How are UTM coordinates measured on USGS topographic maps?
The UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinate system divides the world into sixty north-south zones, each 6 degrees of longitude wide. UTM zones are numbered consecutively beginning with Zone 1, which includes the westernmost point of Alaska, and progress eastward to Zone 19, which includes Maine. If UTM ticks are shown on a USGS topographic map, the zone is indicated in the credit legend in the lower left corner of the map collar.
Within each zone, coordinates are measured as northings and eastings in meters. The northing values are measured from zero at the equator in a northerly direction. Each zone has a central meridian that is assigned an easting value of 500,000 meters. In Zone 16, for example, the central meridian is at 87 degrees longitude west. One meter east of that central meridian is 500,001 meters easting.
![Screenshot of map corner showing two grid lines and their UTM coordinates](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/UTM_on_US_Topo.jpg?itok=Ih452AyD)
Almost all USGS topographic maps produced after 1977 show UTM tick marks on the sides of the map (or a full-line grid) every 1,000 meters. Some maps, including all those produced after 2009 (US Topo maps) include full UTM grid lines. To make UTM measurements, subdivide the 1,000-meter grid squares into tenths or hundredths. This narrows down the coordinate to a 100 meter or 10 meter square. Measurements can be made using a gridded mylar overlay, a paper scale, or a coordinate reader.
Note that the large numbers adjacent to the tick marks around the perimeter of the map represent tens of thousands and thousands of meters. The millions and hundreds of thousands of meters are shown with small numbers and are sometimes dropped when giving UTM coordinate positions. The military implementation of UTM (Military Grid Reference System or MGRS) drops the small digits and indicates the 100,000 meter square by a two letter identifier. Most UTM users and GPS (Global Positioning System) units use the full value of the UTM coordinates.
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![Lesson 9a: Accessing US Topo and Historical USGS Topographic Maps](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/video/youtube-QtRM9dGF2To.jpg?itok=ZlBxRxP0)
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What does the term UTM mean? Is UTM better or more accurate than latitude/longitude?
UTM is the acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator, a plane coordinate grid system named for the map projection on which it is based (Transverse Mercator). The UTM system consists of 60 zones, each 6-degrees of longitude in width. The zones are numbered 1-60, beginning at 180-degrees longitude and increasing to the east. The military uses their own implementation of the UTM system, called the...
Why don't U.S. Forest Service Visitor maps have Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grids?
The Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid is not used on the Forest Service Visitor Map series because of the maps’ small scale and intended use. The more detailed Wilderness maps and Special Area maps published by the Forest Service might have UTM grid ticks. UTM grids are included on all US Topo maps (7.5-minute, 1:24,000-scale) published by the USGS after 2010. Order paper maps for...
Do all USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps show the UTM grid?
Historical Topographic Map Collection (1884-2006) : The USGS policy about putting a full UTM grid on 7.5-minute (1:24,000-scale) topographic maps has changed over time. Beginning in the mid-1950s, the grid was indicated by blue ticks around the map at 1,000-meter spacing. In 1979, the ticks were replaced with a full-line black UTM grid. This decision was reversed in 1992, then reversed again in...
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The State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS), which is only used in the United States, is a plane coordinate system (north-south and east-west lines are perpendicular) in which each individual state has between one to six zones, depending on the state's size and shape. This coordinate system’s high level of accuracy is achieved through the use of relatively small zones. The State Plane Coordinate...
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The old coordinates were not wrong, just different. Positions obtained using the North American Datums of 1927 ( NAD 27 ) and 1983 ( NAD 83 ) are based on different earth shapes--or ellipsoids--and used the best technology available at the time. Mathematically, NAD 83 is a stronger datum because all previously existing horizontal stations and newer GPS surveyed stations were adjusted...
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Where can I find indexes of USGS topographic maps?
View map indexes on these interactive maps (you must zoom in to see the index lines and map names) : Map Locator on the USGS Store - Click the icon on the left that looks like two pieces of paper and select “1:24,000” for our standard map series. TopoView - Click on any of the round map scale indicators on the right side of the map. The National Map Viewer - Click on the Layer List icon at the top...
How are different map projections used?
The method used to portray a part of the spherical Earth on a flat surface, whether a paper map or a computer screen, is called a map projection. No flat map can rival a globe in truly representing the surface of the entire Earth, so every flat map misrepresents the surface of the Earth in some way. A flat map can show one or more--but never all--of the following: True directions True distances...
![Lesson 9a: Accessing US Topo and Historical USGS Topographic Maps](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/video/youtube-QtRM9dGF2To.jpg?itok=ZlBxRxP0)
In this lesson, we will discuss the USGS Store and how it can be used to access the US Topo and historical USGS Topographic maps. Specifically, this lesson will talk about the USGS Store, both where it’s accessed and what’s available at the store, as well as how you can locate and download free topographic maps through the store.
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