This system charts a point based upon its location along intersecting axes, denoted as X, Y and Z axes. 1, April 8Ģ René Descartes ( ) introduced a system of coordinates based on orthogonal axes often referred to as a Cartesian system. 116 Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. There are different coordinate systems the commonest being the system of latitudes, longitudes and ellipsoidal heights. Position recognition is done by using a mathematical method of assigning numbers, called coordinates to each point in space. Keywords: Coordinate Systems, ellipsoidal heights, Global positioning System, WGS84, Transformation parameters INTRODUCTION The concepts of coordinate systems are required in order to identify points in space and to represent them on maps. Particular attention was given to the derivation of ellipsoidal heights through the use of the Abridged Molodensky formulas. This paper looked at geodetic coordinate systems and transformations between the WGS84 and the coordinate systems used in Ghana (the Ghana war office system and also the Clarke188 system) using the Bursa-Wolf model. Datum transformation parameters define functional relationship between two reference frames. In order to use data obtained from GPS measurements correctly and effectively in Ghana, we need to use appropriate transformation parameters that relate our Ghana National Survey Mapping coordinate system to that used for the Global Positioning System (GPS). Similarly, it is not possible to just measure distances from a graticule map without appropriate projection conversions. The GPS for instance uses a WGS84 system and gives latitude and longitude values which can not be integrated directly into the mapping system of a country without suitable mathematical conversions. The situation is complicated because the latitudes and longitudes of the same point differ slightly depending on the geodetic coordinate system of a country, the result being that different systems of latitude and longitude in use for the same point can disagree in coordinates by more than metres.
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ABSTRACT The concepts of coordinate systems required to identify points in space and represent them on maps uses mathematical methods of assigning numbers, called coordinates to each point in space. Fosu Department of Geomatic Engineering KNUST Kumasi-Ghana. 1 MAP COORDINATE REFERENCING AND THE USE OF GPS DATASETS IN GHANA J.