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From EPSG:2462 to EPSG:6870: The evolution of coordinate reference systems in Albania and the importance of KRGJSH2010 for the national geospatial infrastructure.
Introduction
�The use of coordinate systems in geodesy and cartography is essential to ensure interoperability, accuracy, and integrity of spatial data.
Coordinate systems make it possible to transform geographic information from the field into maps and digital models, supporting territorial analysis, urban planning, and the management of natural resources (Hofmann-Wellenhof et al., 2006; Leick et al., 2015).
Without a standardized reference system, coordinates found on one map may not be compatible with those on another map, creating significant inaccuracies in practice especially for infrastructure projects and GIS applications.
Methodology
This study examines the transition from EPSG:2462 to EPSG:6870 in Albania through three main components:
Together, these steps combine theoretical review (standards, legal/technical documents) and practical analysis (parameter comparison) to understand the geospatial impact of moving from EPSG:2462 to EPSG:6870 in Albania (ASIG, 2024; EPSG, 2024a; EPSG, 2024b).
History of coordinate systems in Albania
�For many years, Albania relied on different coordinate reference systems that reflected the technology and priorities of each period. The most widespread was EPSG:2462 (“Albanian 1987 / Gauss–Krüger zone 4”), based on the Krasovsky 1940 ellipsoid.
It worked for national topographic mapping, but it had two major problems: geometric distortions and weak compatibility with global systems like WGS84 and ETRS89 (EPSG, 2024a; Ordnance Survey, 2010).
As Albania moved toward EU standards and modern GNSS-based surveying, these limits became critical.
Converting data from EPSG:2462 to European reference frames was difficult and could introduce coordinate errors of several meters, which is unacceptable for infrastructure, cadastral work, and high-precision GIS (Altamimi et al., 2020).
Transition to EPSG:6870 and European harmonization�With the introduction of KRGJSH2010 and the adoption of the new system EPSG:6870 – ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010, Albania made a major step toward alignment with the European Terrestrial Reference System 1989 (ETRS89), the official geodetic reference frame used across the European Union (EPSG, 2024b; Altamimi et al., 2020).
This new system is based on the GRS80 ellipsoid and provides a stable national coordinate framework. It enables reliable integration of Albanian geospatial data into international networks, improves the consistency of digital mapping, and supports large infrastructure and environmental projects.
EPSG:6870 also allows more accurate transformations from older systems, reducing planimetric and altimetric distortions. In practice, this means better performance in topographic mapping, engineering surveys, and GIS applications, leading to more efficient territorial and resource management (Cucchi et al., 2018).
This shift is not only technical it is a strategic move that positions Albania within standardized European and global geospatial infrastructures.
Period | System | Key characteristics |
1987 – 2010 | EPSG:2462 | Albanian 1987 / Gauss–Krüger zone 4; based on the Krasovsky 1940 ellipsoid; limited compatibility with WGS84 and ETRS89; mainly used for national topographic and infrastructure mapping. |
2010 – present | EPSG:6870 | ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010; based on the GRS80 ellipsoid; aligned with European standards (ETRS89); enables inter-institutional and international data integration; optimized for GIS, digital cartography, and infrastructure projects. |
Figure 1. Chronological comparison of national coordinate systems in Albania
Visual transformation of coordinates
[EPSG:2462 – Gauss–Krüger Zone 4] → [EPSG:6870 – ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010]
Key aspects of the transition:
Period | System | Key characteristics |
1987 – 2010 | EPSG:2462 | Albanian 1987 / Gauss–Krüger Zone 4; based on the Krasovsky 1940 ellipsoid; limitations in integration with international systems (WGS84, ETRS89). |
2010 – present | EPSG:6870 | ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010; based on the GRS80 ellipsoid; harmonized with European standards (ETRS89). |
From EPSG:2462 (Gauss–Krüger Zone 4) | To EPSG:6870 (ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010) |
Standardized national coordinates | Harmonized European coordinates |
Planimetric and altimetric deviations | Precise transformations with minimal error |
Difficulty in international cooperation | Easy integration into EU geospatial networks |
Table 1. Chronological comparison of national coordinate systems in Albania
Table 2. Transition from EPSG:2462 to EPSG:6870
Literature Review
Coordinate systems evolved from local, country-specific ellipsoids to global and European standards to improve accuracy and interoperability.
Albania historically used the Krasovsky 1940-based system, which worked for national mapping but was not compatible with modern GNSS and cross-border data.
Newer reference frames like GRS80 and WGS84, and especially ETRS89 in Europe, solve this by providing a unified, high-precision geodetic base (Altamimi et al., 2017; Blewitt et al., 2010).
Albania’s move to KRGJSH2010 / EPSG:6870 aligns the country with ETRS89, supports reliable GIS and infrastructure planning, and harmonizes national data with EU geospatial standards (ASIG, 2024; Seeber, 2003).
Findings and Discussion
What is EPSG?�EPSG comes from the “European Petroleum Survey Group,” founded in 1985 by European oil companies to standardize geodetic reference systems used in exploration. Over time, the EPSG database became an international standard for spatial referencing.
The EPSG database assigns a unique numeric code to every geodetic element (datum, ellipsoid, projection, full coordinate reference system).
For example:
These codes are used in GIS, GNSS (e.g. GPS), surveying, and mapping to make sure that coordinates are interpreted correctly and consistently across institutions, software, and countries.
Although the original EPSG organization no longer exists, the EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset continues to be maintained and published through the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), and is considered authoritative for coordinate systems worldwide.
In simple terms: EPSG is a standardized coding system that allows everyone to “speak the same language” when working with coordinates.
EPSG:2462 (Albanian 1987 / Gauss–Krüger zone 4)
Code: EPSG:2462
Datum: Albanian 1987 (based on the Krasovsky 1940 ellipsoid)
Projection: Gauss–Krüger (a form of Transverse Mercator)
Central meridian: 21°E
Unit: meter
This system converts geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) into planar (X, Y) coordinates for mapping in Albania. It was the main national reference system from the late 1980s until the 2010s and was used for:
national topographic and geodetic maps
infrastructure projects (roads, bridges, utilities)
land measurement, cadastre, and urban planning
state geospatial databases before KRGJSH2010
Limitations of EPSG:2462:
It shows measurable positional differences when compared with GNSS/GPS coordinates.
It is not aligned with European geodetic standards like ETRS89.
Because it is based on Gauss–Krüger zones, working across larger regions required extra transformations and could introduce errors.
These issues made long-term interoperability, especially at European level, difficult and this is one of the main reasons Albania moved toward EPSG:6870.
Conceptual Diagram: Coordinate Shift from EPSG:2462 → EPSG:6870
Simple conceptual map (not to scale) North ↑ | | | EPSG:6870 ● (X = 500200, Y = 4620000) | | | EPSG:2462 ○ (X = 500150, Y = 4619950) | | | South
○ = The position of a given point in the old system EPSG:2462�● = The same position in the new system EPSG:6870
We can clearly see a difference in the X and Y coordinates (typically several tens of centimeters up to decimeters, depending on location). The shift is not huge, but it is significant for high-precision work: in modern topographic mapping and engineering projects, even a few meters of deviation can matter.
The planar coordinates (X, Y) change because of the datum and projection:
EPSG:6870 also ensures compatibility with ETRS89 and GNSS.
Conclusion
EPSG:2462 represents a historical system that supported Albanian geodesy and cartography during a period of limited technology. However, its limitations in accuracy and international interoperability made it necessary to adopt EPSG:6870 / ETRS89 Albania TM 2010, which brings Albania in line with modern satellite-based standards.
EPSG:6870 (ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010) — main characteristics:
Advantage | Explanation |
International integration | ETRS89 is the official European system, accepted by the EU and aligned with GNSS. |
Higher accuracy | Coordinate deviations are reduced compared to the Krasovsky 1940–based system. |
Modern GIS use | Enables consistent georeferenced data for infrastructure projects, urban planning, and land use. |
Unified parameters | One national projection (single central meridian and scale factor) for the entire Albanian territory. |
EPSG:6870 is now the official national coordinate reference system of Albania, defined by the Albanian Geodetic Reference Frame 2010 (KRGJSH2010). Its advantages over the old system can be summarized as follows:
In summary, the transition from EPSG:2462 to EPSG:6870 achieves:
Conclusions and Recommendations
EPSG:6870 (ETRS89 / Albania TM 2010) is now the official national coordinate system of Albania. It replaces EPSG:2462 and brings higher accuracy, GNSS compatibility, and full alignment with European standards. This change is essential for modern GIS, infrastructure planning, and cross-border data sharing.
Key recommendations:
Bibliography