COORDINATES, DIRECTIONS AND BEARINGS

Maps are usually produced based on certain coordinate systems that enable us to
accurately determine the locations of features. Maps can also give us information on the
directions or angular bearing of features relative to any other features. Therefore,
coordinates are important items on maps. In this unit, we will look at the various
coordinate systems and also how to determine directions and bearings of features on a
map.
Coordinate Systems
Locations and directions on maps are accurately determined using a coordinate system.
The two types of coordinate systems commonly used are the geographical coordinate
system and the rectangular or plane coordinate system.
1. Geographical Coordinates
We can identify locations as precise points on the Earth's surface by using a grid system
of latitude and longitude. The method of giving a north and south direction (latitude)
and an east and west direction (longitude) is used through the world. Latitude and
longitude uses a coordinate system of intersecting lines that measures distances in
degrees. This system helps us in measuring distances and finding directions or bearings
between and among places on the Earth's surface. The starting point is the prime
meridian, which represents 0º longitude. The exact opposite position at 180º is called
the International Date Line, which is where the date actually changes.
Latitude
Latitude lines are parallel; they run east and west around the earth's surface and
measure distances north and south from the Equator (Figure 5.0). The parallels of
latitude become increasingly shorter closer to the poles. On the globe the 60th parallel is
only one half of that at the equator.
Longitude
Longitude lines (Figure 5.1) run north and south around the earth's surface; they
intersect at the poles, and measure distance east and west from the Prime Meridian.
Meridians of longitude are arbitrary but conventional lines and together with the
parallels based upon the naturally given equator, constitute the globe grid. Since the
meridians converge at the poles, the difference between the degrees of longitude
becomes shorter as one moves away from the equator.

2 Rectangular Coordinates
The rectangular or plane coordinate system (also known as the grid reference system) is
made up of square grids that are numbered (see Figure 5.2). The grid lines help us to
pinpoint an exact location anywhere on the map by giving a unique number known as a
grid reference. In other words, the grid references help us to find the accurate positions
or locations of places on a map. The vertical lines are called eastings, since they increase
in value as you travel east on the map. The horizontal lines are called northings, since
they increase in value as you travel north on the map.
We have the four-figure grid reference (e.g. 1326), six-figure grid reference (e.g.
137264), and so on. Grid references are easy to use in identifying the location of any
place if you can remember that you always have to go along the corridor before you go
up the stairs. In other words, to find the grid reference number of a place first use the
eastings to go along the corridor until you come to the bottom left-hand corner of the
square you want. Write this two-figure number down. Then use the northing to go up
the stairs until you find the same corner. Put this twofigure number after your first one
and you now have the four-figure grid reference. The easting is usually read before the
northing. For instance, in Figure 5.2 the grid number for location A is 1126; that of
location B is 125270, location C is 135295 while location D is 142297.
Directions
Directions are determined using the compass rose. As shown in Figure 5.3, the compass
is usually marked with cardinal points. The four major cardinal points are North, South,
East and West. Intermediate points or subdivisions can be derived from these major
cardinal points. For instance, we have North-East, South-East, South-West and North-
West. These subdivisions can further be divided to obtain tertiary divisions such as
North-North-East, East-North-East, East-South-East, and so on. In all, we have sixteen
cardinal points or compass directions (Figure 5.3). Using the compass it is possible to
tell the direction of a place or location from another place. As illustrated in Figure 5.4
the direction of location A from location B is north-west. In other words, A is located
north-west of B.
3 Bearings
Bearings are directions measured in angles. They are very useful in more accurately
determining the relative locations of places. Bearings are usually measured in degrees
(0o – 360o ) in a clockwise direction from the true north (see Figure 5.5).

On a map the angular bearing or direction of a place from another place can be
measured using a protractor. The following steps can be taken to measure the bearing of
a place from another place:
a) Identify the two places on the map.
b) Draw four-cardinal points on the location (point of observation) from which you are
looking for the bearing of the other location.
c) Draw a straight line to join the centres of the two locations.
d) Measure the angular bearing using the protractor.
To do this, place the centre of the protractor at the point where the north-south and
east-west lines of the cardinal points intersect each other. Reading from 0 o in a
clockwise direction, the degree which directly falls on the line joining the two places is
the bearing of the location of the place we wish to determine its bearing from the other
location.
Example: Determine the bearing of location B from location A (Figure 5.6). As shown in
Figure 5.6 the bearing of B from A is 157o .
Latitudes and longitudes as well as other geographical referencing systems are very
useful in fixing the positions of features on a map. Without a coordinate system it will be
difficult to establish the actual position of a feature. In the same vein, the cardinal points
expressed using the compass rose guide us in establishing the geographical direction
and angular bearings of features on the map. Thus, without the coordinate system and
the compass we will not be able to know our positions on the Earth’s surface and we will
get loss, not knowing our direction.
Coordinate systems such as geographical coordinates and rectangular coordinates are
very useful in determining the accurate locations of features on the map. The
coordinates are used to geographically reference the positions of features on the surface
of the Earth. In other words, in map analysis coordinates are used to relate the position
of a feature appearing on a map to its equivalent position on the Earth’s surface.
Similarly, the direction or angular bearing of a feature relative to another feature can be
established. The compass rose, which is one of the important components of a map,
helps us in determining the direction or bearing of features with reference to other
features.