Using GPS with Maps

Ellipsoid & Geoid

Topographic Surface
Ellipsoid (GPS)

Geoid (USGS Maps)

Earth
Projecting a Sphere Onto a Plane
Types of Projections
 Maps Datums,
& Coordinate Systems
 Datum
A datum specifies the earth-model (ellipsoid), and the origin
associated with a particular set of coordinates.
It’s a function of a projection.
Datums provide the link between the earth and coordinate
systems.
Without a datum, coordinates have no meaning.
There are many datums used worldwide.
Only one datum, WGS-84, is global, the rest are regional.
 North American Datums
NAD27 CONUS (Continental US)
NAD27 Alaska
NAD27 Canada
NAD83 CONUS (Continental US)
NAD83 Alaska
NAD83 Canada
WGS72
WGS84 (GPS internal datum)
 Datum Shift

4790
350m
150m
650m
4789 610m
Map Corner
NAD27

541 542

Map Corner
NAD83
2 Datums = 2 Sets of Coordinates

4790
4790
350m
150m
650m
4789
4789 610m
Map Corner
NAD27
541
541 542
542
Map Corner
NAD83 NAD27 Coordinates = 350m, 650m
NAD83 Coordinates = 150m, 610m
 Maps
A map is a two-dimensional representation of the earth.
Maps incorporate projections and datums for accuracy.
All maps distort the earth to some extent.
Many different types of maps can be used with GPS.
When using a map with a GPS receiver, the datum and
coordinate system must match.
 Map Legend
Mapped, edited, and published by the Geological Survey
Control by USGS USC&GS
Topography from aerial photographs by multiplex methods
and by plane-table surveys 1953. Aerial photographs taken 1951
Polyconic projection. 1927 North American Datum
10,000 foot grid based on Idaho coordinate system, west zone
1000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid ticks,
1000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid ticks, zone 11, shown in blue
To place on the predicted North American Datum 1983 move the projection lines 15 meters north and
77 meters east as shown by dashed corner ticks

00 28’ 18 1/20
329 MILS
8 MILS

UTM GRID AND 1971 MAGNETIC NORTH

DECLINATION AT CENTER OF SHEET
Latitude & Longitude
 Latitude & Longitude
A spherical coordinate system that is unprojected.
Angular coordinates are perfectly suited to the spherical
surface of the earth.
Coordinates are expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds
(and variations of that).
Position coordinates are based on an angular distance from a
known reference point.
That reference point is where the Prime Meridian and
equator intersect.
Lat/long is the predominant coordinate system used for
nautical and aeronautical navigation.
 Latitude & Longitude
Prime Meridian
(Longitude)

0º

0º
Equator
(Latitude)
Point of Origin
 Latitude & Longitude
N
Prime Meridian
30º
20º
10º
W 30º 20º 10º 10º 20º 30º E
+
10º
20º 0º, 0º
Equator
30º
S
 Latitude
Latitude is comprised of parallels, which are circles around
the earth paralleling the equator.
Parallels are rays that originate at the center of the earth.
They are designated by their angle north or south of the
equator.
The equator is 0º latitude, and the north and south poles are
at 90º angles from the equator.
The linear distance between parallel lines never changes,
regardless of their position on earth. That distance is
approximately 69 miles per degree anywhere on earth.
Parallels of Latitude

10º
 Parallels of Latitude
20º N

10º N
10º 690 miles

0º N 10º 690 miles

10º S
10º 690 miles
 Longitude
Longitude is comprised of meridians that form one-half of a
circle, or plane.
Meridians are rays which originate at the center of the earth.
Meridians are designated by their angle west or east of the
prime meridian.
The prime meridian is designated 0º and extends from the
north pole to the south pole through Greenwich, England.
Meridians are angled, and do not parallel each other.
The linear distance between one degree of longitude at the
equator is approximately 69 statute miles.
The linear distance between one degree of longitude at the
arctic circle is about 26 statute miles.
Meridians of Longitude

10º
Meridians of Longitude
10º
240 mi

10º
460 miles

10º
690 miles

120º W 110º W
Determining Latitude & Longitude
Prime Meridian
30ºN, 50ºW (0º)
50º W

30º N

Equator (0º)
 Universal Transverse Mercator
Is a rectangular coordinate system derived from latitude and
longitude.
The earth is divided into 60 UTM zones.
Sixty zones allows the earth to be projected onto maps with
minimal distortion.
UTM uses false values (easting and northing) to derive
coordinates.
Coordinates are expressed in meters.
 UTM Grid Overlay
60 Zones, and 20 Latitude Bands
Zones
1 21 60
84º N X
W
V
U
T
S
Latitude Bands

R
Q 21 T
P
N
M
L
K
J
H
G
F
E
D
C
80º S
UTM Zones Covering the Contiguous U.S.
Longitude
1260 1200 1140 1080 1020 960 900 840 780 720 660

19
10
11
12 18
13
14 15 16 17

UTM Zones
UTM Zones - Side by Side
840 N

60 60 60 60 60 60

Equator

800 S
 UTM Zone Grid Overlay

Meridian
Central

6º of Longitude

Zero East 500,000m E <1,000,000 m E

 UTM Coordinates
UTM Zone Number
Easting Coordinate

11T 0541450
4789650
UTM Latitude
Band Letter
Northing Coordinate
UTM Coordinates

4791

1,000 m

4790

9 5
5

4789
541 542 543
9

Red house coordinates = 0541450mE

4789650mN
 UTM Principle Digits

4790
350m

650m
4789

Map Corner
(Neatline)

541 542

Principle Digits
Using UTM to Determine Direction
N
“You are at
564900E,
4500200N”

W increasing E
+
300m

decreasing
“I am at
+ 565400E,
500m
4500500N”

S
 Determining Latitude
L
A 17’ 30”

LONGITUDE
T
I
T
U
Latitude of
2.5 min
D
red square = E

44º 16’ 30”

7.5 min. scale 1:24,000

44º 15’ 00”

Parallel
Lines
 Determining Longitude

Longitude of
red square =
115º 19’ 00”

Meridian
2.5 min
Lines 20’ 115º 17’ 30”