How to find and share coordinates: latitude longitude, UTM and TUREF
Sharing a coordinate is easy until the format, datum and units are unclear.
Field takeaways
- Latitude longitude is usually WGS84 degrees and works well with KML.
- UTM and TUREF/TM metre coordinates are practical for CAD/GIS and field work.
- Share datum, zone, unit and point name.
- Phone location is approximate; precise coordinates need external GNSS/RTK.
- MapLab Survey combines point recording, coordinate display and export.
Say which system
A coordinate without its system is ambiguous. Latitude and longitude, UTM easting and northing, and a national grid can all describe the same place with completely different numbers.
Keep every decimal
Each digit you drop moves the point on the ground. Copy the value in full, particularly if someone will navigate to it.
Send it as text, not a screenshot
A picture of a coordinate cannot be pasted, checked or imported. Send the numbers, and the system, as text.
Add the context
State the date, the method and what the point represents. Without that the recipient assumes it is a surveyed corner, and that assumption is expensive.
See it in action
MapLab Survey | Professional Mobile GIS, GPS Surveying & Land Measurement App
Visit the YouTube channel ->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
How do I find coordinates on a phone?
Save the current position as a point in MapLab Survey.
Are lat/lon and UTM the same?
No. Lat/lon is degrees; UTM is metres.
How should TUREF be shared?
With datum/projection/zone, E/N values and point name.
Can I send coordinates as KML?
Yes.
Technical references
The field guidance in this article is aligned with the technical and official references below.
Related: TUREF, UTM, ITRF selection · CSV coordinate list · Go to coordinate · MapLab Survey