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XY coordinates do not align with Shapefile

Question asked by guillermock on Sep 2, 2014
Latest reply on Sep 2, 2014 by jborgion

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I´ve been trying to fit XY coordinates with a shapefile.

So far, I've tried everything posted on previous discussions and forums, but had no success.

The GCS from my excel file is unknown (the sheet that I've been working with is "Delitos_Cabina" and it refers to crime incidents in Zapopan, a city in Jalisco, Mexico).

The GCS from my shapefile is ITRF_1992.

Could someone help me out with this?

Even if I define the GCS from the shapefile, it does not align.

Thanks in advance.
Guillermo

j_orellana Sep 2, 2014 12:05 PM

Correct Answer

This is what I did but please note that I am not guaranteeing this is the right answer, this is just based on my guess of the point data.

Click File > Add Data > Add XY Data. and when the window pops up it will look like the image on the left, Then go to Edit button at the bottom, then a new window will pop up, like the one on the right, then hit Select. A new window will show up and then Navigate to Projected Coordinate Systems>UTM>Nad 1983>and select NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N.prj. Hit OK all the way through and your points will look like mine.

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jborgion

Sep 2, 2014 10:46 AM

Guillermo- the best way to post shapefiles is to zip all the components (shp, prj, shx, dbf) in one zip file.

That said, here are a couple of things to consider: GCS stands for Geographic Coordinate System. This is not truly a projection but rather what I would call a grid of convenience and the units are in Degrees of Latitude and Longitude.

I took a look in google for ITRF_92 and found the following older forum post on it: GCS_ITRF_92 - How Do i Project This?

Hope this helps-

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guillermock @ jborgion on Sep 2, 2014 11:35 AM

Thank you very much for your answer.

Indeed, I am working with shapefiles from INEGI (Mexico's National Statistics and Geography Institute).
But my problem is not with the ITRF_92 itself, but with how do I manage to coincide both layers.

Even if I define the GCS from the excel file according to INEGI's layer, they don't match.

Here is what I've been doing:
First I import the shapefile and then the excel table.
Then, I Add XY Data and define the Coordinate System of Input Coordinates according to the shapefile description.
Nevertheless, they don't match.

I've also tried to switch XY coordinates, but the result is still the same.

Thanks
G

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j_orellana Sep 2, 2014 11:38 AM

Just a though, I have looked at the excel spreadsheet and just based on the coordinates (and I know this is not the best way to determine what coordinate system you are working with) it seems like this is in UTM. After checking out online, this area of Mexico is in Zone 13. So when I defined them as UTM NAD83 zone 13, this is what I get. Tough to know for sure but it's an idea.

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guillermock @ j_orellana on Sep 2, 2014 11:52 AM

I know this is too much to ask, but could you explain to me step by step what did you do?

I defined both layers as you suggested, but the result wasn't the same.
In my case they still don't match. It must be something that I'm doing wrong (or not doing properly).

Thank you soooo much.

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j_orellana @ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:05 PM

This is what I did but please note that I am not guaranteeing this is the right answer, this is just based on my guess of the point data.

Click File > Add Data > Add XY Data. and when the window pops up it will look like the image on the left, Then go to Edit button at the bottom, then a new window will pop up, like the one on the right, then hit Select. A new window will show up and then Navigate to Projected Coordinate Systems>UTM>Nad 1983>and select NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N.prj. Hit OK all the way through and your points will look like mine.

1 person found this helpful

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guillermock @ j_orellana on Sep 2, 2014 12:28 PM

Thank you soooooooo much for all your help.
I've finally been able to fit both layers. I'm almost sure you're guess is right because when I added the other layers, all the points coincided.

One more thing, how did you identify in which part of Mexico this is located? (I mean how were you able to determine that this was in Zone 13?)

All the best
G

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jborgion

@ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:39 PM

If you google utm zones or utm zones mexico, you find what you need

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j_orellana @ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:40 PM

Glad that worked for you. I did a quick search online for the UTM zones in Mexico and came up with this document

http://www.uabcs.mx/geologia/geo_bajamx/sig/zonas_utm.pdf

and also double checked with this file that contains all the UTM zones in the world

https://community.esri.com/inbox?objectType=2&objectID=401487

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jborgion

@ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:41 PM

Also- you may want to take a look at:

http://downloads2.esri.com/support/documentation/ao_/710Understanding_Map_Projections.pdf

This explains projections better than anything else out there.

1 person found this helpful

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9 Replies

jborgion Sep 2, 2014 10:46 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Guillermo- the best way to post shapefiles is to zip all the components (shp, prj, shx, dbf) in one zip file.

That said, here are a couple of things to consider: GCS stands for Geographic Coordinate System. This is not truly a projection but rather what I would call a grid of convenience and the units are in Degrees of Latitude and Longitude.

I took a look in google for ITRF_92 and found the following older forum post on it: GCS_ITRF_92 - How Do i Project This?

Hope this helps-
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- guillermock @ jborgion on Sep 2, 2014 11:35 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Thank you very much for your answer.
  
  Indeed, I am working with shapefiles from INEGI (Mexico's National Statistics and Geography Institute).
  But my problem is not with the ITRF_92 itself, but with how do I manage to coincide both layers.
  Even if I define the GCS from the excel file according to INEGI's layer, they don't match.
  
  Here is what I've been doing:
  First I import the shapefile and then the excel table.
  Then, I Add XY Data and define the Coordinate System of Input Coordinates according to the shapefile description.
  Nevertheless, they don't match.
  
  I've also tried to switch XY coordinates, but the result is still the same.
  
  Thanks
  G
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
j_orellana Sep 2, 2014 11:38 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Just a though, I have looked at the excel spreadsheet and just based on the coordinates (and I know this is not the best way to determine what coordinate system you are working with) it seems like this is in UTM. After checking out online, this area of Mexico is in Zone 13. So when I defined them as UTM NAD83 zone 13, this is what I get. Tough to know for sure but it's an idea.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- guillermock @ j_orellana on Sep 2, 2014 11:52 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  I know this is too much to ask, but could you explain to me step by step what did you do?
  
  I defined both layers as you suggested, but the result wasn't the same.
  In my case they still don't match. It must be something that I'm doing wrong (or not doing properly).
  
  Thank you soooo much.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
  - j_orellana @ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:05 PM
    Unmark Correct
    Correct Answer
    This is what I did but please note that I am not guaranteeing this is the right answer, this is just based on my guess of the point data.
    
    Click File > Add Data > Add XY Data. and when the window pops up it will look like the image on the left, Then go to Edit button at the bottom, then a new window will pop up, like the one on the right, then hit Select. A new window will show up and then Navigate to Projected Coordinate Systems>UTM>Nad 1983>and select NAD 1983 UTM Zone 13N.prj. Hit OK all the way through and your points will look like mine.
    1 person found this helpful
    Like • Show 1 Like1
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    - guillermock @ j_orellana on Sep 2, 2014 12:28 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Thank you soooooooo much for all your help.
      I've finally been able to fit both layers. I'm almost sure you're guess is right because when I added the other layers, all the points coincided.
      
      One more thing, how did you identify in which part of Mexico this is located? (I mean how were you able to determine that this was in Zone 13?)
      
      All the best
      G
      Like • Show 0 Likes0
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      - jborgion @ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:39 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        If you google utm zones or utm zones mexico, you find what you need
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
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      - j_orellana @ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:40 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Glad that worked for you. I did a quick search online for the UTM zones in Mexico and came up with this document
        
        http://www.uabcs.mx/geologia/geo_bajamx/sig/zonas_utm.pdf
        
        and also double checked with this file that contains all the UTM zones in the world
        
        https://community.esri.com/inbox?objectType=2&objectID=401487
        Like • Show 0 Likes0
        Actions
      - jborgion @ guillermock on Sep 2, 2014 12:41 PM
        Mark Correct
        Correct Answer
        Also- you may want to take a look at:
        
        http://downloads2.esri.com/support/documentation/ao_/710Understanding_Map_Projections.pdf
        
        This explains projections better than anything else out there.
        1 person found this helpful
        Like • Show 1 Like1
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XY coordinates do not align with Shapefile

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