> 
> >From: sjaeger@resdgs2.er.usgs.gov (Stefan Jaeger)
> >Subject: Re: projection problems
> >Date: Fri, 18 Feb 1994 08:16:33 -0500 (EST)
> >
> >The official designation is Gauss-Krueger. I don't know if the six degreee
> >zones are official or not, but the three degree step is
> > the way the system works in Germany.
> >
> >Stefan J.
> 
> An unfortunate name because Gauss-Kruger is also used for designation
> of the math method defining the Transverse Mercator---not a system for
> usage.  This is like simply using Transverse Mercator rather than UTM
> or "Universal" Transverse Mercator.
> 
> Perhaps this usage system is restricted to Germany and thus could be
> considered the German national plane coordinate system?  From my
> understanding, Egypt also uses TM with 3 degree zones but with only
> 300,000 false eastings.  The Egypt system also uses a central meridian
> scale factor of 0.99985 (rather than UTM's 0.996) which is appropriate
> for the narrower zones.  The GK uses 1.0 (unappropriate).  What does the
> German system use?  Lastly, if the CM's are on 3 degrees, it makes
> little sense for the zones to be 6 degrees wide, so I suspect they
> are 3 degree zones.
> 
> Again, this system and its apparent nomenclature clouds an issue that
> is already quite murky.  But because of this murkyness, I am very
> picky about sloppy nomenclature.
> 
> Gerald (Jerry) I. Evenden   Internet: gie@charon.er.usgs.gov
> voice: (508)563-6766          Postal: P.O. Box 1027
>   fax: (508)457-2310                  N.Falmouth, MA 02556-1027
> 

Mmmmh, I am not sure, what the German system uses as a scale factor for the
CM but I think it uses 1. At least I made successfull conversions with this
value (that means I tested the conversion from examples I found in a text
book). Yes, the zones are 3 degrees, you are right. With the 6 degree zone I
referred to your statement of 6 degrees being the offcial GK zone width,
that was explained not clearly enough by me (I'm still practicing english).
I am not a cartographer, so all what I'm saying here is no official
oppinion, it's simply what I learned as a student. But I am not aware of any
other name for the German system. I hope this helps to clarify things.

Stefan J.

