Map Data Basics

Chapter 6

This chapter is designed to provide the student map data basics.

OBJECTIVES:
Upon completion of this chapter, the student will be able to:

• Describe the concepts geoid, ellipsoid, datum and map

projection
• List what in formation is needed in digitized form for macro
cell prediction using e.g. EET/TEMS CellPlanner
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 6 Map Data Basics

6 Map Digitizing
Table of Contents

Topic Page

MAP DATA BASICS ..........................................................................105

GEOID, ELLIPSOID AND DATUM............................................................................. 105
PROJECTIONS.......................................................................................................... 105
HEIGHT...................................................................................................................... 107
DISTANCE, CONVERSION FROM CO-ORDINATES TO METER........................... 107
PAPER MAPS TO BE USED ..................................................................................... 108
LOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING IN A MAP FOR SURVEY ........................................ 109
WHAT IS NEEDED FOR A DIGITAL MAP AND USAGE .......................................... 111

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 6 Map Data Basics

MAP DATA BASICS

GEOID, ELLIPSOID AND DATUM

The earth was once believed to be round in form. Heights are
referenced to the sea level and land defined at the point where
water and land meets. This body, known as earth, is not round
but very irregular and hard to define – it is also called the Geoid.

In order to create a representation of the Geoid on paper, a

simplification of the Geoid is used. This simplification is called
the Ellipsoid or Spheroid. The ellipsoid is oriented to match the
geoid for a specific region or country and therefore many
ellipsoids exist for the different regions.

An ellipsoid for Mexico could also be valid for Sweden if it is

oriented in a different manner. These different relations between
the ellipsoid and the geoid are called a Datum (or Map Datum or
Geodetical Datum).

Figure 6-1 Relation between the Geoid and one Ellipsoid with
two orientations and two datums

PROJECTIONS
All projections have an origin. Different types of projections are
used to transfer the three dimensional image of the continents on
earth to a two dimensional surface. These different methods
have different characteristics and are good for specific areas on
the earth. It is important to remember that no projection is
perfect.

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Figure 6-2 Cylinder-, Cone- and Flat projection

The result from the different types of projections is to be seen

in(UURU5HIHUHQFHVRXUFHQRWIRXQGFigure 6-3in the
different maps. As mentioned, no map projection is perfect. For
instance, in the Stereographic North Polar Aspect the areas are
nearly correct, but the angles are wrong. Distance cannot be
measured.

Figure 6-3 Map projections

The different types of projections result in maps with different

fields of accuracy. A map could have exact areas or exact
directions or exact angles or a mixture of some of them, but
never all three. Thus, a map can never be exactly accurate.

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 6 Map Data Basics

HEIGHT
It is important to know that the height measurement has two
references. The height can be referred to either the ellipsoid or
the geoid. The classical reference of ‘KHLJKWDERYHVHDOHYHO¶is
another expression of µKHLJKWDERYHWKHJHRLG¶. GPS gives the
height above the ellipsoid.

DISTANCE, CONVERSION FROM CO-ORDINATES TO METER

In different areas in the world, north to south, the longitude
distances are not the same. The longitude lines come closer
together towards the poles and meet at the north and south poles.

Figure 6-4 An Orthographic Projection to show the distances

difference between Latitudes further away from the equator,
north or south.

When out on a site visit, one can roughly establish how far you
are from the nominal point by making simple calculations. First
of all you have to calculate the mean multiple number to use for
the distance of the specific area. Between the latitudes, an
average calculation can be made that corresponds to the real

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distance between two points, using the co-ordinates read from

the GPS. The reference point must of course be known.

Figure 6-5 Geographic Co-ordinates

The geographic co-ordinates are presented in a grid of equal

sizes and perpendicular corners. But in such a presentation the
areas are not correct.

In order to establish an approximate relationship between

degrees (latitude, longitude) and meters you can measure on a
reliable map that has co-ordinates, how many meters there are
for a certain amount of degrees or minutes.

Please observe that you have to do separate calculations for

latitude and for longitude due to the curvature of the earth. This
kind of calculations would also just be valid for a limited area,
when coming to another country or city You have to establish
this relationship again.

PAPER MAPS TO BE USED

It is the responsibility of the cell planner to make sure the
appropriate maps are available for cell planning and site finding
purposes in the project. The customer has to supply the maps or
the cell planner must find a supplier.

It is preferred if the datum on the paper maps used, is the same

as the one used in when using the GPS. This datum should also
correspond to the ellipsoid and projection settings in the cell-
planning tool.

Referencing geodetic co-ordinates to the wrong datum can result

in position errors of hundreds of meters. Different nations and
agencies use different datums as the basis for co-ordinate
systems used to identify positions in geographic information
systems, precise positioning systems, and navigation systems.

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LOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING IN A MAP FOR SURVEY

The north must be indicated and the scale must be clear and
good for the application. The map should be in color on good
paper quality. If possible it should be original printing. Do not
use copied maps. Make sure that the whole map is represented.

The map must contain co-ordinates built on a defined projection.

The type of projection of the map can be found in the geodetic
information in the key or legend.

The Geodetic information and a co-ordinate system must be

present on the map if the map is to be used for measurements
and defining locations. The Geodetic information results from
the projection, spheroid and geodetic datum. The projection and
projection zone, ellipsoid/spheroid, datum and origin must be
noted. The unit of measurement is also important.

Figure 6-6 Grid data, geodetic information, etc. on a map from

Oman

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The legend should contain the colors and symbols used in the
map with a good explanation.

Figure 6-7 An example of a good map with readable contours,

Mexico

The map must contain height information, preferably in the form

of contours. The contours must be clear and distinct and possible
to follow. To the contour lines there must be height values in the
form of figures. The best vertical interval is between 5-20
meters.

There often are several dates printed on the map. The important
date is the year of making and not the year of printing. The year
of making could be stated as ”made from air photography dated
1988-1990 and existing mapping dated 1981-1988” or ”field
measurements 1987”. Maps should contain information as
recent as possible.

The scale of the map is of great importance. The preferred scale

depends on the purpose of use. If the map data is to be used for a
countrywide OSS-system, a map in the scale of 1:200 000 -
1:500 000 is sufficient. If the purpose is cell planning for 450-
900 MHz, the 1:50 000 is good, for 1800- 1900 MHz systems is
advisable to use 1:20 000. For micro cells and Urban-model
even larger scales are needed, 1:5 000-1:10 000

Make sure that the whole area of interest is covered with maps.
If the network will be expanded, the area of map coverage is
important.

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WHAT IS NEEDED FOR A DIGITAL MAP AND USAGE

Ericsson Digital Map Design is the main producer of geographic
map data within Ericsson. Great care is taken to obtain the best
input-data by a high standard of quality control.

To create digital maps for the cell-planning tool, good and

accurate information is required. The source material can be
paper maps, aerial photographs and satellite images.

The groups involved in Site Acquisition are not normally

involved in obtaining this type of data. Turn any questions
regarding map data and co-ordinate systems, and the quality of
maps to be used, to Ericsson Digital Map Design.

The map database will include the following four data types:

• Height data (DEM, topography)

• Land usage data, (clutter, i.e. terrain classification)
• Vector data (roads, railways, rivers, etc.)
• Text data

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