Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan has created its own geodetic coordinate system with a network of permanent reference stations.
On the recommendation of the Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC), the government of the country has implemented the project "National Spatial Data Infrastructure," which is aimed at ensuring the self-sufficiency of the republic in the field of geodesy and cartography.
During the previously conducted state audit of the effectiveness of land management, geodesy and cartography, it was established that Kazakhstan does not have its own geodetic coordinate system, which complicates the creation of a single digital cartographic ecosystem.
At the time of the inspection, the republic used a system of coordinates, heights, gravimetric and satellite measurements created in the middle of the last century. Nowadays, it is technically and morally outdated.
"In this regard, SAC recommended that the government take measures to establish its own geodetic coordinate system and create a satellite geodetic network. In solving this, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry successfully completed a large-scale budget investment project ‘National Spatial Data Infrastructure.’ To date, all planned tasks have been completed in full," the SAC reported.
According to the department, the information system "State Geoportal of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure" has been put into commercial operation. This tool provides government agencies and other interested parties with access to up-to-date and accurate spatial data necessary for effective territorial management.
"Along with this, from January 1, 2025, the modern state coordinate system QazTRF - 23 (Qazaqstan Terrestrial Reference Frame 2023, Kazakhstan's terrestrial coordinate reference frame of 2023) and Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) were launched. The coordinate system created in this way will ensure high quality of geodetic and cartographic data, and will also become the basis for the further development of the country's spatial data infrastructure. Thanks to the introduction of QazTRF-23, the accuracy of geodetic measurements will significantly increase, opening up broad prospects for the state in the field of territorial planning, construction and creation of modern data management systems," the department said.
All these innovations mark a new stage in the digitalization of geodesy and cartography in Kazakhstan, the SAC concluded.
What is a geodetic coordinate system?
The geodetic coordinate system is the basis for accurately determining the location of objects on the Earth's surface. It includes coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) and a network of reference stations that provide high measurement accuracy.