Positionskarte

Positionskarte, or position map, is a cartographic product used in surveying, GIS, and fieldwork to display the exact geographic locations of a defined set of objects or phenomena. Its primary purpose is to provide a spatial reference by emphasizing coordinates and positioning over thematic attributes.

A typical positionskarte includes a coordinate reference system, scale, a north arrow, and a legend. Features are represented as points (for individual locations), lines (for routes or boundaries), or polygons (for areas of influence or coverage). The map is commonly created by compiling coordinates from GPS devices, surveying measurements, or digitizing from existing maps, and then georeferencing the data to a common CRS in a GIS. It may be overlaid on a basemap or satellite imagery to give contextual location information.

Applications and use cases include field surveys for archaeology, environmental sampling, infrastructure asset management, urban planning, and logistical site mapping. It serves as a practical tool for inventorying objects, planning movements, coordinating teams, and documenting spatial distributions of sites or assets.

In relation to other map types, a positionskarte concentrates on where features are located rather than on the attributes of those features. It can function as a standalone reference map or as a base layer within a broader GIS project, supporting subsequent analysis with spatial context.