Is there a GPS unit that has Township, Range & Section coordinates?
Ideally would have a screen with an “X marks the spot” kind of setup showing where in a section I am.
Looking at real estate described as NE1/4 of the SW1/4 of section 36 is hopeless with no markers.
Looking on Ebay tells me there are way too many choices & not enough info.
Joe H
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There are a couple of software programs with a gps receiver included for less than $100. that work with a laptop that shows the locations and streets. My friend has one, I have not seen it, but he said it works great and even gives voice directions and course reroutes.
No streets where I'm looking, dirt roads at best.
View Image
I think I was there, when I was here, but not 100% sure. I'm sure I was close to where I thought I was though.
Joe H
Edited 8/26/2005 2:33 pm ET by JoeH
Try checking with a company called Sat Loc. They provide GPS navigational equipment and software for really accurate material application (ie.. chemical, farming and fire suppression as well as other areas ) in the agricultural industry and others..... etc.....
Hope it helps,
Could you use a plat map or whatever to find the degrees and minutes of where you want to go, then just follow a basic GPS to that site?
Start with the Coast and Geodic top maps.
IIRC correctly you can view them online.
They have section numbers along with lat and long.
Thanks guys, but none of the above.
I have a county map that is Township, Range and section. The county has all the ownership records by section.
Longitude/Latitude just doesn't help. Yes, it may be possible to find a map with both, but when you look at a section map that has individual properties as small as less than one acre, it just doesn't work.
The county has their own system and that's it.
So, anyone know of a GPS with sections?
Joe H
Being as there's a power transmission line in that area, you might be able to get the info you need from the power company. Call them up and see if you can hook up with a friendly type in their survey office. They usually have very good resources of that sort.
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
In that instance, maybe yes.
But, where exactly was I when I took the pic? Which of dozens of dirt roads going nowhere straight was I on?
If I spent half a day out in that kind of country, cruising those roads and taking pictures, I have no idea where most of them are other than the general area.
No maps have everything, I have lots of maps and none of them are of much use when I am off the paved roads.
And since ALL the real estate here is described with sections, a GPS with the capability of showing me where I am in those terms seems the best answer.
Joe H
Maybe a surveyor who is local to the township can help you out. Somewhere in the township tax map should be the info to use as a starting point.
Try 'Keyhole' or under 'google earth' - can't manage to copy the url for you, sorry. Haven't used it yet (there's a 7 day free trial ,and i want to save it until i really have to)
ciao for niao
To those who know - this may be obvious. To those who don't - I hope I've helped.
You've run into the old Public Land Survey System. Here are two articles which give more detail --- http://www.cnr.colostate.edu/class_info/nr502/lg3/datums_coordinates/plss.html, and http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/boundaries/a_plss.html. The short answer is that there isn't a simple translation from the township/range/section system to the universal latitude/longitude system (which is what GPS uses). However, the township/range lines are shown on the 7.5-minute topographic maps sold by USGS. Those maps also have lat/long, so you can translate from one to the other.
Here's another approach... DeLorme has a series of CDs which contain complete 7.5-minute topo maps (http://www.delorme.com/quads/default.asp). They also sell a GPS receiver which plugs into a laptop computer. Your location (as measured by the receiver) will be shown on the laptop. If you already have a laptop, this should solve your problem for about $200.
Edited 8/27/2005 7:42 pm ET by Buxton
Excellent link Buxton! Thank you!
blue
United States Geodetic Survey (USGS) placed monumentation thorughout the US. Each state has a coordinate system with monumentation described in lat & long, and coordinates. Find the appropriate state agency, and ask them for the description of the nearest USGS monument to that site. These should be mapped on USGS quad maps wich are available on-line. The quad maps are mapped with lat & long on each corner. Get a hard copy of your county, and/or section, find a landmark, and use an engineers scale to determine a rough lat & long for your purposes.
Many states require that any new surveys be tied into the State Plane Coordinate System so as to place them into their Geographic Information System (GIS). Check with a local surveyor as to the nearest point that may be tied to this system. You could provide him with the quad map nearest your tract, identify a landmark, and he could give you coords and/or lat & long.