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Oregon Geospatial Enterprise Office

​Oreg​on Lambert

Ten different major map projections have been commonly used in Oregon, and all have varied error across the state. A common projection for data display, analysis, publishing and transfer is needed. The Oregon Geographic Information Council​ endorsed the use of Oregon Lambert as a standard for state agencies. 

Oregon Lambert is recognized by the European Petroleum Survey Group (EPSG) which maintains and publishes an international coordinate reference system database. The EPSG spatial reference ID for Oregon Lambert is 2992​

Coordinate R​eferen​​ce System description

Projection:  LAMBERT CONIC CONFORMAL
Datum:  NAD83
Units: INTERNATIONAL FEET,  3.28084 (.3048 METERS)      ​                              
Spheroid:  GRS1980                      

Parame​t​ers

1st Standard Parallel: 43 00 0.000
2nd Standard Parallel:  45 30 0.000
Central Meridian:  -120 30 0.000
Latitude of Projection's Origin:  41 45 0.000
False Easting:  1,312,335.958 Feet
False Northing:  0.00000 Feet​

** Notes:  US Survey foot = 1200/3937 meters (0.3048006096 m).  International foot = 0.3048 m exactly, 1 meter = 3.28084 Intl. feet​


Oregon Lam​bert History

Oregon GIS Program Leaders (GPL) formed a committee to evaluate and recommend a common projection for data display, analysis, publishing and transfer for Oregon. The committee was comprised of representatives from the DAS/IRMD Geospatial Enterprise Office (SSCGIS), the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI).

Additionally, other organizations within the state were consulted. The committee reviewed projections in use, compared how neighboring states deal with similar issues, and calculated projection errors. They submitted a recommended standard​, Oregon Lambert, to the Oregon Geographic Information Council​ (OGIC) who endorsed the standard for use by state agencies.

Recom​mendations

  • Projection metadata accompany all spatial data transfers for Oregon agencies.
  • Spatial data published by Oregon agencies use the adopted standard, Oregon Lambert.​

Oregon Lambert methodology​​​

The total change in latitude for the state was calculated and then the standard parallels were set at 1/6th of the change north of the minimum and 1/6th of the change south of the maximum. The final values for the standard parallels were rounded to even or half degrees. The central meridian was set at 120 degrees 30', the mid point east to west of the state. The origin was shifted 400,000 meters to the west to put the entire state in the positive quadrant. 

Minimum, maximum, and mean percentage errors for each map projection.

Images Showing Calculated Percentage Error 
These maps were created from error statistic calculations based on formulas in Map Projections- A Working Manual by John Snyder, USGS Professional Paper 1385, 1987. Each "cell" is a 7.5' USGS quad. 

Polygon error (gif)​ Oregon Lambert, NAD83, Intl. Ft 

Polygon error (gif) US Lambert, NAD27, Meters 
Length error (gif) US Lambert, NAD27, Meters 

Polygon error (gif) State Plane North Zone, NAD83, Intl. Ft 
Length error (gif) State Plane North Zone, NAD83, Intl. Ft 

Length error (gif) UTM Zone 10, NAD83, Meters 

Polygon error (gif) Oregon Albers, NAD83, Meters 
Length error (gif) Oregon Albers, NAD83, Meters 
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