UTM Coordinates

UTM coordinates

When we look at a coordinate map we see that there is a system to place these coordinates. It is a system based on cartographic projection and its units are meters at sea level. Are calls UTM coordinates. This is the basis of the reference system. In English these acronyms mean Universal Transversal Mercator. It has various uses and characteristics that we will see in this article.

If you want to know more about UTM coordinates, their characteristics and their usefulness, this is your post.

Key features

coordinates on maps

When we talk about a UTM coordinate system we are referring to a system based on the cartographic projection whose units are meters at sea level. Among the main characteristics we find that it is a cylindrical projection. This means that it is projected across the entire globe on a cylindrical surface. It is also a transverse projection. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with the equatorial axis. Thus, the value of the angles is maintained to establish a better precision when calculating location and distances.

The advantages that this system has over others are the following:

  • The parallels and meridians are represented by lines that form a grid. In this way, better precision is achieved when calculating distances or seeing where a certain point on the map is located.
  • Distances are much easier to measure than with another coordinate system.
  • The shape of landforms is preserved for smaller areas. This is how we can know the relief and the type of terrain that exists in a territory.
  • Bearings and directions are easy to mark. Thanks to these coordinates, the human being can establish different routes, both sea and air.

But as you might expect, all systems have some drawbacks. Let's see what are the different disadvantages of UTM coordinates:

  • The distances are usually enlarged as we move away from the point of tangency of the sphere and the cylinder. This distance is in the direction perpendicular to the cylinder.
  • Such training is much more important at high latitudes. Therefore, we see that the prescription decreases as we go to higher latitudes.
  • At different latitudes not in a fixed ratio between surfaces.
  • The polar zones are not represented. Keep in mind that these areas are also important for different areas

UTM coordinates and zone

global map

To solve the whole problem of the deformation of the projection of UTM coordinate maps, the spindle is introduced to divide the earth's surface. The entire surface has been divided into 60 spindles or zones of 6 degrees in longitude, resulting in 60 equal projections with their respective central meridian. We are trying to divide each spindle as if it were a segment of an orange.

To establish a better division of the spindles, are numbered from 1 to 60 starting from the Greenwich meridian due east. Each of them is divided into different areas that are named by a capital letter. It follows the direction from south to north and begins with the letter C and ends with the letter X. In order not to be confused, there are no vowels and my letters that can be confused with a number.

Each zone of UTM coordinates well expressed by a zone number and a zone letter. This area is made up of rectangular regions with a distance of 100 kilometers per side. The values ​​of these coordinates are always positive so as not to confuse the readers. The Cartesian X and Y axes are established on the spindle, the X axis being the equator and the Y axis the meridian.

We are going to put an example of UTM coordinates of the location of the City Council of A Coruña. It is 29T 548929 4801142, where 29 indicates the UTM zone, T the UTM band, the first number (548929) is the distance in meters to the East and the second number (4801142) is the distance in meters to the North. This geographic coordinate system is used universally to refer to any point on the earth's surface. This is how you can easily locate any area of ​​the planet. Thanks to this coordinate system the values ​​can be entered in the different computer programs to set the measurements accurately.

Projection of UTM coordinates

UTM coordinates map

Projections are used to represent an object on a plane. Here too, use is made of geometries and the Cartesian axis. Each use has a longitude of 6 degrees and there is a central meridian at 3 degrees longitude that divides it into two equal parts and is used for the UTM projection. For greater accuracy, we know that each zone is divided by the parallel of origin in the Equator. This parallel to the origin divides it into two equal parts according to the hemispheres. We know that our planet we have the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere divided by the equator line.

This central meridian and the Equator are the ones that establish two Cartesian axes on the spindle to position a point on its entire surface. If we want to visualize all this from a plane we see that the central meridian of the area is the X axis while the Equator is the Y axis. Therefore, the X axis will have its origin in the central meridian of the area and has a value 500000. This value decreases as we go west and increases when we go east. In this way, these values ​​have been established to be able to always have positive values ​​of the X axis.

The Y axis has its origin in Ecuador but it does so in a particular way. Unlike the other axis, in the northern hemisphere of the Equator it will have the value 0 that increases towards the north until it reaches the value 10000000 at the North Pole. On the other hand, the southern hemisphere will have the value 10000000 and will grow towards the south until it reaches the value 0 at the south pole. These values ​​have been set like this to always have positive Y-axis values.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about UTM coordinates and their characteristics.


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