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Also known as: Lat/Lon, Geographic Coordinates
Angular geographic coordinates specifying positions on Earth’s surface relative to the equator and prime meridian.
DESCRIPTION
Latitude and longitude form the geographic coordinate system for positioning on Earth. Latitudes measure north–south angles; longitudes measure east–west angles. They underpin geocoding, mapping, distance calculations, and spatial joins. Correct use requires specifying the datum and CRS (e.g., WGS84) and handling precision and projection considerations. They are the foundation for global location interoperability.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
Wikipedia
Latitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the north–south position of a point on the Earth’s surface.
Explicitly describes the north–south positional nature of latitude.
Wikipedia
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east–west position of a point on the Earth’s surface.
Defines longitude’s east–west positional characterization.
RELATED TERMS
GPS Coordinates WGS 84 Coordinate Reference System Geohash Geocoding Map Projection Geographic Information System Geographic Data Great-circle Distance
COMPETING TERMS
Projected Coordinates UTM
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Data Modeling Data Science Data Engineering Data Visualization
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Engineer Data Scientist Data Analyst Data Architect BI Specialist
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Geographic coordinate system
- EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry - CRS definitions and parameters
- QGIS - Projections and CRS guidance
- Open Geospatial Consortium - CRS WKT standard
TOP QUESTIONS
Why are Latitude/Longitude essential in data systems?
They provide universal positioning compatible across datasets and tools. They enable accurate spatial joins and mapping.
Category: Relevancy
What datum should be used with Latitude/Longitude?
WGS84 is common for GPS and global datasets. Specify the CRS to avoid misalignment and errors.
Category: Requirements
What is a common mistake with Latitude/Longitude?
Mixing coordinate reference systems without transforming. Swapping latitude and longitude leads to invalid points.
Category: Mistakes
How precise should Latitude/Longitude be?
Use sufficient decimal precision for your application. Consider privacy constraints when storing high-precision coordinates.
Category: Opinion
How do Latitude/Longitude relate to UTM?
UTM is a projected system optimized for local accuracy. Convert between geographic and projected coordinates for analysis.
Category: Example
How to compute distances with Latitude/Longitude?
Use haversine or Vincenty formulas. For large areas, great-circle calculations are preferred.
Category: Example
What risks arise without CRS metadata?
Maps misalign and analyses become inaccurate. Always include datum and projection metadata in pipelines.
Category: Risks
How are Latitude/Longitude stored?
Store as decimal degrees, preferably as geometry/geography types in spatial databases. Validate ranges and formats.
Category: Requirements
Where to learn about Latitude/Longitude?
Study CRS standards from OGC and EPSG. Practice with QGIS and spatial SQL.
Category: Example