SEVENPAR - Modeling of Helmert Seven Parameter Sets from identical points in two Reference Systems

Detailed Description of the current Version
Multi Language Support
User Interface Details
Prices SEVENPAR
Download Place order

SEVENPAR geosoftware calculates exact transformation parameters for the spatial Helmert Seven Parameter Transformation according to Bursa-Wolf and for the Molodensky Three Parameter Transformation on the basis of identical points in different Reference Systems. The applied identical points are intensively checked for outliers and plausibility. The quality of the determined parameters is checked by cross-calculation and statistical methods and the result is stored in a cluster field. Bad matching identical points are determined and suggested for rectification. With the modeled Helmert Parameter Sets GIS and transformation programs can perform precise coordinate transformations between two geodetic Reference Systems.

SEVENPAR - Version 14.10 - Last update on 20 May 2024
The latest larger changes History of Modifications and Supplements

Quality analysis supplemented and improved.
New chapter "Variants of Parameter Sets" in the help file.
Outliers can be excluded from the calculation.
Number of identical points increased to one million.
The quality of the Helmert Parameter Set is checked and documented.

Modeling of Helmert Parameter Sets

Calculation with Identical Points

Identical Points

Calculated Residuals of Identical Points

Calculated Residuals

Modeled Helmert Seven Parameter Set

Helmert Seven Parameter Set

In many branches, custom defined areas and situations coordinates have to be transformed into different Coordinate Reference Systems (CRS). The geodetic software SEVENPAR is the tool of choice to calculate Helmert Parameter Sets to perform coordinate transformations between that CRS. This requires a list with the coordinates of identical points for both CRS. SEVENPAR is a very flexible tool for calculating precise Helmert Parameter Sets for exact coordinate transformations. Additional the program calculates a Rotation Matrix, the residuals of all identical points for further use, and as quality criterias the Maximum, Average and Mean Square (RMS) Residuals. After modeling a Helmert Parameter Set, its quality is checked by cross-calculation and the result is written to a cluster field. Badly fitting identical points are determined and suggested for correction. The determined transformation parameters can be entered directly into suitable transformation software, e.g. TRANSDATpro Coordinate Transformation, or into the calculation software of GPS receivers to do exact Coordinate Transformations.

SEVENPAR - Detailed Program Description
Modeling of Parameter-Sets for the Spatial Helmert and Molodensky Transformation with seven or three Parameters

The seven respectively three exact transformation parameters are computed with the aid of upto one million identical points. Those are points with known coordinates in two different Reference Systems (geodetic datum). Suitable are Cartesian Coordinates and also Geographical Coordinates and UTM Coordinates with ellipsoidal height using the earth ellipsoid dimensions. Identical measuring points of higher order can be inquired or referred by the official measurement survays. The necessary ellipsoid half-axes and flattenings are available in the program for the selection from lists.

The coordinates of the identical points are tested intensively on outliers and deviations by different statistic procedures. The quality of the computed parameters is documented by a residual matrix and by the computation of the middle, maximum and root mean square (RMS) deviations. In addition, the quality of a Helmert Parameter Set is checked by cross-calculation.

The seven parameters of the Spatial Helmert Transformation are calculated in the three standards "Coordinate Frame Rotation", "Position Vector Transformation" and "European Standard ISO 19111". The three parameters for Molodenky parameter sets are calculated using the "Standard Molodensky Transformation".

The program has a user-selectable multi language interface and comes with extensive online help. The program can be run on most common networks and it is possible to use Terminal Services on WINDOWS Servers. In case of a network installation the clients are installed automatically by the program.

Calculation accuracy

All formulas used for the spatial Helmert transformation, the Molodensky transformation and for the statistic examinations are based on strict formulas. Approximations are not used.

There are to determine seven parameters of the spatial Helmert transformation, i.e. three translations, three rotations and a scale correction. The parameters are calculated by the compensation according to the method of the smallest squares (L2 norm, Helmert transformation). Therefore must be dissolved a formula system with seven equations and seven unknown quantities. The resulting parameters are calculated in the three most usual standards. Those are the Coordinate Frame Rotation, the Position Vector Transformation and the European Standard ISO 19111. Small-scale Helmert Parameter Sets, for example for an urban area, are very accurate and can be effective up to the centimeter range. Large-scale parameter sets, for example for an entire country, may well lie in the submeter range.

For the Molodensky transformation the program determines three parameters, i.e. three translations. The Molodensky transformation is one of the most widely used methods for transforming geodetic coordinates from one datum to another. The three parameters for Molodenky parameter sets are calculated using the Standard Molodensky Transformation. It is also one of the least accurate, due in large part to the fact that it does not account for rotation or scaling between datums. Errors on the order of meters are the norm with Molodensky transformations.

For the quality analysis, the program transforms all identical points of the source system into the target system using the newly modeled Helmert Parameter Set. The results obtained in this way are then compared with the original coordinates of the target system. The deviations between the calculated coordinates and the original coordinates of the target system are clearly displayed in a cluster field.

The program SEVENPAR was tested with a reference program of the Geodetic Land Survey of the German state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The determined seven parameters of the spatial Helmert transformation exhibited only extremely slight deviations. With the translations dX, dY, dZ the deviation is less than 0,00001 meters; that corresponds the hundredth of a millimeter. With the rotations dRX, dRY, dRZ the deviation is less than 0,000001 seconds; that corresponds the millionth of a second. With the scale correction parameter dM the deviation is less than 0,000001 ppm.

Multilanguage support

The program SEVENPAR is equipped with a modern graphical user interface of which handling is to understand intuitively. For each window detailed help texts can be shown. The detailed electronic documentation of the program SEVENPAR is available in both English and German language. However, the user interface can be represented in many languages. For this purpose, external language files are used. When starting the program, it notes which language files are available in the calling directory. The found languages then are provided for selection in a list box. By creating new language files, new languages can be added by users to the program SEVENPAR at any time.

Network ability

The program SEVENPAR can be run on most common networks. The client installations works automatically. It is possible to use Terminal Services on WINDOWS Servers like e.g. "Citrix Terminal Server".

Pricing, ordering and licensing

Pricing and ordering information can be found in the Price list. For available licensing options have a look to the License page. Order the program with the electronic Order Form.

Download of the test version

The free test version of the program with a detailed user manual can be downloaded as ZIP packed file by the Internet.

Use of an illegal program version

Managing Director Fred Killet explains why you should never use an illegal version of our geodetic program SEVENPAR.