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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