Module 2: Coordinate Systems

 

       The lesson for our second week of class centered on coordinate systems. We explored various projected coordinate systems and the reasons for their respective application. Part of our assignment was to select a state of interest within the United States and create a map of that state utilizing an appropriate coordinate system of our own designation. I chose the state of Montana and implemented the NAD 1983 StatePlane Montana FIPS 2500 (Meters) coordinate system. I partially chose this system due to it being one of two coordinate systems commonly used within the United States, those being State Plane and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM). The other reasons for selecting the State Plane system are that Montana has three UTM zones but only one State Plane zone. Due to the entirety of Montana being encompassed by this singular State Plane zone, the State Plane system can be considered reliably accurate for the entire state