What are Absolute coordinates?

Absolute coordinates mean the Cartesian System, which consists of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis. This cartesian system measures the distance from the intersection of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis called the origin.

The absolute coordinates are then used to specify the object location concerning the origin (0, 0).

Consider the above figure, which represents the two-dimensional cartesian system divided into four quadrants, namely quadrant 1, quadrant 2, quadrant 3, and quadrant 4.

Quadrant 1 contains only the positive axis. Whereas Quadrant 3 contains only a negative axis.

When we consider the below image, the origin is the intersection of both the x and y-axis. It is denoted as "0, 0" points, and the absolute coordinate measured from the origin is "7,6," which is 7 units through the x-axis and 6 units through the y-axis.

The absolute coordinates are useful while giving the data inputs to the CAD program. To draw a line(indicated in blue) as shown in the above image, the user should give input in the form (x, y) form. The x and y values represent the distance of the line, which is x units away from the origin on the X-axis and y units on the Y-axis.

The (1,4) input makes a line 1 unit to the right and four units above from the origin.

When the user wants to draw a shape in a three-dimensional plane, input three values in the format (x, y, z) representing the distance away from the origin in the X, Y, and Z axis, respectively. The point (1,2,3) draws a line 1unit above the X-axis and 2 units right to Y-axis and 3 units from the origin in the Z-axis.

AutoCAD:

Can absolute coordinates be negative?

In AutoCAD, the location of a point is specified from 0-X, 0-Y, 0-Z(0, 0, 0) point. The absolute coordinates do not include negative dimensions because absolute coordinates include only Quadrant 1 in a cartesian plane. In the AutoCAD software, the absolute coordinates mean only positive values of the axis.

Uses of the absolute coordinates

• Absolute coordinates denote and specify the accurate dimensions of geometric figures such as lines, pyramids, etc.
• We can calculate the distance between two points with accuracy.
• When we consider the information systems of geographical locations, the location of a particular object or point on a feature map is done using the absolute coordinates of an already-known coordinate system. Let's consider a specific country location on a globe. It is represented by absolute coordinates concerning the intersection point of the equator and prime meridian, which is named 0-degree latitude and 0-degree longitude.
• The engineers use the coordinates to design the models before constructing the various buildings and bridges.
• Engineers use the coordinates in the CAD (Computer Aided Design) program to model the blueprint.
• Scientists use the coordinates to denote the position of many objects like asteroids and planets present in space.
• The width, height, and length of a building constructed on the ground are measured using absolute coordinates. Here one base corner of the building is considered as an origin.