Converting Longitude and Latitude - GPS to find Survey corners - NDR

ksherbine

ksherbine

Active member
In the past I've used my GPS to find property corner pins, but went to find the corner in my yard and am having trouble this time.

My deed plat is showing the Longitude/Latitude as South - X degrees, and East - X degrees, while my GPS is showing it as North - X degrees, and West - X degrees. How do I convert it from South to North and East to West?

I realize this isn't exact, but will be close enough for my needs.

Thanks,
Kirk
 
Kirk,

I would have to assume that the plat is marked incorrectly. Every location in the U.S. would be North by West location. A South latitude would put you below the equator.

Possibly you own land halfway around the world that you are unaware of???
 
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I have a call into the surveyor.

Thanks guys. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out where I'm screwing up.

Kirk
 
Could it be an offset from a benchmark that is nearby?
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Kirk,

If that is the case your numbers are not latitude and longitude, but compass headings. For example, Start point "A" ( the benchmark) head Southeast (135 degrees) for 330 yards, then East (90 degrees) for 100yards, then North (0 degrees) for 200yards, etc..
 
Kirk if your reading from a plat then Dave is right it is directions from a benchmark. From the benchmark 30 degrees south for 300 yds then west 20 degrees and so on. At least this is the way plats were written when I was a young teen writing plats for the tax ascessor, of course that was many many moons ago.
 
Okay, I can explain all sorts of coordinate systems and readings, but if you want to send me the coordinates, I'll convert them to whatever you need. Surveys/plats are in bearings, which is relative to the line of sight on the ground (last leg traversed), not the lat/long. West and east CAN be the same...yes, If you see -86, then it's West. 86 would be East. I have software to convert, and the USACE also has a free download program for converting coordinates from northing/easting (state plane), lat/long, UTM meters, etc. I'm a GIS analyst/geographer and I've surveyed in the past. I don't claim to know it all, but I love seeing something different to play with, so feel free to send me whatever. I can help with the GPS coordinate translation, as well. I make great duck hunting maps.LOL
 
West and east CAN be the same...yes, If you see -86, then it's West. 86 would be East.
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Sorry Bill, I disagree. Explain to me how negative 86 is the same as positive 86. No disrepect but I fail to see how they are the same. ( I use coordinates in the tool shop too. :>) )
 
Thanks for your help guys. It was off of a landmark like you said. Once I found the one corner, it was easy to find the rest with the help of our measuring wheel.

The only bad part is I realized that about a quarter of my yard is in my dad's field. He gave me a few acres 10 years ago and we just followed the fenceline when making yard, and apparently got off by 30 yards or so in the one corner. I talked to him last night about him selling me a half acre or so. Oh well!

Thanks,
Kirk
 
West and east CAN be the same...yes, If you see -86, then it's West. 86 would be East.
Click to expand...


Sorry Bill, I disagree. Explain to me how negative 86 is the same as positive 86. No disrepect but I fail to see how they are the same. ( I use coordinates in the tool shop too. :>) )
Click to expand...


Dave,
I might have muddied that up? I wasn't saying negative and positive longitudes were the 'same'. A negative would be West of the prime meridian, and positive would be East of it: -86=86 deg west. 86 = 86 deg east....same will apply to latitude with +/- being used interchangably with north and south of the equator.
 
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