GPS Tracking Coordinates Latitude and Longitude Explained

You probably learned about latitude and longitude in a geography class at some point, but in case you can’t recall what these two terms mean, here’s a refresher:

Latitude and longitude are directional terms that, when combined pinpoint an exact location on the planet.

• Latitude refers to the measurement of north-south placement and is defined with respect to the equatorial plane.
• Longitude refers to east-west placement and is defined with respect to meridians, or the half-circles that run from the North Pole to the South Pole.

A Global Address

Latitude and longitude are used to map a specific global address. Every single location on earth has a specific global address, and latitude and longitude are used to pinpoint the exact location of a global address. For example, the global address of Paris, using latitude and longitude, is 48.8567° North and 2.3508° East. The first number in this global address refers to the latitudinal location, while the second number refers to the longitudinal location of the city.

The two numbers that are given in any global address are known as coordinates. They are a universal language. In other words, the location of a specific global address can be communicated in all languages.

Grid Mapping

Unlike street addresses, which use a specific location on a street to determine a location, latitude and longitude use grid mapping to pinpoint a location. In other words, similar to what is seen on graphing paper, is used to determine a specific location.

A grid map has both horizontal and vertical lines, and those lines intersect. A specific location can be determined on a grid map by providing the latitude and longitude of that location, or the horizontal and vertical coordinates. Where the two numbers intersect on the grid indicates the exact location of a place. For instance, in the given example of Paris, the point where 48.8567° North and 2.3508° East intersect on a grid map indicates precisely where the city is located on the globe.

Using Latitude and Longitude for GPS Tracking

GPS tracking systems make travel a lot easier. They have long been used for air travel and travel by sea, but today, the average person can use GPS to find a specific location anywhere in the world.

Your GPS (global positioning system) relies on latitude and longitude to find a location. It reads your exact global coordinates and the exact global coordinates of your desired location to provide you with directions.

Latitude and longitude are two things that you probably use on a regular basis, and you may not even realize it.

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