Coordinate Transformations

Coordinate transformations are methods that either convert the coordinates of locations between coordinate systems or alter locations’ coordinates within the same coordinate system. Coordinate transformations are used commonly in geographic information science to assign or convert a geographic reference for data locations, to correct inaccuracies in remote sensing data pixel locations, and to change the display of geographic data on a computer screen. A coordinate transformation is specified by a mathematical model, or function, that relates locations in a source coordinate system to their corresponding locations in a destination coordinate system. When an appropriate transformation model is not known, the [Page 581]coordinates in each reference system are used to either globally or locally calibrate a model from a set of point locations; then, the calibrated ...