Cartographic transformations in ArcGIS for South America
ArcGIS offers a number of geographic transformations between coordinates in the older Prov South American Datum of 1956 (PSAD56) and the modern WGS 1984 datum.
ESRI Press has published a book on this topic titled "Lining Up Data", 2010.
Finding the PSAD1956 datum in ArcGIS
The PSAD1956 datum is supported in ArcGIS. The coordinate system settings are found under Coordinate System menus under UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator)
Predefined > Projected Coordinates > UTM > Other GCS > Prov. S. Amer Datum, UTM Zone X (Northern or Southern hemisphere).
You need to know what UTM zone your data falls in before you can apply a UTM Coordinate System to it in ArcGIS. A UTM Zone reference map is available online.
Geographic Coordinate System (Latitude/Longitude) or "unprojected"
Predefined > Geographic > South America > La Canoa
The PSAD1956 datum is commonly referred to as La Canoa the geographical coordinate system.
In the Geographic Transformation box in ArcGIS various transformations become available.
With PSAD56 - WGS84, commonly used with UTM data in Andean South America, there are 13 available transformations.
It is not obvious, but to go from WGS1984 to PSAD1956 (the reverse direction) you must pick one of those transformations as well. The software knows which way to sign the transformation based on the reference system of the original dataset.
An average of Andean South America transformations is provided by
- PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1
The recommended transformation for PSAD56-WGS84 for Bolivian UTM data is
- PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_2
and for Peruvian UTM data it is
- PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_8
for other South American countries see the ESRI Projected Coordinate Systems for South America at the bottom of this webpage.
Further resources
- A series of articles published in Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing called "Grids & Datums" covers cartographic datums and historical mapping in various countries around the world. Many South American countries are included in the list.
- Peter Dana's list of Geodetic datums is useful.
- This page listing ArcIMS projection parameters contains a useful reference list
Below is a list of the appropriate transformation to use by country from the ArcGIS "Geographic Transformations.PDF" help file.
| Area of use | ArcGIS Transformation Name | Code |
| Argentina | Campo_Inchauspe_To_WGS_1984 | 1127 |
| Argentina | POSGAR_1998_To_SIRGAS_1 | 1774 |
| Argentina | POSGAR_1998_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1773 |
| Argentina | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Argentina | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1865 |
| Argentina - Neuquen Province, | Campo_Inchauspe_To_WGS_1984_ | 1527 |
| Chos Malal Area Argentina - Neuquen Province, | Chos_Malal_1914_To_Campo_Inchauspe | 1528 |
| Chos Malal Area Argentina - Neuquen Province, | Chos_Malal_1914_To_WGS_1984 | 8517 |
| Chos Malal Area Argentina - Tierra Del Fuego | Hito_XVIII_1963_To_WGS_1984 | 1529 |
| Bolivia | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1201 |
| Bolivia | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1202 |
| Bolivia | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Bolivia | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_3 | 1866 |
| Bolivia - block 20 | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_11 | 1583 |
| Bolivia - Madidi | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_10 | 1582 |
| Brazil | Corrego_Alegre_To_WGS_1984 | 1132 |
| Brazil | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Brazil | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_4 | 1867 |
| Brazil | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_14 | 1548 |
| Brazil - Campos, Espiritu Santo, Santos Basin | Aratu_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1549 |
| Brazil - offshore Amazon cone | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_12 | 1811 |
| Brazil - Tucano Basin North | Aratu_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1550 |
| Brazil - Tucano Basin Central | Aratu_To_WGS_1984_3 | 1551 |
| Brazil - Tucano Basin South | Aratu_To_WGS_1984_4 | 1552 |
| Chile | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Chile | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_5 | 1868 |
| Chile (Northern, near 19 S) | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_3 | 1203 |
| Chile (Southern, near 43 S) | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_4 | 1204 |
| Chile - Tierra del Fuego | Hito_XVIII_1963_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1892 |
| Colombia | Bogota_Bogota_To_Bogota | 1755 |
| Colombia | Bogota_Bogota_To_WGS_1984 | 8174 |
| Colombia | Bogota_To_WGS_1984 | 1125 |
| Colombia | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1201 |
| Colombia | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_5 | 1205 |
| Colombia | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Colombia | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_6 | 1869 |
| Colombia - Casanare, BP | Bogota_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1597 |
| Cusiana/Cupiagua Field Areas Ecuador | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1201 |
| Ecuador | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_6 | 1206 |
| Ecuador | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Ecuador | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_7 | 1870 |
| Ecuador (Baltra, Galapagos) | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_8 | 1871 |
| Falkland Islands (East Falkland Island) | Sapper_Hill_1943_To_WGS_1984 | 1225 |
| French Guiana | CSG_1967_To_RGFG_1995_1 | 1908 |
| French Guiana | CSG_1967_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1906 |
| French Guiana | RGFG_1995_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1907 |
| Guyana | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1201 |
| Guyana | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_7 | 1207 |
| Guyana | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Guyana | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_9 | 1872 |
| Paraguay | Chua_To_WGS_1984 | 1131 |
| Paraguay | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Paraguay | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_10 | 1873 |
| Peru | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1201 |
| Peru | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_8 | 1208 |
| Peru | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Peru | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_11 | 1874 |
| South America | POSGAR_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1598 |
| South America | SIRGAS_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1581 |
| Suriname | Zanderij_To_WGS_1984 | 1235 |
| Trinidad | Naparima_1955_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1555 |
| Trinidad | Naparima_1955_To_WGS_1984_3 | 1556 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Naparima_1972_To_WGS_1984 | 1192 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Naparima_1972_To_WGS_1984_2 | 8212 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Naparima_1972_To_WGS_1984_3 | 1307 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_12 | 1875 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Trinidad_1903_To_WGS_1984 | 1296 |
| Uruguay | Yacare_To_WGS_1984 | 1234 |
| Venezuela | La_Canoa_To_REGVEN_1 | 1771 |
| Venezuela | La_Canoa_To_SIRGAS | 108217 |
| Venezuela | La_Canoa_To_WGS_1984_2 | 1096 |
| Venezuela | PSAD_1956_To_REGVEN | 1769 |
| Venezuela | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_9 | 1209 |
| Venezuela | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1201 |
| Venezuela | PSAD_1956_To_WGS_1984_13 | 1095 |
| Venezuela | REGVEN_To_SIRGAS_1 | 1767 |
| Venezuela | REGVEN_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1768 |
| Venezuela | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_1 | 1864 |
| Venezuela | SAD_1969_To_WGS_1984_13 | 1876 |
| Venezuela - Delta Amacuro, Anzoategui, | La_Canoa_To_WGS_1984 | 1516 |
| Bolivar, Monagas, Sucre States | ||
Projected Coordinate Systems - South America
This table is pasted from the ESRI Map Projection Tables.
| Country/Area |
Longitudinal Limit |
Transformation Code |
|
South America |
102032 South_America_Equidistant_Conic |
|
|
South America |
102033 South_America_Albers_Equal_Area_Conic |
|
|
South America |
102015 South_America_Lambert_Conformal_Conic |
|
|
Argentina |
West of 70°30' W |
22191 Argentina_Zone_1 |
|
Argentina |
70°30' W to 67°30' W |
22192 Argentina_Zone_2 |
|
Argentina |
67°30' W to 64°30' W |
22193 Argentina_Zone_3 |
|
Argentina |
64°30' W to 61°30' W |
22194 Argentina_Zone_4 |
|
Argentina |
61°30' W to 58°30' W |
22195 Argentina_Zone_5 |
|
Argentina |
58°30' W to 55°30' W |
22196 Argentina_Zone_6 |
|
Argentina |
East of 55°30' W |
22197 Argentina_Zone_7 |
|
Argentina |
Neuquen 70.5° to 67.5° W |
2081 Chos_Malal_1914_Argentina_2 |
|
Argentina |
Tierra del Fuego onshore W of 67.5° W |
2083 Hito_XVIII_1963_Argentina_2 |
|
Argentina |
Tierra del Fuego |
2084 Hito_XVIII_1963_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Argentina |
Comodoro Rivadavia W of 67.5° W |
2082 Pampa_del_Castillo_Argentina_2 |
|
Argentina |
60° W to 54° W |
31981 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Argentina |
66° W to 60° W |
31980 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
Argentina |
72° W to 66° W |
31979 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Argentina |
78° W to 72° W |
31978 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Bolivia |
72° W to 66° W |
24879 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Bolivia |
66° W to 60° W |
24880 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
Bolivia |
60° W to 54° W |
31981 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Bolivia |
66° W to 60° W |
31980 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
Bolivia |
72° W to 66° W |
31979 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Brazil |
Coastal areas S of 2°55' S and W of 48° W |
20822 Aratu_UTM_Zone_22S |
|
Brazil |
Coastal areas S of 2°55' S and 48° W to 42° W |
20823 Aratu_UTM_Zone_23S |
|
Brazil |
Coastal areas S of 2°55' S and E of 42° W |
20824 Aratu_UTM_Zone_24S |
|
Brazil |
NE coastal area 45° W to 42° W |
22523 Corrego_Alegre_UTM_Zone_23S |
|
Brazil |
NE coastal area 42° W to 40° W |
22524 Corrego_Alegre_UTM_Zone_24S |
|
Brazil |
54° W to 48° W |
29100 SAD_1969_Brazil_Polyconic |
|
Brazil |
54° W to 48° W |
31922 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_22N |
|
Brazil |
54° W to 48° W |
31982 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_22S |
|
Brazil |
54° W to 48° W |
31983 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_23S |
|
Brazil |
54° W to 48° W |
31984 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_24S |
|
Brazil |
60° W to 54° W |
31985 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_25S |
|
Brazil |
60° W to 54° W |
31921 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Brazil |
66° W to 60° W |
31981 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Brazil |
66° W to 60° W |
31920 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Brazil |
72° W to 66° W |
31980 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
Brazil |
72° W to 66° W |
31919 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
Brazil |
78° W to 72° W |
31979 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Brazil |
84° W to 78° W |
31978 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Chile |
78° W to 72° W |
24877 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
Chile |
72° W to 66° W |
24878 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Chile |
72° W to 66° W |
24879 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Chile |
78° W to 72° W |
31979 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Chile |
Offshore west of 78° W |
31978 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Colombia |
Offshore east of 78° W |
21817 Bogota_UTM_Zone_17N |
|
Colombia |
West of 1°30' W of Bogota (75°34'51.3" W) |
21818 Bogota_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
Colombia |
1°30' W to 1°30' E of Bogota (75°34'51.3" to 72°34'51.3" W) |
21891 Colombia_West_Zone |
|
Colombia |
1°30' E to 4°30' E of Bogota (72°34'51.3" to 69°34'51.3" W) |
21892 Colombia_Bogota_Zone |
|
Colombia |
East of 4°30' E of Bogota (69°34'51.3" W) |
21893 Colombia_East_Central_Zone |
|
Colombia |
72° W to 66° W |
21894 Colombia_East_Zone |
|
Colombia |
72° W to 66° W |
31919 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
Colombia |
78° W to 72° W |
31979 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Colombia |
78° W to 72° W |
31918 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
Colombia |
84° W to 78° W |
31978 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Colombia |
84° W to 78° W |
31917 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_17N |
|
Colombia |
84° W to 78° W |
31977 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
Ecuador |
84° W to 78° W |
24877 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
Ecuador |
78° W to 72° W |
24818 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
Ecuador |
78° W to 72° W |
24878 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Ecuador |
78° W to 72° W |
31918 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
Ecuador |
78° W to 72° W |
31978 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Ecuador |
84° W to 78° W |
31977 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
Ecuador |
North of equator - 84° W to 78° W |
31917 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_17N |
|
Falkland Islands |
West of 60° W |
29220 Sapper_Hill_1943_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
Falkland Islands |
East of 60° W |
29221 Sapper_Hill_1943_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Falklands |
60° W to 54° W |
31981 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Falklands |
66° W to 60° W |
31980 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
French Guiana |
54° W to 48° W |
31922 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_22N |
|
French Guiana |
60° W to 54° W |
31921 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Guyana |
66° W to 60° W |
24820 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Guyana |
60° W to 54° W |
24821 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Guyana |
60° W to 54° W |
31921 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Guyana |
66° W to 60° W |
31920 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Netherlands Antilles |
72° W to 66° W |
24819 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
Paraguay |
60° W to 54° W |
31981 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Paraguay |
66° W to 60° W |
31980 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
Peru |
84° W to 78° W |
24877 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
Peru |
78° W to 72° W |
24878 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Peru |
72° W to 66° W |
24879 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Peru |
West of 79° W |
24891 Peru_West_Zone |
|
Peru |
79° W to 73° W |
24892 Peru_Central_Zone |
|
Peru |
East of 73° W |
24893 Peru_East_Zone |
|
Peru |
72° W to 66° W |
31979 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
Peru |
78° W to 72° W |
31978 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
Peru |
84° W to 78° W |
31977 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
South America |
78° W to 72° W |
29118 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
South America |
72° W to 66° W |
29119 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
South America |
66° W to 60° W |
29120 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
South America |
60° W to 54° W |
29121 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
South America |
54° W to 48° W |
29122 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_22N |
|
South America |
84° W to 78° W |
29177 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_17S |
|
South America |
78° W to 72° W |
29178 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_18S |
|
South America |
72° W to 66° W |
29179 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_19S |
|
South America |
66° W to 60° W |
29180 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_20S |
|
South America |
60° W to 54° W |
29181 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
South America |
54° W to 48° W |
29182 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_22S |
|
South America |
48° W to 42° W |
29183 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_23S |
|
South America |
42° W to 36° W |
29184 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_24S |
|
South America |
36° W to 30° W |
29185 SAD_1969_UTM_Zone_25S |
|
Suriname |
60° W to 54° W |
24821 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Suriname |
31170 Zanderij_Suriname_Old_TM |
|
|
Suriname |
31171 Zanderij_Suriname_TM |
|
|
Suriname |
Offshore |
31154 Zanderij_TM_54_NW |
|
Suriname |
60° W to 54° W |
31921 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
Tobago |
2066 Mount_Dillon_Tobago_Grid |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
Trinidad |
2067 Naparima_1955_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
Trinidad |
27120 Naparima_1972_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
Trinidad |
30200 Trinidad_1903_Trinidad_Grid |
|
Uruguay |
54° W to 48° W |
31982 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_22S |
|
Uruguay |
60° W to 54° W |
31981 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_21S |
|
Venezuela |
West of 72° W |
24718 La_Canoa_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
Venezuela |
72 to 66° W |
24719 La_Canoa_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
Venezuela |
72° W to 66° W |
24819 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
Venezuela |
66° W to 60° W |
24820 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Venezuela |
66° W to 60° W |
24720 La_Canoa_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Venezuela |
East of 60° W |
24721 La_Canoa_UTM_Zone_21N |
|
Venezuela |
Maracaibo area |
2101 Lake_Maracaibo_Grid_M1 |
|
Venezuela |
Maracaibo area |
2102 Lake_Maracaibo_Grid |
|
Venezuela |
Maracaibo area |
2103 Lake_Maracaibo_Grid_M3 |
|
Venezuela |
Maracaibo, offshore blocks I, II, III |
2104 Lake_Maracaibo_La_Rosa_Grid |
|
Venezuela |
78° W to 72° W |
24818 PSAD_1956_UTM_Zone_18N |
|
Venezuela |
66° W to 60° W |
31920 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_20N |
|
Venezuela |
72° W to 66° W |
31919 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_19N |
|
Venezuela |
78° W to 72° W |
31918 SIRGAS_UTM_Zone_18N |