Geographic position in the context of Geopositioning

Geopositioning is the process of determining or estimating the geographic position of an object or a person.Geopositioning yields a set of geographic coordinates (such as latitude and longitude) in a given map datum. Geographic positions may also be expressed indirectly, as a distance in linear referencing or as a bearing and range from a known landmark.The resulting geoposition is sometimes referred to as geolocation, and the process of geopositioning may also be described as geo-localization.In turn, positions can be used to determine a more easily understandable location, such as a street address (see reverse geocoding).

Geographic data and information is defined in the ISO/TC 211 series of standards as data and information having an implicit or explicit association with a location relative to Earth (a geographic location or geographic position). It is also called geospatial data and information, georeferenced data and information, as well as geodata and geoinformation.

Geographic data and information is stored in geographic databases and geographic information systems (GIS).There are many different formats of geodata, including vector files, raster files, web files, and multi-temporal data.

Position resection and intersection are methods for determining an unknown geographic position (position finding) by measuring angles with respect to known positions.In resection, the one point with unknown coordinates is occupied and sightings are taken to the known points;in intersection, the two points with known coordinates are occupied and sightings are taken to the unknown point.

Measurements can be made with a compass and topographic map (or nautical chart), theodolite or with a total station using known points of a geodetic network or landmarks of a map.