HWA Apps

Coordinate Types

Learn about all coordinate types supported by HWA Apps: Geographic (DD, DDM, DMS), UTM, MGRS, Gauss-Krüger, CH1903+/LV95, USNG, OSNG, EOV.

1) Geographic Coordinate System

The geographic coordinate system locates points on Earth using latitude (φ) and longitude (λ), measured in degrees. Based on the WGS84 ellipsoid, it references the Equator and Greenwich Prime Meridian.

Latitude (φ)

Latitude measures the angle between a point and the Equator, ranging from 0° (Equator) to ±90° (North Pole: +90°, South Pole: -90°). Northern latitudes are positive (N), southern negative (S). Parallels connect points of equal latitude.

Longitude (λ)

Longitude measures the angle from the Greenwich Meridian, ranging from 0° to ±180°. Eastern longitudes are positive (E), western negative (W). Meridians connect points of equal longitude, meeting at the poles.

Formats

Coordinates can be expressed as:

• DD (Decimal Degrees): e.g., 40.6892°, -74.0445°
• DDM (Degrees, Decimal Minutes): e.g., 40° 41.352′ N, 74° 2.670′ W
• DMS (Degrees, Minutes, Seconds): e.g., 40° 41′ 21.12″ N, 74° 2′ 40.20″ W

Example: The Statue of Liberty in New York is approximately N 40° 41′ 21.12″, W 74° 2′ 40.20″ (DMS) or 40.6892°, -74.0445° (DD).

2) UTM – Universal Transverse Mercator

UTM is a planar coordinate system dividing Earth into 60 zones, each 6° wide, from 80°S to 84°N. Zones are split into latitudinal bands (C to X, excluding I and O).

Zones and Bands

Zones are numbered 1–60, starting at 180° longitude and moving eastward. Bands span 8° of latitude, from C (80°S) to X (84°N). The Statue of Liberty is in zone 18T.

Coordinates

UTM coordinates are meter-based, measuring easting (distance from the zone’s central meridian) and northing (distance from the Equator). The central meridian is set at 500,000 m easting to avoid negative values.

Example: The Statue of Liberty’s UTM coordinates are approximately 18T 580731 m E, 4504701 m N,, where 18T is the zone and latitude band, 580731 m is the easting, and 4504701 m is the northing.

Advantages

• Grid-based for consistent distances.
• Meter-based for easy calculations.
• No negative coordinates.

3) MGRS – Military Grid Reference System

MGRS is a NATO-standard system based on UTM, using a grid for precise positioning. It divides Earth into 6° zones and 100×100 km squares.

Zones and Squares

MGRS uses UTM zones (1–60) and bands (C–X). Each zone is split into 100×100 km squares, identified by two letters (A–Z, excluding I and O). The Statue of Liberty is in 18TWL.

Coordinates

MGRS coordinates include a zone, square identifier, and meter-based easting/northing offsets. Accuracy ranges from 1 m to 10 km based on digit count.

Example: The Statue of Liberty’s MGRS coordinate is 18T WL 80731 04701 (1 m accuracy), where 18T is the zone and latitude band, WL is the 100 km grid square, 80731 m is the easting offset within the square, and 04701 m is the northing offset within the square.

Accuracy levels:

• 18T – Zone, ~600×800 km
• 18T WL – 100 km square
• 18T WL 8 0 – 10 km
• 18T WL 80 04 – 1 km
• 18T WL 807 047 – 100 m
• 18T WL 8073 0470 – 10 m
• 18T WL 80731 04701 – 1 m

Advantages

• Fast, map-friendly positioning.
• Meter-based, readable coordinates.
• Widely used in military and geospatial applications.

4) Gauss–Krüger Projection

The Gauss–Krüger projection is a conformal transverse cylindrical projection, derived from the transverse Mercator. It was widely adopted in Europe and Asia for national mapping systems before UTM became a global standard.

Projection Characteristics

The projection divides the Earth into narrow zones, typically 3° or 6° wide. Each zone is defined by a central meridian, around which distortion is minimized. Coordinates are expressed in meters as easting and northing. A false easting (commonly 500,000 m, or other national offset values) ensures all coordinates remain positive.

Zones

Zones are numbered based on the longitude of their central meridian. For example, Zone 3 is centered on 9°E, Zone 4 on 12°E, and so on. The system can use either 3° or 6° wide zones depending on national standards.

Parameters

• Central meridian – defines the projection zone.
• Latitude of origin – usually the Equator (0°).
• Scale factor – typically 1.0000 (some variants use 0.9999).
• False easting – e.g., 500,000 m or zone-based offsets.
• False northing – 0 m in the northern hemisphere.

Usage

The Gauss–Krüger projection was the official mapping system in several European countries, such as Germany, Austria, and Hungary, before most transitioned to UTM. In Germany, for instance, the 3° zones system was commonly used (Zone 2 = 6°E, Zone 3 = 9°E, etc.).

Accuracy

The projection preserves angles (conformal) and is well suited for regional or national mapping. However, accuracy decreases significantly when used more than about 45° away from the central meridian, which is why it is applied in narrow longitudinal zones.

Example

The Gauss–Krüger coordinates of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin are: Zone 4 — E: 4573600 m, N: 5821100 m

Advantages

• Conformal – preserves local angles and shapes.
• Flexible zone width (3° or 6°) for national needs.
• Historically standardized and widely used in Europe and Asia.
• Coordinates in meters, easy to handle for surveying and mapping.

5) CH1903+/LV95 – Swiss Coordinate System

CH1903+ (LV95) is the official Swiss national coordinate system, used for mapping and surveying. It is an oblique, conformal cylindrical projection based on the Bessel ellipsoid, with coordinates expressed in meters.

Axes and Origin

LV95 shifts the original CH1903+ coordinates by adding 2,000,000 m to the easting and 1,000,000 m to the northing, ensuring all values are positive and suitable for digital systems.

Coordinate Format

Coordinates are given as E (Easting) and N (Northing), e.g., for the Swiss Federal Palace in Bern:

• CH1903+: E 600,000 m, N 200,000 m
• LV95: E 2,600,000 m, N 1,200,000 m

Advantages

• Official Swiss standard, widely used in mapping, surveying, and GIS.
• Meter-based coordinates for precise measurements.
• Positive-only coordinates simplify database storage and calculations.
• Compatible with modern GPS and GIS software using CH1903+ / LV95 transformations.

Usage

LV95 is used across Switzerland for cadastral mapping, topographic maps, infrastructure projects, and geospatial analyses. It replaces the older CH1903 system to improve precision and standardization.

8) EOV – Hungarian National Grid

The EOV (Hungarian National Grid, Egységes Országos Vetület) is Hungary’s official coordinate system for surveying and mapping, introduced in 1975. It is an oblique, conformal cylindrical projection based on the HD72 datum, using the IUGG 67 ellipsoid.

Projection and Axes

EOV covers Hungary with a single projection. The coordinate axes are northeast-oriented: the X-axis points north, the Y-axis east, based on a reference meridian passing through a central point and its perpendicular great circle projection.

Coordinate Determination

Coordinates are given in meters with artificial offsets (X: +200,000 m, Y: +650,000 m) to ensure positive values across the country. The X value is always less than 400,000 m, and the Y value always greater, preventing axis confusion.

Example: The Liberty Statue in Budapest has EOV coordinates: X: 188500 m, Y: 649000 m.

Advantages

• Single projection for the entire country, simplifying surveying.
• Meter-based for precise cartographic measurements.
• Widely supported in geospatial systems (SRID: 23700).

Offline Coordinate Conversion with KoordKonvert app

KoordKonvert offers seamless offline conversion between multiple coordinate systems, making it a vital tool for surveyors, hikers, military personnel, first responders, and geospatial professionals. It ensures accurate positioning even without internet access. Supported systems include:

• DD – Decimal Degrees
• DDM – Degrees, Decimal Minutes
• DMS – Degrees, Minutes, Seconds
• UTM – Universal Transverse Mercator
• MGRS – Military Grid Reference System
• EOV – Hungarian National Grid

Why KoordKonvert?

KoordKonvert provides a fast, offline solution for converting geographic, UTM, MGRS, and EOV coordinates. Ideal for fieldwork, it includes OpenStreetMap and Google Maps for visualization.

Download KoordKonvert now and manage coordinates anywhere!

Contact: hwa.apps.dev@gmail.com

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