Transformation between Geodetic Datums Utilising Thin Plate Spline (TPS) Method

Abstract

The thin plate spline (TPS) method offers significant potential to reduce local geometric distortions often found in geodetic networks established through traditional methods. Despite the advantages of the TPS method, its application in coordinate transformations between local and global datums, and vice versa, remains limited. This paper investigates the flexible TPS transformation method, which effectively incorporates information about systematic distortions arising from measurement and calculation errors in triangulation and traverse networks. The findings of this paper indicate that employing this method can substantially enhance the positional accuracy of transformed points, thereby improving the quality of boundary points in digital cadastral maps. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that an adequate number of check points is crucial for accurately assessing the effectiveness of the transformation method in the specific areas where these points are located.