Use the Project Coordinates tab in the Create New Project Wizard window to define the coordinate system and units that will be used to store your data and create your output models and diagrams.
Why specify coordinate projection and units? By defining the RockWorks project space you can bring in data from other applications (such as geo-referenced aerial photos) and have things line up right. You can also export to geo-referenced applications like Google Earth very easily.
? Don't know your coordinate projection? No problem. You can just define a generic system ("local coordinates"). If you ever want to assign a projection or re-project the coordinates, there are tools for that, as well.
! If you have requested that the new project be based on an existing project, it will use that project's coordinate system.
- Horizontal Coordinates and Units: These settings will define the coordinate system and units (feet or meters) in which your borehole or sample locations (X and Y) will be defined.
- Local: Choose a Local Coordinate System if:
(a) you don't know/care what coordinate system your data represent,
(b) your coordinates are based on a local (not-global) grid system,
(c) you are opening a RockWorks15 project and don't know that project's projection, or
(d) your projection is not listed here.
- Local Coordinate System Origin: Use these prompts to enter a known longitude (X) and latitude (Y) coordinate for the 0,0 location for your local coordinate system. This offers a means of geo-referencing your local coordinates.
! If you don't know the origin coordinates, you can leave these fields set to 0,0.
! RockWorks15 Users: Since RockWorks15 coordinates were basically "unitless", if you're opening a RockWorks15 project and don't know what projection to use, select Local Coordinates with 0,0 origin.
- LCS Units: Choose Feet or Meters for the units in which these local X and Y coordinates are defined.
- SPC: Choose the State Plane Coordinates (NAD-83) option if your XY coordinates are referenced to a U.S. State Plane projection system, based on the NAD-83 datum.
! See the Other option, below, if your State Plane coordinates are based on NAD-27.
- State Plane Coordinate Zone: Click on this button to select the Zone for the coordinates. You'll see a reference map plus a list of zone names to the right. Click on the zone in the list to the right.
- Units: Choose Feet or Meters for the units in which these State Plane X and Y coordinates are defined.
- UTM: Choose this option if your XY coordinates are referenced to a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection system.
- Datum: Click on this button to select the Datum for the UTM coordinates.
! See the Other option, below, if your datum is not shown here.
- Zone: Click on this button to select the UTM Zone.
- Units: Choose Feet or Meters for the units in which these UTM X and Y coordinates are defined.
- Other: Choose this option if your project units are not included in the above options. (More info)
- Vertical Units: Here, you need to define the units you'll be using to define elevations (such as at the top of your boreholes), depths (downhole measurements), and casing offsets. Choose either Feet or Meters.
- Output Units: The coordinate system you've selected for data storage (above) will also be used in your output models (grid models, block models) and diagrams (maps and 3D scenes). If your horizontal and vertical units don't match (e.g. mixed feet and meters), then you need to select which units to use for your output. Since RockWorks does a lot of volume computations, cubic meter-feet don't make sense. You have to choose one or the other.
Choose either Feet or Meters.
- If you've entered all of the information for the required tabs, click the Finish button to create the new project.
- RockWorks will ask you to confirm the coordinates and units that you have defined for your data and output. If you agree with the units that are displayed, click the Yes button. (Click No if you wish to return to the wizard to make any changes.)
RockWorks will proceed to create the new folder, database, etc. as described in the Introduction.
RockWare home page
Back to new-project introduction | What's Next 