for the precise shape and size of the Earth (reference ellipsoids).

Because the Earth is an imperfect ellipsoid, localised datums can give a more accurate representation of the area of coverage than WGS 84. OSGB36, for example, is a better approximation to the geoid covering the British Isles than the global WGS 84 ellipsoid.[1] However, as the benefits of a global system outweigh the greater accuracy, the global WGS 84 datum is becoming increasingly adopted.[2]

Horizontal datums are used for describing a point on the Earth's surface, in latitude and longitude or another coordinate system. Vertical datums measure elevations or depths.

City of Chicago Datum Benchmark

Definition

In surveying and geodesy, a datum is a reference system or an approximation of the Earth's surface against which positional measurements are made for computing locations. Horizontal datums are used for describing a point on the Earth's surface, in latitude and longitude or another coordinate system. Vertical datums are used to measure elevations or underwater depths.

Horizontal datum

The horizontal datum is the model used to measure positions on the Earth. A specific point on the Earth can have substantially different coordinates, depending on the datum used to make the measurement. There are hundreds of local horizontal datums around the world, usually referenced to some convenient local reference point. Contemporary datums, based on increasingly accurate measurements of the shape of the Earth, are intended to cover larger areas. The WGS 84 datum, which is almost identical to the NAD83 datum used in North America and the ETRS89 datum used in Europe, is a common standard datum.[citation needed]

For example, in Sydney there is a 200 metres (700 feet) difference between GPS coordinates configured in GDA (based on global standard WGS 84) and AGD (used for most local maps), which is an unacceptably large error for some applications, such as surveying or site location for scuba diving.[3]

Vertical datum

A vertical datum is a reference surface for vertical positions, such as the elevations of Earth features including terrain, bathymetry, water level, and man-made structures.

Geodetic coordinates

The same position on a spheroid has a different angle for latitude depending on whether the angle is measured from the normal line segment CP of the ellipsoid (angle α) or the line segment AP from the center (angle β). Note that the "flatness" of the spheroid (orange) in the image is greater than that of the Earth; as a result, the corresponding difference between the "geodetic" and "geocentric" latitudes is also exaggerated.

In geodetic coordinates, the Earth's surface is approximated by an ellipsoid, and locations near the surface are described in terms of latitude (${\displaystyle \phi }$), longitude (${\displaystyle \lambda }$), and height (${\displaystyle h}$).[note 1]

Geodetic versus geocentric latitude

Geodetic latitude (${\displaystyle \phi }$), resp. altitude, is different from geocentric latitude (${\displaystyle \phi '}$), resp. altitude. Geodetic latitude is determined by the angle between the equatorial plane and normal to the ellipsoid, whereas geocentric latitude is determined by the angle between the equatorial plane and line joining the point to the centre of the ellipsoid (see figure). Unless otherwise specified, latitude is geodetic latitude.

Earth reference ellipsoid

Defining and derived parameters

The ellipsoid is completely parameterised by the semi-major axis ${\displaystyle a}$ and the flattening ${\displaystyle f}$.

Parameter Symbol
Semi-major axis ${\displaystyle a}$
Reciprocal of flattening ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{f}}}$

From ${\displaystyle a}$ and ${\displaystyle f}$ it is possible to derive the semi-minor axis ${\displaystyle b}$, first eccentricity ${\displaystyle e}$ and second eccentricity ${\displaystyle e'}$ of the ellipsoid

Parameter Value
Semi-minor axis ${\displaystyle b=a(1-f)}$
First eccentricity squared ${\displaystyle e^{2}=1-{\frac {b^{2}}{a^{2}}}=f(2-f)}$
Second eccentricity squared ${\displaystyle {e'}^{2}={\frac {a^{2}}{b^{2}}}-1={\frac {f(2-f)}{(1-f)^{2}}}}$

Parameters for some geodetic systems

The two main reference ellipsoids used worldwide are the GRS80[4] and the WGS84.[5]

A more comprehensive list of geodetic systems can be found here.

Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80)

GRS80 parameters
Parameter Notation Value
Semi-major axis ${\displaystyle a}$ 6378137 m
Reciprocal of flattening ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{f}}}$ 298.257222101

World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84)

The Global Positioning System (GPS) uses the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) to determine the location of a point near the surface of the Earth.

WGS 84 defining parameters
Parameter Notation Value
Semi-major axis ${\displaystyle a}$ 6378137.0 m
Reciprocal of flattening ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{f}}}$ 298.257223563
WGS 84 derived geometric constants
Constant Notation Value
Semi-minor axis ${\displaystyle b}$ 6356752.3142 m
First eccentricity squared ${\displaystyle e^{2}}$ 6.69437999014×10−3
Second eccentricity squared ${\displaystyle {e'}^{2}}$ 6.73949674228×10−3

Conversion calculations

Datum conversion is the process of converting the coordinates of a point from one datum system to another. Datum conversion may frequently be accompanied by a change of grid projection.

Discussion and examples

A geodetic reference datum is a known and constant surface which is used to describe the location of unknown points on the Earth. Since reference datums can have different radii and different center points, a specific point on the Earth can have substantially different coordinates depending on the datum used to make the measurement. There are hundreds of locally developed reference datums around the world, usually referenced to some convenient local reference point. Contemporary datums, based on increasingly accurate measurements of the shape of the Earth, are intended to cover larger areas. The most common reference Datums in use in North America are NAD27, NAD83, and WGS 84.

The North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27) is "the horizontal control datum for the United States that was defined by a location and azimuth on the Clarke spheroid of 1866, with origin at (the survey station) Meades Ranch (Kansas)." ... The geoidal height at Meades Ranch was assumed to be zero, as sufficient gravity data was not available, and this was needed to relate surface measurements to the datum. "Geodetic positions on the North American Datum of 1927 were derived from the (coordinates of and an azimuth at Meades Ranch) through a readjustment of the triangulation of the entire network in which Laplace azimuths were introduced, and the Bowie method was used." (http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/faq.shtml#WhatDatum ) NAD27 is a local referencing system covering North America.

The North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83) is "The horizontal control datum for the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America, based on a geocentric origin and the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80). "This datum, designated as NAD 83 ...is based on the adjustment of 250,000 points including 600 satellite Doppler stations which constrain the system to a geocentric origin." NAD83 may be considered a local referencing system.

WGS 84 is the World Geodetic System of 1984. It is the reference frame used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and is defined by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) (formerly the Defense Mapping Agency, then the National Imagery and Mapping Agency). WGS 84 is used by DoD for all its mapping, charting, surveying, and navigation needs, including its GPS "broadcast" and "precise" orbits. WGS 84 was defined in January 1987 using Doppler satellite surveying techniques. It was used as the reference frame for broadcast GPS Ephemerides (orbits) beginning January 23, 1987. At 0000 GMT January 2, 1994, WGS 84 was upgraded in accuracy using GPS measurements. The formal name then became WGS 84 (G730), since the upgrade date coincided with the start of GPS Week 730. It became the reference frame for broadcast orbits on June 28, 1994. At 0000 GMT September 30, 1996 (the start of GPS Week 873), WGS 84 was redefined again and was more closely aligned with International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) frame ITRF 94. It was then formally called WGS 84 (G873). WGS 84 (G873) was adopted as the reference frame for broadcast orbits on January 29, 1997.[6] Another update brought it to WGS84(G1674).

The WGS 84 datum, within two meters of the NAD83 datum used in North America, is the only world referencing system in place today. WGS 84 is the default standard datum for coordinates stored in recreational and commercial GPS units.

Users of GPS are cautioned that they must always check the datum of the maps they are using. To correctly enter, display, and to store map related map coordinates, the datum of the map must be entered into the GPS map datum field.

Examples

Examples of map datums are:

Footnotes

1. ^ About the right/left-handed order of the coordinates, i.e., ${\displaystyle (\lambda ,\phi )}$ or ${\displaystyle (\phi ,\lambda )}$, see Spherical coordinate system#Conventions.

References

1. ^ "Geoid—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop". desktop.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
2. ^ "Datums—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop". desktop.arcgis.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
3. ^ McFadyen, GPS and Diving Archived 2006-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ GDA Technical Manual
5. ^ The official World Geodetic System 1984
6. ^ Survey, US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Geodetic. "National Geodetic Survey - Frequently Asked Questions FAQ". www.ngs.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-10-19.
7. ^ krei@rmmdesign.com.au, Alex Craven (RMM Design). "GDA94 : Frequently Asked Questions". www.geoproject.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-08-15.
8. ^ "日本測地系2011（JGD2011）とは？ - 空間情報クラブ". club.informatix.co.jp. 2015-08-20. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20.
9. ^ "座標変換ソフトウェア　TKY2JGD｜国土地理院". www.gsi.go.jp. Archived from the original on 2017-11-05.
10. ^ Yang, H.; Lee, Y.; Choi, Y.; Kwon, J.; Lee, H.; Jeong, K. (2007). "The Korean Datum Change to a World Geodetic System". AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts. Bibcode:2007AGUSM.G33B..03Y.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
11. ^ 台灣地圖夢想家-SunRiver. "大地座標系統與二度分帶座標解讀 - 上河文化". www.sunriver.com.tw. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20.
12. ^
13. ^ "The transition to using the terrestrial geocentric coordinate system "Parametry Zemli 1990" (PZ-90.11) in operating the GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS) has been implemented". www.glonass-iac.ru. Archived from the original on 2015-09-07.
14. ^ a b "Use of international references for GNSS operations and applications" (PDF). unoosa.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-12-22.
15. ^ Handbook of Satellite Orbits: From Kepler to GPS, Table 14.2
16. ^
17. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2016-08-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
18. ^ "General concepts". itrf.ensg.ign.fr. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04.
19. ^ "Vertical Datum used in China – Hong Kong – onshore". Archived from the original on 2012-11-13.
20. ^ "Explanatory Notes on Geodetic Datums in Hong Kong" (PDF). geodetic.gov.hk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-11-09.