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US National Grid and the Florida State Emergency Response Team

16R 17R

Richard ButgereitGIS Administrator850-413-9907richard.butgereit@em.myflorida.com

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US National Grid• Introduction to the US National Grid

– Why do we need to use the US National Grid?

– How is it similar/differ from other systems?– How to read USNG coordinates

• Tools for Responders • Tools for GIS Support Staff

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Introduction to the USNG Why do we need to use the

US National Grid? How is it similar/differ from

other systems? How to read USNG

coordinates

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US National Grid• Lessons learned have taught us that

standardized grids are needed for positional reporting.

• As far back as Hurricane Andrew, problems were recognized for emergency managers...

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Florida Adopts the USNG• USNG was adopted by the FFCA• FDEM adopted the USNG in the States

CEMP• Florida Fire College, Florida Fire Chiefs

Association, FL National Guard developed curriculum and instructor manuals

• Modules incorporated into Firefighter II curriculum

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FEMA Adopts the USNG• Near term priority approved by

Administrator Fugate• Establish a standard for FEMA

operational maps using the National Grid

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Introduction to the USNG Why do we need to use the

US National Grid? How is it similar/differ from

other systems? How to read USNG

coordinates

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What’s wrong with current systems?

We already have…

– Latitude/Longitude– Township/Range/Section– Street Address and Zip– “Bingo” Grids

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Latitude/LongitudeMultiple formats are confusing

DD -85.990151, 30.272240DM -85 59.409089, 30.16.334386DMS 85 59’24.545”W, 30 16’20.063”N

All the same location!!!

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How far is a second anyway?

What is the distance from….85 59’24.545”W, 30 16’20.063”N

To here….85 59’26.292”W, 30 16’14.546”N

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Township/Range/SectionTownship/Range/Section grid from the

Public Lands Survey System is an important and good system…– basis of land ownership records– been in use for over 180 years

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Township/Range/Section• But a perfect section

really doesn’t exist• irregular in coastal

areas • too large to meet

needs of ground crews

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Street Address and Zip• Problematic due to…

– rural routes– post office boxes– House numbers missing or

obscured

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• What do you do when the SIGNS are gone?

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• What do you do when the ROADS are gone?

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Introduction to the USNG Why do we need to use the

US National Grid? How is it similar/differ from

other systems? How to read USNG

coordinates

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• Developed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940s

• A position on the Earth is referenced in the UTM system by the UTM zone, and the easting and northing coordinate pair.

Abbreviated as “UTM”

16R 766000 3364820

Universal Transverse Mercator

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• is the geocoordinate standard used by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for locating points on the earth.

• is derived from the UTM grid system, but uses a different labeling convention.

Abbreviated as “MGRS”16R GU 66000 64820

Military Grid Reference System

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• Practically identical to MGRS. • Difference is the datum – MGRS uses

WGS84, which USNG uses NAD 83• Coordinates reported identical.

Abbreviated as “USNG”16R GU 66000 64820

United States National Grid

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USNG• it has the advantage of being easily

plotted on USGS topographic maps by using a simple "right and then up" method instead of having to plot from right to left when using latitude and longitude in the Western Hemisphere. The coordinates are also easily translated to distance since they are in meters. Thus the distance between two coordinates can quickly be determined in the field.

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Introduction to the USNG Why do we need to use the

US National Grid? How is it similar/differ from

other systems? How to read USNG

coordinates

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16R GU 66000 64820

How to read USNG

100,000 Meter Grid – identification for regional areas Grid Coordinates –

Easting and Northing position

Grid Zone Designation – for a world-wide unique address, identifies the longitude zone number and the latitude band letter

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16R GU 66000 64820

16R 17R

Truncate for locality

• just like you don’t have to dial an area code to make a local call…• all Florida locations will be 16R or 17R

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16R GU 66000 64820

16R 17R

Truncate for locality

• 100,000 meter zone designation may be dropped when working locally

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Truncate for less precision…

Locates within 1000 meters66 64

6600 6482 Locates within 10 meters660 648 Locates within 100 meters

66000 64820Locates within 1 meter

16R GU 66000 64820

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USNG

• Easily scaleable

• Pin-point and cell based locational

reporting

• “Grid within a Grid”

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Tools for Responders

• GPS

• GeoPDF

• Mapping applications and websites

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Support for USNG• http://www.floridadisaster.org/gis/usng

– tools and instructions for GIS staff• FDEM’s GATOR

– new mapping website with USNG tools• FDEP’s Incident Mapper

– simple Google Maps mashup with USNG tools• GeoPDF’s

– new PDF formats have GIS capabilities, including USNG support

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Global Positioning Systems• I have GPS……..why do I need to care

about any of this? – USNG can be used with GPS– GPS supplements USNG– USNG will work when your GPS won’t

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USNG and GPS• Most GPS units explicitly support USNG

as an option for units• If you choose USNG, you must also

choose NAD 83 as your datum (or technically, you haven’t chosen USNG)

• You may also choose MGRS with NAD 83 to be the functional equivalent of USNG

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http://map.floridadisaster.org/GATOR

Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and Response

• web mapping application• real-time data like weather radar, watches,

storm reports• base map and post-event data

GATOR

GATOR

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KML for Google Earthhttp://map.floridadisaster.org/ArcGIS/KML

• Critical Facilities – including USNG coordinates for facilities

• USNG layers – statewide 100,000m, 10,000m, and 1,000m

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KML for Google Earth

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• Hazardous Material Facilities • For first responders• User names/password provided through

Local Emergency Planning Committee

• https://erplan.net

E-Plan

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http://www.floridadisaster.org/gis/kml/viewer.htm

• simple Google Maps mashup with USNG tools

• real-time data like weather radar, watches, storm reports

• will be transitioning to GATOR

Incident Mapper

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Tools for GIS Support Staff

• USNG and ArcGIS

• GeoPDF

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USNG in ArcGIS 9.1• USNG National Grid Tools

Repackaging of…–Military Analyst–Product line tool set (PLTS)

• USNG Locational ToolbarAvailable from ArcScripts–Less complicated, easier to use

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USNG in ArcGIS 9.2/9.3• Integrated…

– Go to X,Y Tool

– Identify

–Graticules

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Military Analyst in ArcGIS 9.2/9.3USNG

coordinates may easily be added to a feature class.

NAR-C isproper NAD 83 choice - “North American Reference CONUS”

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Military Analyst in ArcGIS 9.2/9.3

USNG coordinates added to a feature class.

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Map Book Templates

• DS Map Book (free extension to ArcMap• Produce 4,000 m x 5,000 8.5” x 11”

1:24,000 scale maps• Style guide, templates and video from

Delta State University linked from http://www.floridadisaster.org/gis/USNG/index.htm#mapbooks

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Map Book Templates

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Map Books• If you have a county wide map book (with

USNG or not), please let us know for inclusion on our website

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Questions?FloridaDisaster.org/gis