usescoordinate

Usescoordinate is a term used in geospatial software and computer graphics to indicate that a given operation should interpret input values as actual coordinates in a coordinate reference system rather than as abstract, screen-based or local unit coordinates. It may appear as a property on a map layer, a parameter to a rendering or analysis function, or as metadata accompanying a dataset.

In practice, marking a data source or operation as usescoordinate signals that coordinates are in a defined CRS (such as WGS 84 or a local projected system) and should be treated consistently with other spatial data. This affects rendering, spatial analysis, and data fusion by ensuring that distances, areas, and intersections are computed in the correct spatial frame. When usescoordinate is false or not set, coordinates might be assumed to be in a different space (for example, pixel coordinates for screen rendering), leading to misalignment with other layers.

Typical usage patterns include a boolean flag, a layer option, or a function parameter. Examples in pseudocode:

- renderFeature(feature, { usesCoordinate: true })

- layer.setOption('usesCoordinate', true)

- if (dataset.usesCoordinate) then transformToCRS(dataset.crs) before analysis

Relation to other concepts: usescoordinate is distinct from usesScreenCoordinates, which directs operations to the display space. It also connects with CRS handling, coordinate transformation, and data interoperability across systems that consume or produce spatial data.

Limitations and considerations: proper CRS metadata is essential; without it, enabling usescoordinate can lead to incorrect results. When combining datasets with different CRSs, explicit transformations are typically required prior to applying usescoordinate.