Georeferálást

Georeferálást is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to an object or dataset. This allows the object or data to be located and analyzed within a spatial context. In essence, it's about giving something a real-world address. This can be applied to a wide range of things, from individual points on a map to entire collections of information.

The core of georeferálást involves establishing a relationship between a location in a known coordinate system (like latitude and longitude) and a location in a different, often arbitrary, system. For example, a scanned historical map might be georeferálást by identifying several points on the scanned image and matching them to their corresponding coordinates on a modern, georeferenced map. Software then uses these control points to stretch, rotate, and scale the scanned image so it aligns with the real world.

Common applications of georeferálást include digitizing paper maps, aligning satellite imagery with existing geographic data, and precisely locating historical documents or photographs. It is a fundamental step in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and is crucial for creating accurate spatial databases, performing geographic analysis, and integrating diverse datasets. Without georeferálást, spatial data would lack a concrete connection to the Earth's surface, rendering it less useful for mapping and analysis.