Vertical Reference System

A vertical reference system is a 3D coordinate reference system in which position is defined by latitude, longitude, height or depth and a linear unit of measure, for example, feet or metres.

When the Z values in a vertical reference system represent depths, the Z axis direction is “positive-down”. (This is consistent with the HIPS and SIPS depth convention.)

In HIPS and SIPS the identification of the vertical reference system information used for a project can be added to a surface during its creation. Alternatively, it can be added to the Vertical Coordinate System field in the Properties of an existing surface.

A database of defined vertical reference systems is available in HIPS and SIPS in Tools > Options > Files and Folders. This information is drawn from the European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) database of reference systems, which can be found at: http://www.epsg-registry.org.¹

Procedure

To open the Vertical Reference System Editor:

1. Select the Reference System Editor command.

¹ Use of material from OGP Surveying and Positioning Committee’s EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry does not imply endorsement by OGP Surveying and Positioning Committee of CARIS products or services.