Georeferenzieren

Georeferenzieren is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to data. This data can include maps, aerial photographs, satellite imagery, or even scanned documents. Essentially, it involves linking the spatial location of an object or feature on a digital representation to its real-world position on Earth. This is achieved by identifying known control points on the source data and matching them to corresponding points with known coordinates in a geographic coordinate system.

The primary goal of georeferencing is to enable spatial analysis and integration. Once data is georeferenced, it can be accurately overlaid with other geographic datasets, such as topographic maps, cadastral information, or other imagery. This allows for a wide range of applications, including mapping, surveying, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster management. Without georeferencing, digital representations of geographic information would lack a precise connection to the real world, rendering them less useful for spatial tasks.

The process typically involves selecting a target coordinate system, such as latitude and longitude or a projected coordinate system like UTM. Transformation algorithms are then applied to warp the source data to fit the target system based on the identified control points. The accuracy of the georeferencing is dependent on the number and distribution of control points, as well as the quality of the original data and the chosen transformation method.