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X, Y, Z Coordinates

An extension of x, y coordinates to include a z value, which represents elevation or depth, enabling three-dimensional spatial analysis.

X, Y, Z Coordinates

What do X, Y, Z Coordinates represent in GIS?

A geographic feature's three-dimensional location in space is represented by its X, Y, and Z coordinates in a GIS.


  • The horizontal position in the east-west direction is represented by the X-coordinate (abscissa).

  • The vertical position in the north-south direction is represented by the Y-coordinate.

  • Building height, depth below the surface, or terrain elevation are examples of vertical dimensions that are indicated by the Z-coordinate.


Accurate mapping and spatial analysis are made possible by the fact that these three coordinates together identify a particular location in 3D space. Mapmaking and interpretation, terrain modelling, elevation-related feature analysis, and 2D and 3D visualization of the Earth's surface all depend on them.

Related Keywords

A mathematical framework for locating points in three-dimensional space is called a 3D coordinate system. Three perpendicular axes, X, Y, and Z, that cross at the origin (0,0,0), describe it. An ordered triplet (x, y, z) is used to represent each point in space, indicating its location along these axes. This method is frequently used for modelling and evaluating spatial interactions in computer graphics, physics, engineering, geometry, and GIS.

A system known as cartesian coordinates uses two perpendicular axes, typically denoted by the letters x (horizontal) and y (vertical), to identify points on a plane. An ordered pair (x, y) defines each point, with x representing the distance along the horizontal axis and y representing the distance along the vertical axis. René Descartes developed this approach, which is essential to computer graphics, physics, engineering, and mathematics.

A coordinate-based framework called a spatial reference system (SRS) is used to specify how geographic data is mapped to actual locations. It gives spatial data from various sources the reference (such latitude/longitude or projected coordinates) they need to properly align on a map.

Using latitude and longitude data, a geographic coordinate system (GCS) is a reference framework for locating locations on the surface of the Earth. It is crucial for mapping, navigation, and geographic information systems (GIS) since it identifies locations in degrees and is based on a three-dimensional spherical representation of the earth.

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