coordinate system
Spatial reference grid
A coordinate system is a framework for specifying positions in space using numbers.
The most familiar is the Cartesian system, which locates points by their distances along perpendicular axes: Plot the point at (3, 5) on the coordinate system.
Other systems use angles and distances (polar coordinates) or adapt to spheres and other surfaces.
Any consistent method for pinning down location counts as a coordinate system.
Geographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
- prime meridianZero-degree longitude line
parallels · hemisphere · geodetic · geocentric · datum · ellipsoid · WGS84 · UTM
Of x-y coordinate geometry
- EuclideanFlat-space geometry type
- polarOf extreme latitudes
- sphericalGlobe-like in form
- cylindricalCircular in cross-section
affine · orthogonal · homogeneous · curvilinear · barycentric · origin · axes · quadrants
Something that extends outward
- MercatorCylindrical cartographic projection
- datumSingle unit of information
- GISSpatial data framework
- contourBounding line of shape
topographic · scale · grid reference · easting · northing · map grid · survey · cadastral
Satellite-based location technology
- waypointNavigation reference location
- bearingPosture or orientation
- headingDirectional course traveled
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
sextant · wayfinding · route · landmark · dead reckoning · triangulation · azimuth · altitude
Openwork of crossed strips
- meshInterlocking open weave
- matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
- networkInterconnected system
- frameworkUnderlying support system
reticulation · tessellation · intersections · gridlines · spacing · regular · uniform · rectangular
latitude
Geographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
prime meridian · parallels · hemisphere · geodetic · geocentric · datum · ellipsoid · WGS84 · UTM · geospatial
Cartesian
Of x-y coordinate geometry
cylindrical · affine · orthogonal · homogeneous · curvilinear · barycentric · origin · axes · quadrants · abscissa
projection
Something that extends outward
contour · topographic · scale · grid reference · easting · northing · map grid · survey · cadastral · gazetteer
GPS
Satellite-based location technology
- waypointNavigation reference location
- bearingPosture or orientation
- headingDirectional course traveled
compass · sextant · wayfinding · route · landmark · dead reckoning · triangulation · azimuth · altitude · celestial navigation
lattice
Openwork of crossed strips
framework · reticulation · tessellation · intersections · gridlines · spacing · regular · uniform · rectangular · hexagonal
- GPSsatellite, GPS navigation, GPS tracking, latitude, GPS receivers
- mapmakingcartographer, map scales, mapmaker, map projection, compass rose
- coordinateslatitude, longitude, lat, long, ordinate
- DescartesDescartes, cogito, rationalism, mind-body problem
- map elementscompass rose, scale bar, legend, map scale, labels
- mapping toolscompass rose, scale bar, graticule, contour map, relief map
system, coordinate, systematic, coordinated, coordination, coordinates, ordain, uncoordinated, coordinating