Virtual Surveyor is designed for working in projected coordinate systems. Virtual Surveyor sets the coordinate system from the first dataset you add. You can also change the set coordinate system. It is important to set the appropriate coordinate system as all your data will be exported in this coordinate system.


You can also set a local coordinate system in case your initial dataset has no coordinate system.


Overview


Initial Coordinate System

A newly created project contains no data nor a set coordinate system, and your Project Coordinate System will initially show as UNDEFINED until you add data. All newly uploaded data must include or be given a Project Coordinate System before you can work on it. 


Data that Includes a Coordinate System

If your imported data already includes the Project Coordinate System, Virtual Surveyor will automatically set the defined coordinate system for your project and no further action is required.


Data that Does Not Include a Coordinate System

If your imported data does not include a Project Coordinate System, you need to tell it what coordinate system you plan on using.

  • If you know the coordinate system you are using, simply use the search box to locate it by name, number, or EPSG code, select it, and click Run.
  • If you don't know what coordinate system you are using or want to work with local measurements, select I don't know to set it up as a Local Coordinate System.


Local Coordinate System

Virtual Surveyor allows you to set a local coordinate system when importing data for your new project. 


Warning: Once you set your project to a Local coordinate system it can no longer be reprojected. Virtual Surveyor only supports reprojection from a known system to another known system. You will need to start a new project if you want to use a specific coordinate system.


To set up a local coordinate system after importing undefined data:

  1. Tick the I don't know box, select the measurement units you intend to use (Metric, US Survey Foot, or International Foot), and click Run.


Once the Local coordinate system has been set, it will appear on the lower left side of the status menu next to Display Units.


Display Units

The Display Units feature is only used for showing measurement conversions within Virtual Surveyor. You can change your Display Units to convert a Project Coordinate System that is measured in meters to show in feet and vice versa.



Important! If you change the Display Units to show Imperial measurement conversions, but your Project Coordinate System uses Metric, any data you export will still be measured in meters. Data you export from Virtual Surveyor is always measured with the units that are set in the Project Coordinate System.


Changing the Project Coordinate System

You can always change the Project Coordinate System from the one you set with your initially uploaded data; be sure you are changing it to the coordinate system that uses the Imperial or Metric measurement system you are intending to use. Virtual Surveyor converts the initial coordinate system to the one you change it to, along with all your existing Elevation Terrain item(s) and Project Items.

  1. Click on Project Coordinate System in the Status Bar.
  2. Type the name, number, or EPSG code of the coordinate system in the search box.
    or
  3. Type "Local" in the search box and the possible options will appear.
    1. You can change your local coordinate system units to Meter, U.S. Survey Foot, or international Foot.
  4. Select the coordinate system you want to use from the popup window and click Apply to set the new coordinate system.
  5. All your data is now reprojected to this coordinate system.