MensorGIS Projections Tutorial


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This Tutorial shows Geodetic and Cartographic Projection Functions of MensorGIS. You learn about




MensorGIS uses two independent Reference Systems (Menu „Reference Systems“): If you start up MensorGIS with Standard Preferences as well the Main System as well as the Import/Export System is set to „geographic“ with Datum „WGS84/ITRF“.
You may change the Main System to a projected System at the beginning. The Import/Export System always must be set conformly to the Data you want to import or export.


One Export Format of MensorGIS is special, it used for Graphical Visualisation (Menu „File-Export-SVG“):

Now to our first task after starting up MensorGIS or beginning a new Project („File - New“):

Import the World Data Sets with Geographic Coordinates (Datum WGS84/ITRF) „openCartoDBworld.xml“ containing about 2500 Cities around the World:
  1. Menu „File - Import - openCartoDB“

  2. select „openCartoDBworld.xml“

  3. answer the Question on Identity Check with „No“

  4. -> 10 Object Classes get created, 3 of them are used (Points *):

    Remark: You may turn the Icons On / Off by using Menus „Cartography - Icons On“ / „Cartography - Icons Off“


Visualize the Cities' (Points') Names
  1. Menu „Edit - Texts - Generate from Object Class“ -> Window „Create Text“:

  2. select Object Class „* OCDB_cities“

  3. select Attribute „name“

  4. select Color „Red“

  5. select Size „4“

  6. select Layer „1“

  7. press „Create Texts“

  8. close the Window (OK)


ProjectionsTutorial_ImportExportSys.jpg (14 kByte)

Set the Import/Export (Coordinates) System (for the next Import)
  1. Menu „Reference Systems - Import/Export System“ -> Window „Import/Export System“:

  2. select Type „projected“

  3. select Projection „StatePlane“ (USA)

  4. type in I(dentification)CODE „2001“

  5. select Unit „Meter“

  6. select Datum „Int1980/NAD83“

  7. press „Save“


Import the Shape File „MBTA_ARC.shp“ given State Plane Coordinates of Massachussets in Unit „Meters(!)“ .
  1. select Color „Cyan“

  2. Menu „File - Import - ShapeFile“ -> select „MBTA_ARC.shp“

  3. -> Object Class „MBTA_ARC“ containing Railway Lines to Boston/MA gets created.


Set Graphic Plot's Limits
  1. Menu „View - Limits - Fit Subset“ -> Window „Set Limits“ is shown:

  2. choose the Name of the Regional Data Set just imported (ComboBox at bottom)

  3. -> the Limits get displayed

  4. press „Save“

  5. -> the Region around „Boston“ in Massachussets gets displayed

  6. -> the City Point Feature of Boston is from the World Data Set (no perfect coincidence because the World Data Set has limited accuracy)

  7. You may Zoom in using Button Z+ or Cursor Menu „Zoom In“ to see all Lines in detail and picking a center Point

  8. You may display the Attribute Data using Button Show Attr or Cursor Menu „Show Attr“ and picking a Line Feature



Remarks on the Geodetic Projections:

Don't close the current Project - we use it for the second part of this Tutorial!


MensorGIS also can export the Project Data Set in a Cartographic Projection as SVG File. There are Cylindric, Azimutal and Conic Projections. For setting the Pole Distance of the Central Latitude and/or the Central Meridian you may call Menu „Extras - Set Preferences - SVG-Map Projections“ .

Only for this type of Export you don't have to set the Import/Export System; you can select the Cartographic Projection in a User Dialog.

Now to our second task using the same Project as above:

Turn the Text Features (City Names) off
  1. In the Tools Bar under „Layers“ click into the CheckBox beneath Layer "1" (containing the Text Features) so that the check disappears

  2. -> the City Names disapear


Export the Project Data Set into the SVG File „ProjTutor.svg“
  1. Menu „File - Export - SVG“ -> File Output Dialog of Windows is shown

  2. enter „ProjTutor“ as the File Name (the Extension .svg is added automatically)

  3. press „Save“

  4. -> Dialog „Projection“ is shown:

  5. enter „12“ for the Cylindric Lambert Projection

  6. press „OK“

  7. -> Export of about 3000 Points, Lines and Texts (the Attribute Warning does not matter in this case)

  8. An SVG File can be displayed by many Browsers – at least after Installation of a Plug-In.



Remarks on the Geographic Projections:

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MensorGIS Version 1.1.1, 2012/03/29