spatial reference

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spatial reference" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to geography, mapping, or data analysis where the location or position of objects in space is being discussed. Example: "In geographic information systems, a spatial reference is essential for accurately mapping and analyzing data."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This gave a statistical representation but without a spatial reference.

Forest Ecology and Management

There was a progressive age-related decline in spatial reference memory across the lifespan.

Neurobiology of Aging

They also suggest the possible involvement of the perirhinal cortex in spatial reference memory performance.

Behavioural Brain Research

The scanning team, EuroPac 3D, used a laser to build up thousands of spatial reference points across the tombs' surfaces.

BBC

Temporal and spatial reference frames are dynamically skipped when their expected numbers of matching blocks are insignificant.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

In a second step, general weather warnings without a specific spatial reference were deleted from the dataset.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Although some basic spatial reference was introduced into the simulation, the system cannot handle space-optimization problems.

Visualization in Engineering

The old ad libitum-fed mice had significantly poorer performance in a spatial reference memory task than all other groups.

Neurobiology of Aging

If, on the other hand, one wants to measure the momentum of an object the measuring instrument must be able to move relative to the spatial reference frame.

SEP

Possibly this means "that particular one" without any spatial reference.

Wikipedia

These data show that S100a9 knockdown increased the spatial reference memory in Tg2576 mice.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing geographic data, clearly define the "spatial reference" system used (e.g., latitude/longitude, UTM) to ensure accurate interpretation and avoid inconsistencies.

Common error

Don't confuse the term "spatial reference", which defines the coordinate system, with "spatial resolution", which refers to the level of detail or precision in spatial data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spatial reference" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as a technical term within fields like geography, mapping, and data analysis. It typically acts as a subject or object, defining the coordinate system. Ludwig examples illustrate this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

85%

News & Media

8%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "spatial reference" is a grammatically sound and frequently used term, especially in scientific and technical domains. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to define coordinate systems for accurate location representation. Predominantly found in scientific literature, its formal tone is essential for precise communication in fields like GIS and data analysis. When writing, ensure a clear definition of the "spatial reference" system to prevent ambiguity. Alternatives include "coordinate system" or "geographic location", depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

coordinate system

Focuses specifically on a mathematical system for defining location.

geographic location

Emphasizes the earth-based location.

spatial orientation

Highlights the position and direction in space.

location data

Focuses on the data representing a location.

positional information

Highlights information related to an object's position.

mapping coordinate

Specifically refers to coordinates used in mapping.

reference frame

A more general term for a system used to define position.

georeference

The process of assigning real-world coordinates to an image or map.

geometric framework

Emphasizes the geometric aspect of defining spatial relationships.

spatial framework

Focuses on the spatial aspect within a defined structure.

FAQs

How is "spatial reference" used in GIS?

In Geographic Information Systems (GIS), "spatial reference" is crucial for accurately mapping and analyzing geographic data. It defines the coordinate system, datum, and projection used to represent real-world locations on a map.

What's a good alternative to saying "spatial reference"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "coordinate system", "geographic location", or "spatial orientation".

What does it mean when data lacks a "spatial reference"?

If data lacks a "spatial reference", it means the location or position of the data is not defined in a standard coordinate system, making it difficult to accurately map, analyze, or integrate with other spatial datasets.

What's the difference between "spatial reference" and "spatial data"?

"Spatial reference" defines the coordinate system, datum, and projection, while "spatial data" refers to the actual information about locations and their attributes. A "spatial reference" provides the framework for organizing and interpreting spatial data.