Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!hubcap!ncrcae!opusc!bea!tim From: tim@bea.hssc.scarolina.edu (Tim White) Newsgroups: comp.graphics Subject: Re: X=525120,Y=893580 map coordinates Message-ID: Date: 21 Nov 90 12:17:49 GMT References: <1990Nov20.142756.1109@vax5.cit.cornell.edu> Sender: usenet@opusc.csd.scarolina.edu (Usenet news system) Distribution: comp Organization: Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia Lines: 41 Nntp-Posting-Host: 129.252.1.3 myk@vax5.cit.cornell.edu writes: >Can anybody tell me how to convert from metric map coordinates >(X=nnnnnn, Y=nnnnnn) to latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes, >and seconds? I tried to find a book that would include this, but >apparently didn't look under the right subjects. Sounds like an >esoteric question, so please send email rather than posting/followup. >Thanks! >-- >Mike Oltz, Interactive Multimedia Group, Cornell University >myk@cornella.bitnet Mike, read the fine print on your map and tell me the coordinate system being used. Most maps produced by the USGS will have multiple coordinate systems. It is common to see lat/long, state plane, and utm on a given map. If this is not labeled on the map, email and tell me roughly where it is and we will make an educated guess. By the way all these assume a U.S. map. Non - U.S. maps may require more work. For more info on conversions see the following U.S.G.S. publications by John Snyder. "Map Projections used by the U.S. Geological Survey". Geological Survey Bulletin 1532. ( This is the bible for cartographers, history, concepts, forward and inverse projections ). "Computer Assisted Map Projection Research". Survey Bulletin 1629. ( Never really used it much. Given to me on a visit to the survey ). "Map Projections - A Working Manual". U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1395. ( LOTS of formulas ). Tim -- ============================================================================== Tim White University of South Carolina tim@otis.hssc.scarolina.edu Humanities and Social Sciences Laboratory (803)-777-7840 Columbia, S.C. 29208