GISuser Primer on Origins of Selected Geodetic Datums

We’ve stumbled accross some useful information to help the GISuser better undertand the properties and charactersitics of commonly used geodetic datums… enjoy!

This information is presented for its historical interest and is not validated for official use. For a list of the latest validated datum transformation parameters and information about WGS 84, go to NGA Publications on Geospatial Sciences.

The table below contains the origins of selected datums.

Datum

Area

Name of Point

Latitude

Xi

Longitude

Eta

Ellipsoid

North American 1927 North America Meades Ranch 39 13 26.686 N -1.32 98 32 30.506 W 1.93 Clarke 1866
Old Hawaiian Hawaii Oahu West Base Astro 21 18 13.89 N 0.00 157 50 55.79 W 0.00 Clarke 1866
Qornog Greenland Station 7008 64 31 06.27 N 0.00 51 12 24.86 W 0.00 International
Hjorsey 1955 Iceland Hjorsey 64 31 29.260 N 0.00 22 22 05.840 W 0.00 International
Provisional South American 1956 Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile La Canoa 08 34 17.17 N 2.42 63 51 34.88 W -0.55 International
Corrego Alegre Brazil Corrego Alegre 19 50 15.14 S 0.00 48 57 42.75 W 0.00 International
Chua Astro Paraguay Chua Astro 19 45 41.16 S 0.00 48 06 07.56 W 0.00 International
Campo Inchauspe Argentina Campo Inchauspe 35 58 16.56 S 0.00 62 10 12.03 W 0.00 International
Yacare Uruguay Yacare 30 35 53.68 S 0.00 57 25 01.30 W 0.00 International
European Europe Potsdam, Helmertturm 52 22 51.446 N 3.36 13 03 58.741 E 1.78 International
Odnance Survey of Great Britain 1936 Great Britain: Northern Ireland Royal Greenwich Observatory, Herstmonceux 50 51 55.271 N -1.14 00 20 45.882 E -2.2 Airy
Ireland 1965 Ireland Royal Greenwich, Herstmonceux 50 51 55.271 N -1.14 00 20 45.882 E -2.2 Modified Airy (8)
Merchich Morocco Merchich 33 26 59.672 N 0.00 07 33 27.295 W 0.00 Clarke 1880 (2)
Voirol Algeria Voirol Observatory 36 45 07.9 N 0.00 03 02 49.45 E 0.00 Clarke 1880 (2)
Adindan Sudan Adindan 22 10 07.110 N 2.38 31 29 21.608 E -2.51 Clarke 1880 (2)
Sierra Leone 1960 Sierra Leone D.O.S. Astro SLX2 08 27 17.6 N 0.00 12 49 40.2 W 0.00 Clarke 1880 (2)
Liberia 1964 Liberia Robertsfield Astro 06 13 53.02 N 0.00 10 21 35.44 W 0.00 Clarke 1880 (2)
Ghana Ghana GCS Pillar 547 Accra 05 32 43.30 N 0.00 00 11 52.30 W 0.00 War Office (3)
Nigeria Nigeria Minna 09 39 08.87 N 0.00 06 30 58.76 E 0.00 Clarke 1880 (2)
Arc 1950 Africa (South of Equator) Buffelsfontein 33 59 32.00 S 3.46 25 30 44.622 E -0.88 Clarke 1880 (2)
Tananarive (Antananarivo) Obsy 1925 Malagasy Rep. Tananarive (Antananarivo Obsy) 18 55 02.10 S 0.00 47 33 06.75 E 0.00 International
World Geodetic System 1972 Sino-Soviet Bloc World Geodetic System 1972
Herat North Afghanistan Herat North Astro 34 23 09.08 N 0.00 64 10 58.94 E 0.00 International
Indian India, Pakistan, Burma, Thailand, Southeast Asia Kalianpur Hill 24 07 11.26 N 0.31 77 39 17.57 E 0.00 Everest (5)
Tokyo Japan Tokyo Obsy 35 39 17.515 N 0.00 139 44 40.502 E 0.00 Bessel
Hu-Tzu-Shan Taiwan Hu-Tzu-Shan 23 58 32.340 N 0.00 120 58 25.975 E 0.00 International
Luzon Philippines Balanacan 13 33 41.000 N 3.47 121 52 03.000 E (9) Clarke 1866
Kertau West Malaysia Kertau 03 27 50.71 N 3.47 102 37 24.55 E -10.90 Modified Everest (6)
Timbalai East Malaysia Timbalai 05 17 03.548 N 0.00 115 10 56.409 E 0.00 Everest
Djakarta Indonesia (Sumatra, Java) Butavia 06 07 39.522 S 0.00 106 48 27.79 E 0.00 Bessel
Bukit Rirnpah Indonesia (Bangka) Bukit Rimpah 02 00 40.16 S 0.00 105 51 39.76 E 0.00 Bessel
G. Serindung Kalimantan Ep. A 01 06 10.60 N 0.00 105 00 59.82 E 0.00 Bessel
G. Segara Indonesia (Kalimantan, East) G. Segara (P5) 00 32 12.83 S 0.00 117 08 48.47 E 0.00 Bessel
Montiong Lowe Indonesia (Sulawesi) Montiong Lowe (PI) 05 08 41.42 S 0.00 119 24 14.94 E Bessel
Australian Geodetic Australia Johnston Memorial Cairn 25 56 54.5515S 7.68 133 12 30.0771E -4.19 Australian National (7)
Geodetic Datum 1949 New Zealand Papatahi Trig Station 41 19 08.900 S -1.30 175 02 51.000 E (9) International
Guam 1963 Marianas Islands Tagcha 13 22 38.490 N -10.35 144 45 51.560 E 24.12 Clarke 1866
Local Astrol World Geodetic System 1972
Camp Area Astro Antarctica Camp Area Astro 77 50 52.521 S 0.00 166 40 13.753 E 0.00 International

Note: This table contains historic data that may not meet current standards. Numbers in parenthesis refer to the footnotes that follow the table and can be found at the NGA website

Source: National Geospatial Intelligence Agency

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