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GEOVIA Surpac

Transverse Mercator to Lat/Long

Function Name :

  • TM TO LL

Several different coordinate systems are used in surveying and it is often necessary to convert between them. This function transforms string files from latitude and longitude to easting, northing and transverse mercator zone.

To run this function: Choose File tools > Transformations > Transverse mercator to lat/long, or...

  • In the Function Chooser, type TM TO LL, and press ENTER.

Define the Input Files

Location, ID Range

Enter the location and range of string files to be converted.

Define the Output Files

Location

A set of string files will be created, each one corresponding to a transformed input string file.

Define Geodetic Coordinate System

TM Map, Datum, Spheroid

There are several different methods to enter the parameters of the transformations to be computed. In the etc directory the file datums.ssi contains the parameters for several different transverse mercator projections and these parameters can simply be selected by clicking on the browser of the TM map field. For globally used TM projections such as UTM, the spheroid to be used must also be selected from the Spheroid field, otherwise the Datum and Spheroid fields will automatically be filled.

Selecting a TM map projection fills in the False Easting, False Northing, Central Scale Factor, Zone Width and Zone 1 CM fields.

TM parameters can be entered manually by selecting TM from the TM Map field, the spheroid from the Spheroid field and filling in the appropriate parameters for the False Easting, False Northing, Central Scale Factor, Zone Width and Zone 1 CM fields.

Long/Lat Units

Longitude and latitude can be expressed in several different representations:

dms (deg,min,sec) - Degrees, minutes and seconds format (e.g. 5045'23.99")

degrees - Decimal degrees (e.g. 50.7567)

radians - Radians (e.g. 0.88587090)

degrees, minutes - Degrees and minutes format (e.g. 5045.3998')

Select the appropriate representation found in the string files.

North Positive, East Positive

If latitude is measured as positive north then North Positive should be set to "Y", otherwise "N" should be selected. Similarly longitude may be measured in the east direction or the west direction. If longitude is measured as positive east then set the East Positive field to "Y", otherwise "N" should be selected.

Input Fields

TM Zone, Northing, Easting

Specify Zone Value, Zone Value

A transverse mercator projection is specified by zone, easting and northing. Often all coordinates are in the same zone and this information may not be include in the input files. In this case, select "Y" for the Specify Zone Value field and enter the appropriate zone value in the Zone Value field. If zone information is included in the input string files enter the appropriate string file field in the TM Zone field. Enter the northing and easting input fields.

Output Fields

Depending on the representation of latitude and longitude used a different number of fields will be needed to specify a geodetic position. For example, decimal degree numbers require one field; degree, minute and second numbers require three fields. The fields used in each point record in the string file to specify the latitude and longitude must be entered.