Australians, or other sub-equatorials

[Hell_Hound]

On a canadian military map, the grid lines are referred to as northings and eastings.

If you're south of the equator, what do you call the horizontal lines? Are they southings, and do they go like this:

00
01
02
03
04

...or do you just call them northings so as to be consistent with the rest of the world?

[MatsW]

Australia seems to be doing like rest of the UTM-world.

http://www.maptrax.com.au/topographicmaps/topographicmapformats/
"The maps are calibrated in Latitude and Longitude at the four corners and a number of points across the map and the information is contained in the header file of each map. The Australian Map Datum for the majority of maps is Australian Map Grid known as AGD66, but an increasing number of Australian maps are being produced to the new Map Datum known as GDA94 (Geodetic Datum of Australia 1994) equivalent to WGS84. MapTrax Topographic Maps have been corrected to the equivalent of GDA94 datum by applying a correction to the map co-ordinates to achieve the shift which is close to 203 metres to the North East.

The Map software will display the co-ordinates in WGS84 (GDA94) co-ordinates for all the corrected maps unless the preferences set-up of the software allows display of other datum co-ordinates (e.g. AGD66). With the AGD66 datum maps corrected to GDA94, the grid lines will therefore appear incorrect by the shift amount (approx 203 metres). However, any waypoints and routes created using the maps will be in WGS84 datum and can be backloaded to the GPS using that datum. Similarly, any GPS connected to computer should be set to display in WGS84 datum."

Then there is some basic maps/coordinate explanations at:
http://www.ga.gov.au/geodesy/datums/aboutdatums.jsp

"Tographic Map Reference System
In this map, the Blue Lake is located by the reference 472 500E, 5 802 500N. Though the system is more complex it allows features to be located more exactly by interpolating coordinate values in both directions. Like a street directory, the coordinate system is repeated but instead of on each page, it is only between zones."

Best regards
Mats

[TopKick]

:D

Thus the six digit coordinates to the road intersection in Township should be 483 572 ... or thereabout within 50 - 100 meters.

[12Alfa]

You both missed the question.

Of course they use the "maps are calibrated in Latitude and Longitude" thats not what he asked.

Yes, what would they call them, I would think northings would be used, as everything is north to them.
As for Eastings, that is a good question.

Do they used standard nato maps, or home grown maps? If so, it would make sence to call them the same as we do. Can't see our navies operating with 2 different maps or different "Northing/Eastings" map ref's.

Any down-unders here to shed some light on this.

[MatsW]

You both missed the question.

Of course they use the "maps are calibrated in Latitude and Longitude" thats not what he asked.



I think you missed the answer ;-) , here some more info from the site http://www.ga.gov.au/geodesy/datums/aboutdatums.jsp

"Cartesian Coordinates, Grid Values X and Y

The type of coordinates found in a street directory and on Geoscience Australia's topographic maps are known as Cartesian Coordinates. Cartesian Coordinates are related to a line that represents zero in the east-west direction, known as the X axis, and a line that represents zero in the north-south direction, known as the Y axis. Select thumbnail for complete image.

Movements by a point away from the axes are recorded as a set of two values, known as coordinates. Coordinates tell you how far away from the origin of the axes, 0 on X and 0 on Y, that you are. By convention, the point's position is identified by quoting the distance along the X axis first, and distance along the Y axis second, thus each point has a unique name.

These are the mathematical coordinates you find on a map. In cartography and surveying, the X axis coordinates are known as Eastings, and the Y axis coordinates as Northings.


Cartesian Coordinate Systems in Australia

The new cartesian coordinate system that will be used in Australia will be known as the Map Grid of Australia 1994 (MGA94). The cartesian system that is being phased out is called the Australian Map Grid, there are two versions of the coordinates from this system, the originals from 1966 and their subsequent update in 1984. For the purposes of this document they will be considered as the same (they differ only by a few metres) and will be referred to as the AMG66/84."

Best regards
Mats

[12Alfa]

The short answer is yes, they call them the same as we do., and here i thought they called them Dingo's and wallabee;s, hrheheh

[Hell_Hound]

I should probably have guessed, given that in north america we call our lines eastings - despite being on the west side of the zero-longitude line.

Good to know, though - thanks, Mats, for doing the research I was too lazy to do myself.

[MatsW]

I should probably have guessed, given that in north america we call our lines eastings - despite being on the west side of the zero-longitude line.

Good to know, though - thanks, Mats, for doing the research I was too lazy to do myself.

Don´t thank me before you see the bill for the research.

[jrcar]

MGRS uses the lower left as the origin for each zone so yes they are still northings and eastings.

In a full reference you should know the zone that the reference is in.

Mats that was nice research :)

Cheers

Rob