Data usually comprises an array of numbers. Spatial data is similar, but it also includes numerical information that allows you to position it on earth. These numbers are part of a coordinate system that provides a frame of reference for your data, to locate features on the surface of the earth, to align your data relative to other data, to perform spatially accurate analysis, and to create maps.
All spatial data is created in a coordinate system, whether it is points, lines, polygons, rasters, or annotation. The coordinates can be specified in many different ways, such as decimal degrees, feet, meters, or kilometers; any form of measurement can be used as a coordinate system. Identifying this measurement system is the first step to choosing a coordinate system that displays your data in its correct position in ArcGIS Pro, in relation to your other data.
Coordinate systems
Data is defined in both horizontal and vertical coordinate systems. Horizontal coordinate systems locate data across the surface of the earth, and vertical coordinate systems locate the relative height or depth of data.
Horizontal coordinate systems can be of three types: geographic, projected, or local. You can determine which type of coordinate system your data uses by examining the layer's properties. Geographic coordinate systems (GCS) typically have units in decimal degrees, measuring degrees of longitude (x-coordinates) and degrees of latitude (y-coordinates). The location of data is expressed as positive or negative numbers: positive x- and y-values for north of the equator and east of the prime meridian, and negative values for south of the equator and west of the prime meridian.
Spatial data can also be expressed using projected coordinate systems (PCS). Linear measurements are used for the coordinates rather than angular degrees. Finally, some data may be expressed in a local coordinate system with a false origin (0, 0 or other values) in an arbitrary location that can be anywhere on earth. Local coordinate systems are often used for large-scale (small area) mapping. The false origin may or may not be aligned to a known real-world coordinate, but for the purpose of data capture, bearings and distances can be measured using the local coordinate system rather than global coordinates. Local coordinate systems are usually expressed in feet or meters.
Vertical coordinate systems are either gravity-based or ellipsoidal. Gravity-based vertical coordinate systems reference a mean sea level calculation. Ellipsoidal coordinate systems reference a mathematically derived spheroidal or ellipsoidal volumetric surface.
Download the list of supported geographic and vertical coordinate systems.
Projections
A projection is the means by which you display the coordinate system and your data on a flat surface, such as a piece of paper or a digital screen. Mathematical calculations are used to convert the coordinate system used on the curved surface of earth to one for a flat surface. Since there is no perfect way to transpose a curved surface to a flat surface without some distortion, various map projections exist that provide different properties. Some preserve shape, while others preserve distance. Some preserve area or direction. The extent, location, and property you want to preserve must inform your choice of map projection. There are more than 4,000 coordinate systems in the ArcGIS platform, so it is likely you'll find one to match your data. If not, you can create a custom coordinate system to display the data.
ArcGIS Pro reprojects data on the fly so any data you add to a map adopts the coordinate system definition of the first layer added. As long as the first layer added has its coordinate system correctly defined, all other data with correct coordinate system information reprojects on the fly to the coordinate system of the map. This approach facilitates exploring and mapping data, but it should not be used for analysis or editing, because it can lead to inaccuracies from misaligned data among layers. Data is also slower to draw when it is projected on the fly. If you intend to perform analysis or edit the data, first project it into a consistent coordinate system shared by all your layers. This creates a new version of your data.
Download the list of supported projected coordinate systems.
See a list of all the supported map projections.
Transformations
After defining the coordinate system that matches your data, you may still want to use data in a different coordinate system. This is when transformations are useful. Transformations convert data between different geographic coordinate systems or between different vertical coordinate systems. Unless your data lines up, you'll encounter difficulties and inaccuracies in any analysis and mapping you perform on the mismatched data.
Download the list of supported geographic and vertical transformations.