Updated:  20 April 2007

Geocentric Datum of Australia [GDA]


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Introduction

The Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) is the new Australian coordinate system, replacing the Australian Geodetic Datum (AGD).

GDA is part of a global coordinate reference frame and is directly compatible with the Global Positioning System (GPS).

It is the culmination of more than a decade of anticipation and work by the Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) and its predecessor, the National Mapping Council (NMC).

When the NMC adopted the AGD84 coordinate set in 1984, it "recognised the need for Australia to eventually adopt a geocentric datum." This was further recognised in 1988 when ICSM "recommended the adoption of an appropriate geocentric datum by 1 January 2000".


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GDA Specifications

Terminology
Datum: Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA)
Geographical coordinate set:
(latitude and longitude)
Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94)
Grid coordinates: (Universal Transverse Mercator, using the GRS80 ellipsoid)
Map Grid of Australia 1994 (MGA94)
Definition
Reference Frame: ITRF92 (International Terrestrial Reference Frame 1992)
Epoch: 1994.0
Ellipsoid: GRS80
Semi-major axis (a): 6,378,137.0 metres
Inverse flattening (1/f): 298.257222101

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For more information contact: geodesy@ga.gov.au