Title text: "Fun fact: The standard North American NAD83 coordinate system is misaligned from the actual Earth, off-center by about 7 feet. Someone knows where I am, and I'm in the wrong place."
Alt text: https://explainxkcd.com/2920#Transcript
Alt text: https://explainxkcd.com/2920#Transcript
April 16, 2024 at 5:04 AM
Title text: "Fun fact: The standard North American NAD83 coordinate system is misaligned from the actual Earth, off-center by about 7 feet. Someone knows where I am, and I'm in the wrong place."
Alt text: https://explainxkcd.com/2920#Transcript
Alt text: https://explainxkcd.com/2920#Transcript
Have not experienced the annoyance of datasets in both NAD27 and NAD83 or moved on to annoyance at state plane and state utm projections.
September 11, 2026 at 2:31 AM
Have not experienced the annoyance of datasets in both NAD27 and NAD83 or moved on to annoyance at state plane and state utm projections.
This is one only the old GIS and Geodetic folks would get. The things I find in my office :-) #GIS #Geomatics #geography #geodesy Policy document for NAD83 Ottawa 1990
December 12, 2024 at 3:12 PM
This is one only the old GIS and Geodetic folks would get. The things I find in my office :-) #GIS #Geomatics #geography #geodesy Policy document for NAD83 Ottawa 1990
The only thing changing are the NAVD88 and NAD83 datums. These only cover North America and are actually split into several smaller projections. Some states have multiple projections within the state. These projections are what surveyors utilize to be able to use Cartesian coordinates on a geoid.
September 11, 2026 at 2:18 AM
The only thing changing are the NAVD88 and NAD83 datums. These only cover North America and are actually split into several smaller projections. Some states have multiple projections within the state. These projections are what surveyors utilize to be able to use Cartesian coordinates on a geoid.
Me: Why do QGIS/ArcGIS/MAPublisher have 1000s of default projections?
My data: Have you heard of NAD83(2011) / Arizona Central?
epsg.io/6404
My data: Have you heard of NAD83(2011) / Arizona Central?
epsg.io/6404
NAD83(2011) / Arizona Central - EPSG:6404
EPSG:6404 Projected coordinate system for United States (USA) - Arizona - counties Coconino; Maricopa; Pima; Pinal; Santa Cruz; Yavapai. State law defines use of International feet (note: not US surve...
epsg.io
July 20, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Me: Why do QGIS/ArcGIS/MAPublisher have 1000s of default projections?
My data: Have you heard of NAD83(2011) / Arizona Central?
epsg.io/6404
My data: Have you heard of NAD83(2011) / Arizona Central?
epsg.io/6404
Q1: Among our circles of #ParkChat friends, we likely think of ourselves as expert-ish in national park travel, but there’s always more to learn. What’s something you know you don’t know about the NPS (i.e., something you’d like to learn about the NPS)?
August 28, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Q1: Among our circles of #ParkChat friends, we likely think of ourselves as expert-ish in national park travel, but there’s always more to learn. What’s something you know you don’t know about the NPS (i.e., something you’d like to learn about the NPS)?
As A USGS Employee Working In Spatial Data: hehehehehehehehe
--
xkcd.com/2920/
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #humour #humor #datums #coordinatesystems #NAD83 #NAVD88 #mappymeme #survey #USGS #NGS #benchmark #NorthAmerica #geodetic #geodesy
@xkcd.com
--
xkcd.com/2920/
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #humour #humor #datums #coordinatesystems #NAD83 #NAVD88 #mappymeme #survey #USGS #NGS #benchmark #NorthAmerica #geodetic #geodesy
@xkcd.com
April 17, 2024 at 8:10 PM
As A USGS Employee Working In Spatial Data: hehehehehehehehe
--
xkcd.com/2920/
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #humour #humor #datums #coordinatesystems #NAD83 #NAVD88 #mappymeme #survey #USGS #NGS #benchmark #NorthAmerica #geodetic #geodesy
@xkcd.com
--
xkcd.com/2920/
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #humour #humor #datums #coordinatesystems #NAD83 #NAVD88 #mappymeme #survey #USGS #NGS #benchmark #NorthAmerica #geodetic #geodesy
@xkcd.com
They're updating the mathematical model for the Earth. Again. First there was NAD27, which was replaced by NAD83 / WGS84. Now NAD83 / WGS84 are being replaced with GEOID2022.
I've used map data that was using NAD27 in Florida, & it was a mile off from where it was supposed to be.
I've used map data that was using NAD27 in Florida, & it was a mile off from where it was supposed to be.
"The United States is replacing every official latitude, longitude and height it publishes. Existing coordinates will move by as much as four meters, and the million survey marks in the ground will no longer be what the system is measured from"
spacedaily.com/s-the-united...
spacedaily.com/s-the-united...
The United States is replacing every official latitude, longitude and height it publishes, existing coordinates will move by as much as four meters, and the million survey marks in the ground will no ...
The National Geodetic Survey has spent years building a replacement for the reference system that fixes every published position in the country. New geodetic-control submissions into the old system st...
spacedaily.com
September 11, 2026 at 2:14 AM
They're updating the mathematical model for the Earth. Again. First there was NAD27, which was replaced by NAD83 / WGS84. Now NAD83 / WGS84 are being replaced with GEOID2022.
I've used map data that was using NAD27 in Florida, & it was a mile off from where it was supposed to be.
I've used map data that was using NAD27 in Florida, & it was a mile off from where it was supposed to be.
Unfortunately, the GPS coordinates are in WGS84 and the map we've plotted it on is in NAD83. Soooo.... We might have just hit the wrong village. 😜😂😜😂
November 29, 2024 at 8:17 AM
Unfortunately, the GPS coordinates are in WGS84 and the map we've plotted it on is in NAD83. Soooo.... We might have just hit the wrong village. 😜😂😜😂
STOP talking shit about geographic projections:
EPSG:4326 - WGS84 is a reliable, good enough CRS
EPSG:4269 - NAD83 higher accuracy for North America
EPSG:2227 - California State Plane for print map rendering
EPSG:3857 -
EPSG:3035 - Equal area projection for Europe
EPSG:4326 - WGS84 is a reliable, good enough CRS
EPSG:4269 - NAD83 higher accuracy for North America
EPSG:2227 - California State Plane for print map rendering
EPSG:3857 -
EPSG:3035 - Equal area projection for Europe
February 5, 2026 at 2:00 AM
STOP talking shit about geographic projections:
EPSG:4326 - WGS84 is a reliable, good enough CRS
EPSG:4269 - NAD83 higher accuracy for North America
EPSG:2227 - California State Plane for print map rendering
EPSG:3857 -
EPSG:3035 - Equal area projection for Europe
EPSG:4326 - WGS84 is a reliable, good enough CRS
EPSG:4269 - NAD83 higher accuracy for North America
EPSG:2227 - California State Plane for print map rendering
EPSG:3857 -
EPSG:3035 - Equal area projection for Europe
Cruising down a bus loop as a regional train pulls up. That is just the 2025 equivalent of steampunk urbanism.
March 7, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Cruising down a bus loop as a regional train pulls up. That is just the 2025 equivalent of steampunk urbanism.
Gonna send a reply asking if they want WGS84 or NAD83 or what
December 8, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Gonna send a reply asking if they want WGS84 or NAD83 or what
epsg is a code for recording Coordinate Reference Systems in maps. That particular code is for "NAD83/Montana (ft)" AKA Montana's state plane. It's a pun.
February 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
epsg is a code for recording Coordinate Reference Systems in maps. That particular code is for "NAD83/Montana (ft)" AKA Montana's state plane. It's a pun.
quite familiar with NAD83 :)
December 12, 2024 at 10:21 PM
quite familiar with NAD83 :)
RIP
Who's hosting the wake for NAD83?
Who's hosting the wake for NAD83?
February 11, 2026 at 9:03 PM
RIP
Who's hosting the wake for NAD83?
Who's hosting the wake for NAD83?
Someone's apparently trying to revive legendary Bay Area radio station KFOG ... on a transmitter in Berkeley with an effective radiated power of *taps earpiece* THREE WATTS!?
fccdata.org?facid=788339
fccdata.org?facid=788339
September 24, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Someone's apparently trying to revive legendary Bay Area radio station KFOG ... on a transmitter in Berkeley with an effective radiated power of *taps earpiece* THREE WATTS!?
fccdata.org?facid=788339
fccdata.org?facid=788339
Almost always 4326. Worked on an example with 'NAD83' a few days ago.
May 22, 2026 at 6:06 AM
Almost always 4326. Worked on an example with 'NAD83' a few days ago.
Re-Centering Canada: Inside the Modernization of the Canadian Spatial Reference System gogeomatics.ca/re-centering...
@lindastevens.bsky.social
#geosky #geospatial
@lindastevens.bsky.social
#geosky #geospatial
Re-Centering Canada: Inside the Modernization of the Canadian Spatial Reference System - GoGeomatics
North America is undergoing a significant shift in how geographical positions are defined. Both Canada and the United States are moving away from NAD83 (North American Datum of 1983), a system introdu...
gogeomatics.ca
September 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Re-Centering Canada: Inside the Modernization of the Canadian Spatial Reference System gogeomatics.ca/re-centering...
@lindastevens.bsky.social
#geosky #geospatial
@lindastevens.bsky.social
#geosky #geospatial
The Kentucky state plane coordinate system had previously been defined by state law as one explicitly based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). To develop a new state plane system consistent with the modernized national geodetic framework, the law had to be changed. That's not always easy.
January 8, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The Kentucky state plane coordinate system had previously been defined by state law as one explicitly based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). To develop a new state plane system consistent with the modernized national geodetic framework, the law had to be changed. That's not always easy.
The downtown cross-strip on a quiet Thursday evening. Either it's too early, the kids are cramming, or Thursday isn't the new Friday anymore.
February 20, 2026 at 5:06 AM
The downtown cross-strip on a quiet Thursday evening. Either it's too early, the kids are cramming, or Thursday isn't the new Friday anymore.
Forgetting that the XYZ Tiles layer (Mapzen Global Terrain) and its associated WGS 84 / Pseudo-Mercator or EPSG:3857 projection is loaded, and you switch to Alberta's official NAD83 / Alberta 10-TM (Forest) or EPSG:3400 projection . #30DayMapChallenge #Map #Projections
November 26, 2024 at 4:48 PM
Forgetting that the XYZ Tiles layer (Mapzen Global Terrain) and its associated WGS 84 / Pseudo-Mercator or EPSG:3857 projection is loaded, and you switch to Alberta's official NAD83 / Alberta 10-TM (Forest) or EPSG:3400 projection . #30DayMapChallenge #Map #Projections
One of the big things that helped me get through the isolation of Covid was combining my love of 3D modeling with my love for maps. Add in a bit of Python, and I started producing maps in my spare time. And I've loved every minute of it. #gis #blender #art #cartography
December 3, 2024 at 12:21 AM
One of the big things that helped me get through the isolation of Covid was combining my love of 3D modeling with my love for maps. Add in a bit of Python, and I started producing maps in my spare time. And I've loved every minute of it. #gis #blender #art #cartography
Yes! In the US too. Hikers used to piece together USGS survey maps, often with annotations, or use mimeo or photocopies. Hiking shops, like the long lamented Catskill Hiking Shack in Wurtsboro had them pieced together on the wall. I think Morgan Outdoors in Hurleyville still does.
June 4, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Yes! In the US too. Hikers used to piece together USGS survey maps, often with annotations, or use mimeo or photocopies. Hiking shops, like the long lamented Catskill Hiking Shack in Wurtsboro had them pieced together on the wall. I think Morgan Outdoors in Hurleyville still does.