How to Use GIS Coordinates in Google Maps
By Tommy Charles
With latitude and longitude, you can specify an exact location somewhere on the planet. Because the imaginary lines run parallel to one another and crisscross the globe, they intersect at exact points. You can use latitude and longitude in GPS equipment as well as Google Maps. When you use it in Google Maps, save yourself the trouble of having to type out a long address. Because these coordinates cover more ground than an address, you can use them to look at fairly large areas at once.
Step 1
Navigate to Google Maps by typing "maps.google.com" into the address bar and pressing "Enter."
Step 2
Point to and click the search bar at the upper left-hand side of the page.
Step 3
Enter your coordinates into the search bar and press "Enter." For example, to enter the coordinates for the Upper West Side area of New York, you would enter "40.790744,-73.972063." Latitude is the first set of numbers, longitude the second.
Tips
- Discover the coordinates for any area in Google Maps by right-clicking the map and then clicking "What's here?" The coordinates appear in the search box.
Writer Bio
Tommy Charles is a professional writer and researcher for several websites. Focusing primarily on financial markets, he also writes for broader arenas and has written several articles focusing on general interest topics such as secure Web browsing, coin collecting and computer science. His ongoing series of articles concerning the FOREX market and game theory have received a wide readership.