A methodology for transformation between geodetic datums used in Syria

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) provides geodetic coordinates referenced to the world ellipsoid WGS84, whereas positions are computed on the local ellipsoid adopted for geodetic computation in various countries. Thus, to take advantage of GNSS in geodetic applications, the need arises to transform coordinates from the global ellipsoid to the local ellipsoid. This is usually carried out by applying geometric transformation models to convert coordinates from The Global Geodetic System WGS84 into the local systems used in each country of the world and into the grid coordinates of local systems. Over the past years, with the increase in the utilization of GNSS in several geodetic projects, numerous methodologies are available for the solution of transformation issues. These methods can be classified into three categories, the first is based on direct mathematical formulas, the second on iteration approaches, and the last category depends on direct transformation from the global system to the local system based on the calculation of transformation parameters (three, seven, nine …etc.). In this study, a methodology has been proposed for direct transformation from global geodetic coordinates to local geodetic coordinates for a limited area in Syria. It is based on the properties of the ratio and proportion between the geometric elements of points on global and local ellipsoids without the calculation of transformation parameters. The results are compared with some studied methods (Bursa-Wolf, Molodensky Abridge, and Cassini). The resulting accuracy is about ± 3.5 cm. The main conclusion drawn is that the proposed method provides a promising alternative approach in coordinates transformation. Therefore, the capability of the suggested methodology as a powerful method for converting geodetic coordinates from one referenced frame to another has been demonstrated in this present study.