diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/geolocation.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/geolocation.py
index 876023fc2e..4d6a7d687e 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/geolocation.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/geolocation.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import numpy.typing as npt
 import ifcopenshell
 import ifcopenshell.util.unit
 import ifcopenshell.util.element
+import ifcopenshell.util.placement
 from typing import NamedTuple, Optional, Union
 
 
@@ -522,6 +523,14 @@ def auto_global2local(
 def xaxis2angle(x: float, y: float) -> float:
     """Converts X axis abscissa and ordinates to an angle in decimal degrees
 
+    The X axis abscissa and ordinate is how IFC stores grid north.
+
+    This X axis vector indicates "where is project east, if grid north is up
+    the page?". See the diagram on the IfcGeometricRepresentationContext
+    documentation for clarification.
+
+    The angle indicates "how do I rotate grid east to get to project east?".
+
     :param x: The X axis abscissa
     :param y: The X axis ordinate
     :return: The equivalent angle in decimal degrees from the X axis
@@ -534,6 +543,12 @@ def yaxis2angle(x: float, y: float) -> float:
 
     The Y axis abscissa and ordinate is how IFC stores true north.
 
+    This Y axis vector indicates "where is true north, if project north is up
+    the page?". See the diagram on the IfcGeometricRepresentationContext
+    documentation for clarification.
+
+    The angle indicates "how do I rotate project north to get to true north?".
+
     :param x: The Y axis abscissa
     :param y: The Y axis ordinate
     :return: The equivalent angle in decimal degrees from the Y axis
@@ -617,3 +632,18 @@ def angle2yaxis(angle: float) -> tuple[float, float]:
     x = -math.sin(angle_rad)
     y = math.cos(angle_rad)
     return x, y
+
+
+def get_wcs(ifc_file: ifcopenshell.file) -> Optional[npt.NDArray[np.float64]]:
+    """Gets the WCS (prioritising 3D contexts) as a matrix
+
+    :param: The IFC file
+    :return: A 4x4 matrix in project units
+    """
+    wcs = None
+    for context in ifc_file.by_type("IfcGeometricRepresentationContext", include_subtypes=False):
+        wcs = context.WorldCoordinateSystem
+        if context.ContextType == "Model":
+            break
+    if wcs:
+        return ifcopenshell.util.placement.get_axis2placement(wcs)
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_geolocation.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_geolocation.py
index 1b54973d7a..0d9d5d92c4 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_geolocation.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_geolocation.py
@@ -358,3 +358,43 @@ class TestAutoGlobal2Local(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
         m2[:, 1][0:3] = [-1, 0, 0]
         m2[:, 3][0:3] = [0, 3, 3]
         assert np.allclose(subject.auto_global2local(self.file, m2), m)
+
+
+class TestXAxis2Angle(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_run(self):
+        assert subject.xaxis2angle(1, 0) == 0
+        assert subject.xaxis2angle(1, 1) == -45
+        assert subject.xaxis2angle(-1, 1) == -135
+        assert subject.xaxis2angle(1, -1) == 45
+        assert subject.xaxis2angle(-1, -1) == 135
+        assert np.isclose(subject.xaxis2angle(0.8660254, -0.5), 30)
+
+
+class TestAngle2XAxis(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_run(self):
+        a = 0.707106781186
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2xaxis(0), (1, 0))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2xaxis(-45), (a, a))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2xaxis(-135), (-a, a))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2xaxis(45), (a, -a))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2xaxis(135), (-a, -a))
+
+
+class TestYAxis2Angle(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_run(self):
+        assert subject.yaxis2angle(0, 1) == 0
+        assert np.isclose(subject.yaxis2angle(-0.5, 0.8660254), 30)
+        assert subject.yaxis2angle(1, 1) == -45
+        assert subject.yaxis2angle(-1, 1) == 45
+        assert subject.yaxis2angle(1, -1) == -135
+        assert subject.yaxis2angle(-1, -1) == 135
+
+
+class TestAngle2YAxis(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
+    def test_run(self):
+        a = 0.707106781186
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2yaxis(0), (0, 1))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2yaxis(-45), (a, a))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2yaxis(45), (-a, a))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2yaxis(-135), (a, -a))
+        assert np.allclose(subject.angle2yaxis(135), (-a, -a))