How to Find UTM Coordinates for a Point on a Physical Map

Locate the point on a map., Make a grid for the northing coordinates., Figure out the increments., Slide the grid across the map to your point., Repeat the process for the easting., Slide it down the map to the point.

6 Steps 1 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Locate the point on a map.

    In this example, you're going to find the UTM coordinates for Fawn Spring.
  2. Step 2: Make a grid for the northing coordinates.

    The northing coordinates are vertical.

    The numbers get bigger as they go up.

    Use the edge of another piece of paper to mark the edges of the box containing the point you're finding coordinates for.

    In this scenario, Fawn Spring is between 4730000 and
    4731000.

    Make longer markings for the edges and notate those coordinates.

    Make shorter marks for the increments in between, but make the midpoint a little longer than the rest. , Start off with the midpoint.

    The UTM coordinates are really just big numbers: 4,730,000 and 4,731,000.

    What's halfway between those two numbers? The difference between them is 1,000 so the halfway point is 4,730,500.

    There are ten increments in this little grid, so 10,000 divided by 10 is
    100.

    That means each little gridmark adds another 100 to the UTM number. , Now that you know the numbers for each gridmark, it shouldn't be hard to figure out the northing for your point.

    In this case, Fawn Spring seems to be right at the 700 mark, so the northing is 4730700N. , Make your grid... , Fawn Spring falls between the 600 and 700 marks, so the easting coordinate can be approximated at 10564650E.
  3. Step 3: Figure out the increments.

  4. Step 4: Slide the grid across the map to your point.

  5. Step 5: Repeat the process for the easting.

  6. Step 6: Slide it down the map to the point.

Detailed Guide

In this example, you're going to find the UTM coordinates for Fawn Spring.

The northing coordinates are vertical.

The numbers get bigger as they go up.

Use the edge of another piece of paper to mark the edges of the box containing the point you're finding coordinates for.

In this scenario, Fawn Spring is between 4730000 and
4731000.

Make longer markings for the edges and notate those coordinates.

Make shorter marks for the increments in between, but make the midpoint a little longer than the rest. , Start off with the midpoint.

The UTM coordinates are really just big numbers: 4,730,000 and 4,731,000.

What's halfway between those two numbers? The difference between them is 1,000 so the halfway point is 4,730,500.

There are ten increments in this little grid, so 10,000 divided by 10 is
100.

That means each little gridmark adds another 100 to the UTM number. , Now that you know the numbers for each gridmark, it shouldn't be hard to figure out the northing for your point.

In this case, Fawn Spring seems to be right at the 700 mark, so the northing is 4730700N. , Make your grid... , Fawn Spring falls between the 600 and 700 marks, so the easting coordinate can be approximated at 10564650E.

About the Author

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Angela Harvey

Enthusiastic about teaching organization techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.

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