Latitude/Longitude & Grid Reference calculators

Listed below is a series of on-line calculators that are useful in defining and interpretting maps locations.

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    Web Link Degrees Minutes Seconds to/from Decimal Degrees

    This calulator converts Degrees Minutes Seconds to Decimal Degrees, or Decimal Degrees to Degrees Minutes Seconds

    Note that latitude or longitude references are sometimes given in the format (for example) S33 30.317 E150 22.052. GPS readings are often outputted in this format.

    Here the Seconds are displayed as a decimal and must be converted to a number by multiplying by 60. The resultant number will always be between 0 and 60.

    S33 30.317 must be calculated out as 33 (degrees) 30 (minutes) 0.317 * 60 (seconds) to become -33 30 19.02

    E150 22.052 must be calculated out as 150 (degrees) 22 (minutes) 0.052 * 60 (seconds) to become 150 22 3.12

    Note that for the Southern hemisphere, degrees latitude must be prefixed with a minus (-) sign.

    In this calculator, -33 30 19.02 150 22 3.12 will be converted to the decimal latitude/longitudinal values of -33.505283 150.367533

    Conversely, -33.505283 150.367533 will be converted to-33' 30" 19.02o 150" 22' 3.12o when the Convert to Degrees Minutes Seconds option is chosen.

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    Web Link Geographic to Grid Calculator

    Enter the latitude and longitude coordinates (note for the Southern hemisphere, degrees latitude must be prefixed with a minus (-) sign) and then press Submit Data

    A full UTM Grid reference will then be displayed.

    By way of example, the Mt Wilson Fire Station has a full Grid reference of 255495 6289620.

    An Easting easily recognised by the RFS is determined by using the 2nd - 5th number of the first six digit number, rounded up or down to three digits.

    A Northing easily recognised by the RFS is determined by using the 3rd - 6th number of the second seven digit number, rounded up or down to three digits.

    In this example, the Easting 255495 is rounded up to 555; the Northing 6289620 is rounded down to 896, giving the Mt Wilson Fire Station a working Grid Reference recognised by the RFS of 555 896

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    Web Link Convert between Geographic and UTM co-ordinates

    This website page has a calculator which allows a conversion from Degree -Minute - Second format to Standard UTM coordinates. 

     

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    Web Link Global map marked with Grid references

    This map is one of the few on-line resources that allows a user to display standard Grid references as used by the RFS.

    Click onto NSW, and then zoom into the Mt Wilson region. The centre cross-hairs are very useful for pin pointing a specific location before zooming in ot a lower level.

    When you arrive at a satifactory level of resolution, select UTM grid On/off from the Menu section in the top right hand corner.

    To derive the RFS format for a working Grid Reference, please see above.