The intersection of these bands defines the grid zone designation (GZD). With MGRS, the world is divided into 60 longitudinal bands numbered 1 through 60, with each longitudinal band having a width of 6 degrees, and 20 latitude bands lettered C to X (omitting I and O to avoid confusion with numbers), with each latitudinal band normally having a height of 8 degrees. Mapping specials will have an MGRS reference note with information as per Figure 2.įigure 2. The vertical grid lines determine East-West position and the horizontal grid lines determine North-South position. The grid is labelled with UTM coordinate values. The example map shown in Figure 2 has grid lines spaced every 1000 metres. MGRS is derived from a UTM grid system and is an alternative way of representing UTM coordinates. MGRS is the coordinate standard utilised by NATO militaries for locating points on the earth’s surface.
The map displays all grid labels in UTM coordinates (metres) and the production note (as shown in Figure 1) informs users of the Grid Zone (shown as the MGA Zone in this example).
#Define hemispheric defense zone how to
Knowing how to plot MGRS coordinates from UTM coordinates is becoming more and more necessary within the military, particularly when operating in areas that have not been mapped for military purposes.Ĭurrently the AGO Map Request Tool provides State mapping that utilises the UTM reference system. This could cause confusion and frustration in what may be a stressful and time-poor environment, resulting in errors such as the previously provided example. Soldiers have become reliant on MGRS and may be unaccustomed to seeing UTM coordinates. QTopo State mapping grid example and product note An example of this is provided in Figure 1.įigure 1. The challenge that soldiers face when using maps provided by external organisations is that these maps are produced using UTM grids and coordinates. A simple error such as this can have devastating and deadly consequences in a military context.Īn example of this going horribly wrong in a military context occurred when a soldier directing a bomb strike gave incorrect coordinates, which resulted in a friendly airstrike on a HQ of allies that caused multiple deaths and injuries. If coordinates are not obtained correctly from a map, or if the wrong coordinate system is used, then erroneous location information will be provided. Coordinates are used to give an accurate position for a point on the Earth’s surface. Civilian mapping agencies tend to use the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) reference system instead.Ĭoordinates are an essential element for mapping, both in identifying a location and for the purposes of navigating. These are produced using the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) coordinate standard – the Military Grid Reference System (MGRS). Within Australia, AGO’s focus is on mapping ADF training areas – referred to as Australian Specials (AUSPECs). The Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO) is responsible for Defence’s topographic mapping. How do you relate this information to another person or group of people? The answer is to use a coordinate system. But how do you tell others where something is? It is easy to identify a specific location on a map the problem arises when you have to tell someone else the location, especially when they are not standing next to you and looking at the same map. Maps are used to show where something is relative to all the other things around it – and the relationships between those entities. It depicts both man-made and natural features, usually with an applied geographic coordinate system, and usually with a key or legend. A map provides a graphical representation of a part or the whole of the Earth’s surface shown on a planar (2-D) surface.
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