UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator)
A projected coordinate system split into zones, commonly used for accurate local measurements in meters.
Category: CRS & Coordinates
Definition (expanded)
UTM divides the world into longitudinal zones. Coordinates are expressed in meters within a zone, which makes distance and area calculations more straightforward than lon/lat degrees. If your workflow requires meter-accurate buffers and areas, a projected CRS like UTM is often used.
Related terms
CRS (Coordinate Reference System)A definition of how coordinates map to real locations on Earth, including projection, datum, and units.ProjectionA mathematical method for mapping the curved Earth to a flat plane, which affects distance, area, and shape.GeodesicMeasurements or operations computed on the curved Earth model rather than a flat plane.