[GIS] What format is a location represented like this

convertcoordinatesformatlatitude longitude

While converting an old system, I came across a position column with values in a format like this: 38RQT6410550656

While I've never seen global positioning represented this way, putting this in Google Maps will result in a correct location. Without knowing what this format is called, I've been unable to find any information on this.

What format is this and how can I convert it to latitude and longitude (or get the location into a SQL Geography column)?

Best Answer

The coordinates are in MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) which is a projected coordinate system. Those coordinates give you an accuracy of 0.1 meters since there are 10 trailing digits. You can batch convert the coordinates in online websites like this

The first 3 charcters are the "grid zone desiganation" : 38R

the next two characters are the 100,000 meter square ID: UJ

the final 10 characters are the grid coordinates: x axis = 64105 y axis = 50656. Breakdown in image below.

I am not sure how you could convert to say Lat,Long from MGRS without the help on an online website. There is a Python module called mgrs that could work if you know python. I would also look at this thread since it sounds similar to what you are looking for. I am sure someone else has a better explination but I figured I would chime in.

update:

I just tested the python module and it worked. Here is a screenshot :

you will need Python 2.7 and Microsoft Visual C++ compiler for python 2.7 for it to work.

Related Solutions

Generating Random Locations Nearby – Methods and Tools

This is tricky for two reasons: first, limiting the points to a circle instead of a square; second, accounting for distortions in the distance calculations.

Many GISes include capabilities that automatically and transparently handle both complications. However, the tags here suggest that a GIS-independent description of an algorithm may be desirable.

To generate points uniformly, randomly, and independently within a circle of radius r around a location (x0, y0), start by generating two independent uniform random values u and v in the interval [0, 1). (This is what almost every random number generator provides you.) Compute
```
w = r * sqrt(u)
t = 2 * Pi * v
x = w * cos(t) 
y = w * sin(t)
```
The desired random point is at location (x+x0, y+y0).
When using geographic (lat,lon) coordinates, then x0 (longitude) and y0 (latitude) will be in degrees but r will most likely be in meters (or feet or miles or some other linear measurement). First, convert the radius r into degrees as if you were located near the equator. Here, there are about 111,300 meters in a degree.

Second, after generating x and y as in step (1), adjust the x-coordinate for the shrinking of the east-west distances:
```
x' = x / cos(y0)
```
The desired random point is at location (x'+x0, y+y0). This is an approximate procedure. For small radii (less than a few hundred kilometers) that do not extend over either pole of the earth, it will usually be so accurate you cannot detect any error even when generating tens of thousands of random points around each center (x0,y0).

[GIS] NED (LTP) to ECEF Orientation Conversion (Tait Bryan Angles)

Found the solution to this in an Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation paper: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA484864

See Section 4.3 on 'ECEF Coordinates and Heading-Pitch-Roll Conversion' for the algorithm and some worked examples.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Generating Random Locations Nearby – Methods and Tools

[GIS] NED (LTP) to ECEF Orientation Conversion (Tait Bryan Angles)

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