Which coordinate system is commonly used by GPS receivers globally?

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The World Geodetic System (WGS) 84 is the standard coordinate system used by GPS receivers worldwide. It provides a consistent framework for geographic coordinates, enabling users to pinpoint locations on the Earth's surface with precision. WGS 84 is based on a global reference ellipsoid, which models the shape of the Earth, and it incorporates a geoid model to account for variations in elevation and gravity across different regions. This adherence to a global standard allows GPS devices to function uniformly across different locations, ensuring that coordinates obtained by GPS users are universally understood and can be transformed into other coordinate systems when necessary.

In contrast, while the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) is a widely used mapping system that divides the world into a series of zones, it is not a global standard but rather a projection system that is more localized. Similarly, NAD83 (North American Datum 1983) is primarily used in North America and integrates various local surveys, which makes it regionally focused. The Geocentric Coordinate System refers to a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system centered on the Earth, but it is not the primary standard referenced by GPS technologies. Thus, WGS 84's universal applicability and integration within the GPS framework establish it as the dominant coordinate

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