Coordinates
Coordinate systems: for describing the exact positions of points anywhere in the world and on a map.
Discover Your Coordinates and More
On the Web: You can determine the coordinates of a specific point by opening the Route Planner, setting a waypoint “A,” and then clicking on the “A” on the map. A small window will appear at the bottom of the screen displaying the UTM coordinates of the point.
In the App: Finding your current location in the Outdooractive app is simple: open the map and tap the compass icon in the top left corner. Your position, including elevation, accuracy details, and coordinates in various formats, will be displayed. You can also share the coordinates of your current location using a dedicated button.
To find the coordinates of any point on the map, press and hold the desired location. A marker will appear, and information about the location will be shown at the bottom of the screen. Tapping this information box will open a more detailed view with all available coordinates. The set marker also allows you to start planning with the “Start Plan Here” and “Route to here” options in the route planner. The “Create new Point” feature opens the input form to create a Point of Interest (POI).
Want to find the starting point coordinates of a tour? Open the route’s description, and all coordinates will be displayed.
How to enter coordinates
There are several options for entering coordinates within the platform.
A distinction must be made between the automated recognition of the notation, done by copying and pasting into the search field, and the manual coordinate panel.
An internet connection is generally required for entering coordinates.
Coordinate Panel
Some countries have specific national systems where coordinates are recorded. If this format is supported, it can be manually entered into the coordinate panel.
On the Web: The panel can be accessed via the globe icon at the end of the search bar in any map view and also when entering a location in the Route Planner.
In the App: You can access the panel by clicking on the "ABC" menu option in the top left corner of the Route Planner. Select your desired waypoint (e.g., A) by clicking on the corresponding input field. Below the search bar, you will find the option to "Enter Coordinates." Selecting this will open the coordinate panel.
Once the coordinate entry is confirmed, the map will shift to the corresponding location, and the coordinates will be displayed in decimal degrees in the search bar.
The panel does not perform any conversions or display other available coordinate systems.
This feature is available for Pro and Pro+ subscribers.
Search slot
These coordinate systems are automatically recognized by the search:
- DD - Decimal Degrees
- DMS - Degrees Minutes Seconds
- UTM - Universal Transverse Mercator Projection
- w3w - what3words
Geographic Coordinate Systems
Where in the world am I located?
A geographic coordinate system defines a point on the earth's surface. Based on the earth's sphere-like shape, geographic coordinate systems divide the world into lines of longitude and latitude.
Latitudes
An imagined global network of rings running parallel to the equator. The equator divides the world into a northern and southern hemisphere.
The latitudes run from:
0° to 90° N and 0° to 90° S
Longitudes
Thought lines from pole to pole intersect the latitudes at right angles. The arbitrarily defined zero meridian through Greenwich Observatory divides the world into west and east halves. The lines of longitude run from:
0° to 180° W and 0° to 180° E
Notation - DMS
The further subdivision of latitude and longitude is in minutes and seconds ( 1° = 60' = 3600'' ).
DMS - degrees minutes seconds:
52° 31′ 7″ N 13° 24′ 30″ E
Notation - DD
In addition to notations in degrees minutes seconds, there is also what is known as 'decimal degrees.
DD - Decimal degrees:
52.518611° 13.408333°
Projected Coordinate Systems
How to draw a position on a map.
A projected coordinate system defines how a point on the earth's surface is to be drawn on a flat surface (e.g. on paper). Projected coordinate systems usually have metric units of measurement with a right value (X value) and a high value (Y value).
Mapping the surface of the earth is the biggest challenge for cartographers. To do this, the earth must be divided into segments and stretched or compressed in the process.
This stretching or compressing of segments is commonly referred to as "map projection". These map projections can be roughly divided into the following groups:
- Azimuthal projection
- Cone projection
- Cylindrical projection
Alternative Coordinate Systems
There are alternative coordinate systems that also describe positions. These are not written in the familiar numerical combinations, but coded differently. Depending on the concept, these may actually be easier to remember and pass on.
w3w is a unique three-word address that has been assigned to every 3m² of the world. Use it for finding and ...