What are Coordinate Systems and Coordinate Reference Systems?

The surface of the Earth is curved, but paper is flat. These two facts mean that paper maps will always be slightly distorted. There are many different ways of projecting positions in the world onto paper. These different projections (known as Coordinate Reference Systems) are designed to minimise the distortion in different ways. Some coordinate reference systems show orientation accurately, some show areas accurately etc.

To some extent, the terms "coordinate system" and "coordinate reference system" are interchangeable. However, in SIS the term "coordinate system" is used to refer to positions that are stored in datasets, and reported to you. The term "coordinate reference system" is used to denote how graphics are mathematically transformed onto your screen, and onto paper.

CRS [Home-Map] is used to set-up coordinate systems and viewing coordinate reference systems.

See Coordinate Reference Systems for a list of coordinate reference systems supported in SIS.


Send comments on this topic.

Click to return to www.cadcorp.com

© Copyright 2000-2017 Computer Aided Development Corporation Limited (Cadcorp).