3 Spatial reference systems
This chapter covers
- What spatial reference systems are
- How to determine the spatial reference system of a dataset
- How to choose appropriate spatial reference systems
Up to this point, we’ve been working mostly with fictitious data. Using sample data to learn the basics of PostGIS is an excellent first step: you’re immediately rewarded with results without facing the messiness of real-world data. But reality is messy. From this chapter forward, you’ll confront the fact that the earth is not the nice beachball that you thought it was. The same exact point on the face of the earth could be described differently by different groups. With time, the point shifts and the accuracy of our instrumentation gets better.
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