georeferencing
Pinning data geographically
Georeferencing is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to data—typically images, maps, or documents—so they align with real-world locations.
A scanned historical map becomes useful for analysis once georeferenced to match modern coordinate systems.
The term applies broadly in GIS, remote sensing, and cartography: We spent the morning georeferencing aerial photographs from the 1950s.
Spatial data framework
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- LIDARLight-based distance measurement
- remote sensingGathering data without contact
- geocodingConverting places to coordinates
ArcGIS · CAD · surveying · ground control · metadata
Geographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
- datumSingle unit of information
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- coordinate systemMethod for locating points
WGS84 · UTM · degrees · minutes · seconds · easting · northing · transformation
Accuracy of measurement
- errorFault in communication
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- residualsOngoing compensation for rebroadcasts
- control pointsAnchors defining curve geometry
ground truth · calibration · rectification · registration · alignment · distortion · fit · correction
Creating geographic representations
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
- land surveyMeasuring and mapping terrain
- cadastralOf property boundaries
- urban planningMunicipal development coordination
archaeology · environmental monitoring · disaster response · agriculture · forestry · hydrology · infrastructure · asset management
Images captured aloft
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
- rasterGrid of pixels
- historical mapOld geographic document
- photogrammetryDeriving measurements from photographs
mosaicking · pixel · resolution · warping · digitizing · overlay · source material
GIS
Spatial data framework
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- LIDARLight-based distance measurement
- remote sensingGathering data without contact
geocoding · ArcGIS · CAD · surveying · ground control · metadata
latitude
Geographic or personal freedom
- longitudeEast-west angular distance
- datumSingle unit of information
- projectionSomething that extends outward
coordinate system · WGS84 · UTM · degrees · minutes · seconds · easting · northing · transformation · geodetic
precision
Accuracy of measurement
- errorFault in communication
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- residualsOngoing compensation for rebroadcasts
control points · ground truth · calibration · rectification · registration · alignment · distortion · fit · correction · verification
cartography
Creating geographic representations
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
- land surveyMeasuring and mapping terrain
- cadastralOf property boundaries
urban planning · archaeology · environmental monitoring · disaster response · agriculture · forestry · hydrology · infrastructure · asset management · navigation
aerial photography
Images captured aloft
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
- rasterGrid of pixels
- historical mapOld geographic document
photogrammetry · mosaicking · pixel · resolution · warping · digitizing · overlay · source material
georeferencingunreferenced
Lacking source attribution
unlocated · placeless · unanchored · unmapped · unregistered
georeferencingdecontextualization
Removal from original setting
placelessness · abstraction · ungrounding · deterritorialization · detachment
refer, referee, reference, geography, geometry, geology, geographic, geothermal, geocentric