Datums and Reference Frames A geodetic datum or reference frame is an abstract coordinate system with a reference surface (such as sea level) that serves to provide known locations to begin surveys and create maps.
A geodetic datum or geodetic system (also: geodetic reference datum, geodetic reference system, or geodetic reference frame, or terrestrial reference frame) is a global datum reference or reference frame for unambiguously representing the position of locations on Earth by means of either geodetic coordinates (and related vertical coordinates) or geocentric coordinates. [1] Datums [note 1] are ...
DATUM definition: a single piece of information, as a fact, statistic, or code; an item of data. See examples of datum used in a sentence.
DATUM definition: 1. a single piece of information 2. a single piece of information. Learn more.
In engineering, datums are a fixed reference point, line or plane used to establish a coordinate system which engineers use to locate and measure certain features on a part. Datums are basically the starting point of any measurement—they keep measurements accurate throughout the manufacturing, the assembly, and the quality checks. […]
datum (plural (sense 1 and 2) data or (senses 3 and 4) datums) Something known or assumed as fact, and is made the basis of reasoning or inference which an intellectual system of any sort (such as knowledge or theoretical framework) is constructed.
The reference specifications of a measurement system, usually a system of coordinate positions on a surface (a horizontal datum) or heights above or below a surface (a vertical datum).
A datum provides a reference for the geographic coordinates we use to reference data to the earth. For hundreds of years, datums were established in each area for the data to be referenced to within that area.