Land Navigation Coordinate System - UTM

Being able to get from one place to another, with awould tell you the grid 55, and 100 meters in.
reasonable amount of accuracy, with nothing moreThese two points together will pinpoint a specific
than a map and a compass, is an art that is all butlocation. The first two numbers of each set will give
lost.you the grid, and the second set of numbers will give
Most young men would be completely unable to getyou a specific point within that grid.
themselves out of a dangerous situation even if theyNow, the other method used to give a location is a
had the tools necessary, simply because theysimple series of numbers with either 4, 6, or 8 digits.
wouldn't know how to use those tools.For example 8355 would reference the grid with an
With an accurate map and a compass, it is possibleEasting of 83 and a Northing of 55. This would get
to navigate to any position and reach youryou within 1,000 meters of a destination.
destination quickly when given only a set of numbers.835525 would be an Easting of 83, a Northing of 55,
The system we'll talk about is UTM (Universaland 200 meters east of the 83 line and 500 meters
Transverse Mercator). I'm going to give you thenorth of the 55 line. This would get you within 100
standard method first, and then the more commonmeters of any location.
method second.The last method, the 8-digit series, would get you
The map will be divided into a grid of numbers, similarwithin 10 meters. 83552251 would be interpreted as
to longitude and latitude. You read right and up ongrid 83/55 and you simply add a 0 to the end of the
the map, so the first number you'll get (called thenext two digits (22) which would give you 220. Then
Easting) will tell you which vertical line to reference.you add a 0 to the next two digits (51) and you'll get
As an example, 83,500 would tell you grid 83 and 500510.
meters. The second set of numbers tells you howThe important thing is that you remember to read
many meters inside that grid.right and up every time.
The next set, called the Northing, will tell you whichUsing this system, an 8-digit series of numbers can
horizontal line to reference. For example, 55,100put you within 10 meters of any location.