1.

What is the difference between a Geographic Coordinate System

(GCS) and a Projected Coordinate System (PCS)?

1. Geographic coordinate systems: coordinate systems that span the entire globe (e.g.
latitude / longitude).
2. Projected coordinate systems: coordinate systems that are localized to minimize visual
distortion in a region (e.g. Robinson, UTM, State Plane)
In this tutorial, you will learn the differences between these CRS ’s in more detail.

As you learned in the previous lesson, each CRS is optimized to best represent the:

• shape and/or
• scale / distance and/or
• area
of features in a dataset. There is not a single CRS that does a great job at optimizing all three
elements: shape, distance AND area. Some CRSs are optimized for shape, some are optimized
for distance and some are optimized for area. Some CRS ’s are also optimized for particular
regions, for instance the United States, or Europe.

Intro to Geographic Coordinate Reference Systems

Geographic coordinate systems (which are often but not always in decimal degree units) are
often optimal when you need to locate places on the Earth. Or when you need to create global
maps. However, latitude and longitude locations are not located using uniform measurement
units. Thus, geographic CRS ’s are not ideal for measuring distance. This is why other
projected CRS have been developed.

The Structure of a Geographic CRS

A geographic CRS uses a grid that wraps around

the entire globe. This means that each point on
the globe is defined using the SAME coordinate
system and the same units as defined within
that particular geographic CRS. Geographic
coordinate reference systems are best for
global analysis however it is important to
remember that distance is distorted using a
geographic lat / long CRS .

The geographic WGS84 lat/long CRS has an

origin - (0,0) - located at the intersection of the
Equator (0° latitude) and Prime Meridian (0° longitude) on the globe.

Let’s remind ourselves what data projects in a geographic CRS look like.

Projected Coordinate Reference Systems

As you learned above, geographic coordinate systems are ideal for creating global maps.
However, they are prone to error when quantifying distance. In contrast, various spatial
projections have evolved that can be used to more accurately capture distance, shape and/or
area.

What is a Spatial Projection

Spatial projection refers to the mathematical calculations performed to flatten the 3D data onto
a 2D plane (your computer screen or a paper map). Projecting data from a round surface onto a
flat surface results in visual modifications to the data when plotted on a map. Some areas are
stretched and some some are compressed. You can see this distortion when you look at a map
of the entire globe.

The mathematical calculations used in spatial projections are designed to optimize the relative
size and shape of a region on the globe.
 2. What is the most commonly used geographic coordinate system
(which, by the way, is also used by Atlas, Map Creator, HERE
Studio, etc.)?

Geodesists use coordinate reference systems such as WGS84, NAD27 and NAD83. In each
coordinate system, geodists use mathematics to give each position on Earth a unique
coordinate.
A geographic coordinate system defines two-dimensional coordinates based on the Earth’s
surface. It has an angular unit of measure, prime meridian and datum (which contains the
spheroid).