The dual choice of geodetic horizontal reference systems for Ukraine

Abstract

Almost all European countries use at least two horizontal reference systems, which allow them to minimize all risks when changing the coordinate system. The first system is used for the needs of the national survey in general, and also for technical applications in engineering surveys. A brief description of this system can be written by the formula: Geocentric Ellipsoid (GRS80) + Projection (UTM). More than half of the European countries for the second national systems use the GRS80 geocentric ellipsoid together with a projection other than UTM, some of them continue to use the projection of the old coordinate systems. The rest of the countries, excluding Ukraine, adapted the existing national coordinate systems to modern requirements, removing deformations from them concerning the ETRS89. A small number of European countries have implemented the GRS80 geocentric ellipsoid together with the UTM projection for cadastral surveys and topographic maps with a scale of 1:5000 and larger. Only one country, Ukraine, chose a variant for the new coordinate system (UCS2000), which is briefly written by the formula: Old Not Geocentric Ellipsoid + New Projection. The analysis of modern coordinate systems of Europe made it possible to formulate two variants of the future coordinate system of Ukraine based on a geocentric ellipsoid. It is shown that the transition to a geocentric ellipsoid will change the coordinates and heights of the points, but practically will not change the distance between the points and the area of the parcels.