Geodesy, Coordinate Systems & Map Projections

Earth models, UTM and projection families in three connected lectures.

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About this course

Where exactly is a point? This module answers the question in three steps: the shape of the Earth (sphere, ellipsoid and geoid), the coordinate systems used to describe position (Cartesian, polar, geographic, UTM and spherical) and the map projections that flatten it all onto paper or screen — with the distortions each one introduces.

Geoid, ellipsoid and spherical Earth models
Coordinate conversions and UTM zones with examples
Cylindrical, conic, azimuthal and pseudo-cylindrical projections

Syllabus

3 documents · 38 pages · English

01
Lecture 8 · Introduction to Geodesy
PDF · 13 pages
- The geoid as an equipotential surface
- Sphere, ellipsoid and geoid Earth models
- Ellipsoid dimensions and polar flattening
02
Lecture 9 · Coordinate Systems
PDF · 7 pages
- Cartesian and polar coordinates, with conversions
- Geographic coordinates (φ, λ)
- UTM zones, eastings and northings
- Spherical coordinate systems
03
Lecture 10 · Map Projections
PDF · 18 pages
- Transforming the curved Earth onto a flat map
- Cylindrical, conic, azimuthal and pseudo-cylindrical projections
- Preserved properties: shape, distance and area
- Graticule characteristics and distortion patterns