Geodetic Coordinate Systems

Geodetic coordinate systems are frameworks used to specify locations on Earth's surface precisely. They use a set of imaginary lines—latitude (north-south position), longitude (east-west position), and elevation (height above sea level)—to define any point's exact position. These systems account for Earth's shape, which isn't a perfect sphere but an irregular, flattened sphere called an ellipsoid. By referencing a specific reference ellipsoid, geodetic coordinates enable accurate navigation, mapping, and surveying across the globe. Essentially, they are the standardized way of pinpointing exact locations on Earth's complex surface.