position
the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle position as a spatial property: what reference frame and coordinates are used, how position is measured and with what accuracy, how arrangement and posture are described, and which other senses of the word belong elsewhere.
The spatial property of where something is situated or the way it is arranged: its place relative to a reference frame or to other things, and the posture or configuration it holds; expressed by coordinates, bearings, distances, named places or descriptive terms, and distinct from the other senses of position such as a job or an opinion.
What it is for: Not for anything; a property of things in space.
It can be state where something is in a chosen frame; convert between coordinate systems and descriptions; measure and record accuracy; describe arrangement and posture.
Distinguishing features
Requires a reference frame
Can be absolute or relative
Includes posture and arrangement, not only location
Measured with stated accuracy
What it looks like
Not visible in itself; shown by markers, coordinates and diagrams.
Physical character
coordinates: 2 or 3 values - plus a reference frame
positional accuracy: millimetres to kilometres distance - by method
How it is recognised
A location or arrangement relative to a reference
Coordinates, bearings, distances or named places
Position as a job, an opinion or a rank are other senses
Related models
is a kind of - a property of things in space
needs - to be expressed
is measured by - satellite, survey or sensor
is confused with - a place rather than a property
In practice
Families and kinds
geographic position by latitude, longitude and height
relative position by bearing and distance
position in a layout or formation
posture of a body or object
position in a sequence or on a scale
Standards and regulation
ISO 19111 spatial referencing by coordinates
Geodetic datum standards such as WGS 84
ISO 80000 quantities and units
Failure modes and hazards
Coordinates without a stated datum
Mixing senses of the word
Overstated accuracy
Analytical facets
- substance
- abstract
- origin
- conceptual
- agency
- inert
- mobility
- not-applicable
- scale
- not-applicable
- affordances
- observable
Also called
+199
Where this came from
oewn:2024 · CC BY 4.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Frame Reference and coordinates.
No position without a frame.
Reference
Reference frame.
Reference
Reference.
- What reference frame or datum is the position given in? definition
- Is the question about spatial position or another sense of the word? boundary
Coordinates
Coordinate systems.
Coordinates
Coordinates.
- Which coordinate system is used, and how are values converted between systems? action
- Which entry fits a specific coordinate system? action
Measure Measuring position.
Accuracy matters.
Methods
Methods.
Methods
Methods.
- How is position measured, by satellite, survey, sensor or description? measurement
- What accuracy does the method give? measurement
Record
Recording.
Record
Record.
- How should position be recorded with datum, time and uncertainty? action
- Which standard governs the record? provenance
Arrangement Posture and layout.
Position is also configuration.
Posture
Posture of bodies.
Posture
Posture.
- How is the posture or orientation of an object or body described? definition
- Which entry fits orientation? action
Layout
Position in a layout.
Layout
Layout.
- How is position within a formation, layout or sequence expressed? definition
- Is the arrangement relative or absolute? boundary
Use Applications and study.
Use.
Applications
Uses.
Applications
Applications.
- How is position used in navigation, mapping, robotics and logistics? provenance
- Which entry fits navigation? action
Study
Geometry and geodesy.
Study
Study.
- How do geometry and geodesy formalise position, and which references are standard? provenance
- How is the concept taught? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should posture and arrangement be separate from location?
- How should coordinate reference systems be linked?
- The registry entry has merged sailing rig aliases that belong to a different sense; should they be removed?