Coordinates

Get coordinates from Google Maps and navigate to the field with MapLab Survey

Google Maps coordinates are practical for sharing a point, but they are not parcel boundaries or engineering survey by themselves.

Field takeaways

  • Google Maps coordinates are typically WGS84 latitude and longitude.
  • Lat lon degrees are not UTM or TUREF metre coordinates.
  • A map-picked point is a visual reference.
  • MapLab Survey organizes target navigation, notes, photos and exports.
  • Coordinate sharing should include source, date and purpose.

What you actually get

A latitude and longitude pair on WGS84, latitude first. That is enough to reach a place and nowhere near enough to define a boundary.

Rounding moves the point

Every decimal place you drop shifts the position on the ground. Copy the full value, especially if you plan to navigate to it.

The pin is not a corner

The pin you dropped marks a spot you chose by eye on an aerial image, not a surveyed corner. Use it to get there, then measure the real corners on site before basing any decision on them.

From map to field

Take the coordinate into a field app, navigate by distance and bearing, and continue measuring once you arrive.

In the field · MapLab Survey

Try these steps on your own phone.

MapLab Survey handles RTK/GNSS point capture, drawing, area and volume calculations and coordinate conversion, then exports to DXF, KML/KMZ, GeoJSON, Shapefile, GeoPackage, NCZ or CSV. Capture, calculation and export work offline. Live NTRIP corrections and online basemaps need a connection.

Frequently asked questions

What CRS are Google Maps coordinates?

Typically WGS84 lat lon.

Can they be used in MapLab Survey?

Yes, as target or reconnaissance points.

Are they official survey?

No.

Is lat lon the same as UTM?

No.

Technical references

The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.

Related: Coordinate navigation app · Lat lon to UTM · Find and share coordinates · MapLab Survey