ETRS

The European Terrestrial Reference System (ETRS) is a modern geodetic reference system designed to provide a consistent and accurate spatial framework for Europe. It serves as the official reference system for the European Union and many European countries, facilitating precise measurements in geodesy, surveying, navigation, and geographic information systems (GIS).

ETRS is based on the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS), which defines a global coordinate system. The ETRS89 is its primary realization, an Earth-centered, dynamic reference frame that accounts for continental drift and other geophysical phenomena. Unlike older systems like the European Datum 1950 (ED50), ETRS89 is tied to the International GNSS Service (IGS) and modern satellite positioning technologies, ensuring higher accuracy and compatibility with global navigation systems.

The ETRS is defined by a set of control points distributed across Europe, including stable reference stations like those in the European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNOS) network. These points are determined using advanced geodetic techniques, including GPS, satellite laser ranging, and very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI). The system also incorporates a height reference, ETRS89 heights, which is based on the European Vertical Reference System (EVRS) and the European Gravity Field Model.

ETRS is widely adopted for mapping, land management, and infrastructure projects, ensuring interoperability across borders. It supports applications such as urban planning, environmental monitoring, and disaster response by providing a unified spatial reference. The system is regularly updated to maintain its accuracy, with new realizations (e.g., ETRS2015) incorporating the latest geodetic data and technological advancements.