How do Ordnance Survey grid references work?

How do Ordnance Survey grid references work?

A grid of squares helps the map-reader to locate a place. The vertical lines are called eastings. They are numbered – the numbers increase to the east. The horizontal lines are called northings as the numbers increase in an northerly direction.

What is a national grid in surveying?

The horizontal lines are called northings as they increase in value as you travel north on the map. You might have noticed by now that OS maps are covered in a series of blue grid lines. These grid lines help you to pinpoint an exact location anywhere on the map.

How do you find a six figure grid reference?

Six-figure grid reference

  1. First, find the four-figure grid reference but leave a space after the first two digits.
  2. Estimate or measure how many tenths across the grid square your symbol lies.
  3. Next, estimate how many tenths up the grid square your symbol lies.
  4. You now have a six figure grid reference.

How big is a grid on an OS map?

All OS maps are criss-crossed by vertical and horizontal grid lines (coloured blue on OS Explorer maps) which are 4cm apart on 1:25,000 scale maps and 2cm apart on the 1:50,000 scale. A grid reference uses six figures to identify a particular spot on a map that is 100 metres square.

What is national grid reference format?

Grid References are made up of: two letters, optionally followed by. an even number of digits, optionally followed by. a quadrant name: “NW”, “NE”, “SW” or “SE”, standing for North West, North East, South West and South East.

What is a grid reference example?

There are two main types of grid reference: four-figure grid reference, such as ’19 45′, indicates a 1 km by 1 km square on the map; and. six-figure grid reference, such as ‘192 454’, indicates a 100 m by 100 m square on the map.

How to find a national grid reference?

To find a grid reference (and also latitude and longitude), follow these steps: Type place name into the search box and press enter This brings up a dropdown list of places from the OS geocoder Choose the correct location You can now start marking points on the map. Click this and then click at a point on the map where you found an object.

What does grid reference mean?

grid reference. noun. a method of locating a point on a map or plan by a number referring to the lines of a grid drawn upon the map or plan and to subdivisions of the space between the lines.

What is an OS grid reference?

OS Grid References are based on 100km grid squares identified by letter-pairs, followed by digits which identify a sub-square within the grid square, as explained on the OS Interactive Guide to the National Grid .

What is a grid reference box?

GRID REFERENCE BOX. A grid reference box (Figure 4-23) appears in the marginal information of each map sheet. It contains step-by-step instructions for using the grid and the US Army military grid reference system. The grid reference box is divided into two parts.