coordinate system

In the context of FME, that space is often either a 2- or 3-dimensional representation of the Earth. Points are located using coordinates (groups of numbers, typically x,y in a 2D space or x,y,z in 3D), measuring offsets from an arbitrary point of reference - such as the equator, prime meridian, and sea level.

Coordinate systems can use a variety of units for measurement, including degrees (as in latitude and longitude), and units with fixed distances (such as meters, feet, millimeters, and so on). They can also describe position locally (not referenced to the Earth) such as a lot survey referenced to one corner, or a 3D model referenced to its own local origin. When the coordinates are tied to a location relative to Earth, they are considered georeferenced.

Many datasets used in FME will have a coordinate system associated with them, and one common task is reprojecting data from one coordinate system to another. There are thousands of coordinate systems, and multiple methods for reprojecting, including custom user-defined coordinate system definitions.