3.

Datum And Coordinate System

 Coordinate systems
 A coordinate system is defined by:
 Its origin= 3 parameters
 Its orientation= 3 parameters, usually direction
of 3 axis
 Its scale= 1 Parameter
 7 parameters are needed to uniquely define a
coordinate system
 7 parameters are needed to go from a coordinate
system to another
 Coordinate SYSTEM
Given that the shape of the Earth is close to an ellipsoid, it is convenient to
define a position by its latitude, longitude, and height = ellipsoidal
coordinates:–
The Prime Meridian is the origin for longitudes. The Equator is the origin for
latitudes.
 Geodetic latitude= angle from the equatorial plane to the vertical
direction of a line normal to the reference ellipsoid.
 Coordinate SYSTEM
Given that the shape of the Earth is close to an ellipsoid, it is convenient to
define a position by its latitude, longitude, and height = ellipsoidal
coordinates:–
–Geodetic longitude= angle between a reference plane and a plane passing
through the point, both planes being perpendicular to the equatorial plane.
 Coordinate SYSTEM
Given that the shape of the Earth is close to an ellipsoid, it is convenient to
define a position by its latitude, longitude, and height = ellipsoidal
coordinates:–
 Geodetic height= distance from the reference ellipsoid to the point in a
direction normal to the ellipsoid.
 Datum

 A datum provides the coordinates of an initial

point that can be precisely located in the field
 A datum requires two components:
– Specification of an ellipsoid
– Points and lines which have been meticulously
surveyed
 Datum
• Different geographic coordinate systems may be defined
and used
– Defined based on the shape of the earth with
adjustments for best accuracy
• Differ in accuracy (older versus newer)

• Differ in purpose (for small or large areas)

• Customized for smallest error in specific locales

 Datum Definition

• A Datum definition includes

– The particular spheroid used based on a determination of the
earth’s major and minor axis
• Clarke 1866 vs GRS80

• Estimate has varied in accuracy

• New satellite determinations are most accurate

– The adjustment or fit (translation of center)

• Together these define the GCS

Geographic Coordinate System: Parallels of
Latitude and Meridians of Longitude
What if the Earth were …

An Oblate Ellipsoid
Sir Isaac
Newton’s
Idea …

Law of Gravity tells us the Earth must

be oblate due to its rotation.
 Radius of Curvature is Larger in Polar Areas
than in Equatorial Areas

So ground distance between equal increments of

Latitude is greater in polar areas
 To Ecuador in 1736

Measurements showed Polar Distance per degree

Of Latitude greater than Equatorial – It’s Oblate!
 Numerous Older Local Datums Used in
Different Places across the Globe
Afghanistan
Herat North datum
Of 1959

International Ellipsoid

Datum Origin:
34°23’09”N,
62°10’59”E
 Numerous Older Local Datums Used in
Different Places across the Globe
Philippines
Philippine Reference System
Of 1992

Clarke 1866 Ellipsoid

Datum Origin:
13°33’41”N,
121°52’03”E
 Numerous Older Local Datums Used in
Different Places across the Globe
Iraq
Karbala datum
Of 1979

Clarke 1880 Ellipsoid

Datum Origin:
32°34’14”N,
44°00’50”E
Being replaced by Iraqi
Geospatial Reference System
Datum of Ethiopia
 The Ethiopian Datum of 1936 was established by the
Italians at the West End of Metahara Base (10,083.560 m)
where Φ0 = 8°53′22.53″± 0.18″N, Λ0 = 39°54′24.99″ East
of Greenwich, the reference azimuth to Monte Fantalli was
α0 = 13°05′21.97″+ 0.43″ and the presumed ellipsoid of
reference was the International 1924 where a = 6,378,188
m and 1/f = 297.
Datum of Ethiopia

 The check base for the chain commencing at Metahara

was Giggiga base, which was 12,962.620 m in length.

 Halfway north from Metahara base to the now Eritrean

port city of Massawa was the North End of Alomalà base
(18,211.982 m) where Φ0 = 12°24′56.56″ ± 0.13″N, Λ0 =
39°33′30.42″ ± 0.30″ East of Greenwich, and the
reference azimuth to the South End of Alomalà base was
α0 = 180°00′03.88″ ± 0.18″.
Datum of Ethiopia
 The old Italian 1:50,000-scale series mentioned above
is based on the old datum origin located in the (now)
Eritrean capitol city of Asmara.
 The coordinates of that origin elude me, and I
suspect that the observations may have been made
by the Italian navy rather
Datum of Ethiopia
 The Blue Nile River Basin Investigation Project was
funded by the United States, and the geodetic work was
performed by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey.

 The origin of the geodetic work was in southern Egypt

near Abu Simbel, south of Lake Nasser, at station Adindan
where Φ0 = 22°10′07.1098″N, Λ0 = 31°29′21.6079″ East
of Greenwich.
Datum of Ethiopia

 the deflection of the vertical ζ = +2.38″ and η = –2.51″,

and the ellipsoid of reference was the Clarke 1880

(modified) where a = 6,378,249.145 m and 1/f = 293.465.

 The Blue Nile Datum of 1958 appears to be the

established classical datum of Ethiopia and much of North

Datum of Ethiopia

 Adindan is the name of the origin, it is not the name of the

datum; a most common mistake found in many “reference
works.”

 The Ethiopian Transverse Mercator grid is based on a

central meridian where λ0 = 37°30′E, scale factor at origin
where mo = 0.9995,
What if the Earth
Globalwere … and ellipsoid
Datum
What if the Earth were …
 Global Datum and ellipsoid
 Because of the large amount of mapping, charting, and
geodetic products produced by the National Imagery and
Mapping Agency (NIMA) for the Department of Defense
(DoD);
 has designated WGS-84 as the preferred ellipsoid and
datum for all mapping, charting, and geodetic products,
however, some areas of the world can still be covered by
other systems.
 Global Datum and ellipsoid
 WGS-84 was developed as the replacement for WGS-72.
 Four parameters were used to develop WGS-84:
 the semi-major axis (a),
 the Earth's gravitational constant (GM),
 the normalized second degree zonal gravitational constant,
and
 the angular velocity of the Earth.
Datum and ellipsoid
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

 The ellipsoid for geodetic applications is formed by rotating

an ellipse about its minor axis, which for present

visualization we assume to be parallel to the Earth’s spin

axis.

 This creates a surface of revolution that is symmetric with

respect to the polar axis and the equator.

 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

 The basic geometric construction of an ellipse is as follows: for any two

points, F1 and F2 , called focal points, the ellipse is the locus (path) of

points, P , such that the sum of the distances PF1+ PF2 is a constant.
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

Introducing a coordinate system (x, z) with origin halfway

on the line
_____
F1 F2 and z –axis perpendicular to
_____
F1 F2 , we see that if P is on the x -axis, then that constant
is equal to twice the distance from P to the origin; this is
the length of the semi-major axis; call it a :
____ ____
PF1 + PF2 = 2a .
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

 An ellipse is the locus of all those points in a plane such

that the sum of their distances from two fixed points in the
plane, is constant.
 The fixed points are known as the foci (singular focus),
which are surrounded by the curve.
 The fixed line is directrix and the constant ratio is
eccentricity of ellipse.
 Eccentricity is a factor of the ellipse, which demonstrates
the elongation of it and is denoted by ‘e’.
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

 The shape of the ellipse is in an oval shape and the area of an

ellipse is defined by its major axis and minor axis.
 Area of ellipse = πab, where a and b are the length of semi-
major and semi-minor axis of an ellipse.
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

Major and Minor Axis

 Ellipse is defined by its two-axis along x and y-axis:
• Major axis
• Minor Axis
• The major axis is the longest diameter of the ellipse
(usually denoted by ‘a’), going through the center
from one end to the other, at the broad part of the
ellipse.
• Whereas the minor axis is the shortest diameter of
ellipse (denoted by ‘b’), crossing through the center
at the narrowest part.

• Half of major axis is called semi-major axis and half

of minor axis is called semi-minor axis.
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

Properties
 Ellipse has two focal points, also called foci.
 The fixed distance is called a directrix.
 The eccentricity of ellipse lies between 0 to 1. 0≤e<1
 The total sum of each distance from the locus of an ellipse
to the two focal points is constant
 Ellipse has one major axis and one minor axis and a center
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry
Eccentricity of the Ellipse
 The ratio of distances from the center of the ellipse from
either focus to the semi-major axis of the ellipse is defined
as the eccentricity of the ellipse.
 The eccentricity of ellipse, e = f/a
Where f: is the focal length and a is length of the semi-
major axis.
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry
 The above figure represents an
ellipse such that P1F1 + P1F2 =
P2F1 + P2F2 = P3F1 + P3F2 is a
constant.
 This constant is always greater
than the distance between the two
foci.
 When both the foci are joined with
the help of a line segment then the
mid-point of this line segment
joining the foci is known as the
center, O represents the center of
the ellipse in the figure given
below:
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry

 The line segment passing through the foci of the ellipse is the major axis and the line
segment perpendicular to the major axis and passing through the center of the ellipse is
the minor axis.
 The end points A and B as shown are known as the vertices which represent the
intersection of major axes with the ellipse. ‘2a’ denotes the length of the major axis and
‘a’ is the length of the semi-major axis. ‘2b’ is the length of the minor axis and ‘b’ is the
length of the semi-minor axis. ‘2c’ represents the distance between two foci.
 Basic Ellipsoidal Geometry
Proof:
 Let us consider the end points A and B on the major axis and points C
and D at the end of the minor axis.

 The Sum Of Distances Of B From

F1 Is F1B + F2B = F1O + OB + F2B
(From The Above Figure)
⇒ C + A + A – C = 2a
 The Sum Of Distances From Point C
To F1 Is F1C + F2C
⇒ F1C + F2C = √(B2 + C2) +
√(B2 + C2) = 2√(b2 + C2)
 By Definition Of Ellipse;
2√(b2 + C2) = 2a
⇒ A = √(B2 + C2)
⇒ A2 = B 2 + C 2
⇒C2 = A2 – B2
 Ellipse Parameters
 We see that the ellipse, and hence the ellipsoid, is defined by
two essential parameters: a shape parameter and a size (or
scale) parameter (unlike the circle or sphere that requires only
one parameter, the radius which specifies its size).
 In addition to the semi-major axis, a , that usually serves as
the size parameter, any one of a number of shape parameters
could be used.
 We have already encountered one of these, the linear
eccentricity, E . The following are also used; in particular, the
flattening:
Ellipse Parameters
 Ellipse Parameters
 When specifying a particular ellipsoid, we will, in
general, denote it by the pair of parameters, (a, f ) .
 Many different ellipsoids have been defined in the past.
 The current internationally adopted mean Earth ellipsoid
is part of the Geodetic Reference System of 1980
(GRS80) and has parameter values given by
 Ellipse Parameters
 We have Table of ellipsoids defined in modern geodetic
history.
 The parameter estimates of the best-fitting ellipsoid (in the
mean tide system) were published in 20042 as
Ellipse Parameters
Different Ellipsoids Used as Best Fit
Surfaces for Different Places
Numerous Older Local Datums Used in
Different Places across the Globe
 Ellipsoidal Coordinates

 For any particular point, P , in space, its longitude is given by the angle

in the equatorial plane from the x -axis to the meridian plane. This is the

same as the spherical longitude (due to the rotational symmetry);

 latitude, we have a choice. Geocentric and geodetic latitude

 Ellipsoidal Coordinates
An ellipse can be defined in the following three ways:
A. An ellipse is the locus of a point Pk that moves so that the sum of the
distances r and r' from two fixed points F and F' (the foci) separated by a
distance 2d is a constant and equal to the major axis of the ellipse, i.e.,
 Ellipsoidal Coordinates
B. If auxiliary circles and are drawn on a common origin O of an x, y
coordinate system and radial lines are drawn at angles from the x-axis;
then the ellipse is the locus of points that lie at the intersection of
lines, parallel with the coordinate axes, drawn through the
intersections of the radial lines and auxiliary circles.
 Ellipsoidal Coordinates
B. An ellipse may be defined as the locus of a point P that moves so
that its distance from a fixed point F, called the focus, bears a constant
ratio, that is less than unity, to its distance from a fixed line known as
the directrix, i.e.,
where e is the eccentricity and for an
ellipse. e<1
 Ellipsoidal Coordinates
The eccentricities e and e' of the ellipse
The eccentricity of an ellipse is denoted by e. it can be defined as:

Another eccentricity that is used in geodesy is the 2nd-eccentricity, usually denoted as

e’ and similarly to the (1st) eccentricity e, the 2nd-eccentricity is defined by its
squared-value as:
 Ellipsoidal Coordinates

The flattening f of the ellipse

The flattening of an ellipse, denoted by f, (and also called the compression
or ellipticity) is the ratio which the excess of the semi-major axis over the
semi-minor axis bears to the semi-major axis. The flattening f is defined as:

The ellipse parameters c, m and n

In certain geodetic formula, the constants c, m and n are used. They are
defined as
c is the polar radius of the ellipsoid and m is sometimes
called the 3rd-eccentricity squared.
A 2nd-flattening is defined as
Interrelationship between ellipse parameters
Constants of the GRS80 ellipsoid
COORDINATE SYSTEM
END