Convert GPS coordinates: Online or with a formula

Working with GPS coordinates has become an integral part of everyday life. If you drive to an unknown place, you no longer use a classic paper map, but use a navigation device or Google Maps on your smartphone. Typically, GPS coordinates are given in degree-minute-second format. A different format is used on some GPS devices. GPS coordinates can be converted for these occasions.

Coordinates are often shown on digital maps in decimal degrees or in the form "degrees, minutes, seconds".

Convert GPS coordinates: this is how it works online with the converterFor example, Google Maps uses the KML notation in decimal degrees (52.59781, 13.401967).

• If you want to specify this in arc lines, the GPS coordinates must be converted.
• Various GPS converters are available for this purpose.
• Controls, for example, the offer from gpskoordinaten.de
• Here you can easily enter your address. As a rule, your location is also displayed directly in the browser.
• Of course, individual locations can also be entered into the converter by coordinates or address.
• Without much ado, the coordinates are converted and displayed in both DG and GMS variants.
• Converted, the GPS coordinates look like this:

Latitude: 52° 31' 12.025''
Longitude: 13° 24' 17.834''

Convert GPS coordinates with formula

Of course, the coordinates can also be calculated “on foot” using a formula. If you want to calculate from the representation "decimal degrees" in "degrees, minutes, seconds", proceed as follows:

• The number in front of the decimal point corresponds to the degree value and can be accepted as 1:1.
• The digits after the decimal point are multiplied by 60.
• The integer portion indicates the minute value.
• The decimal part must be multiplied by 60 again.
• The result is the degree-seconds.

For the above example (52.59781, 13.401967) the following GPS conversion results:

latitude

• Integer before the decimal point: 52
• 0.59781*60=35.8686, integer before the decimal point: 35
• 0.8686*60=52.115
• Converted, the GPS specification of 52.59781 corresponds to a value of 52 °35 '52.115''

longitude

Similarly, the longitude of the GPS coordinates is converted:

• Whole number before the decimal point: 13
• 0.401967*60=24.11802, integer before the decimal point: 24
• 0.11802*60=7.0812
• So the result is: 13° 24' 7.0812''

GPS conversion from degree, minute, second to decimal degrees

Of course, the calculation can also be performed backwards:

• The seconds are divided by 60.
• The minutes are added up.
• The result is divided by 60.
• The degrees are added to this.

The following calculation results for the example 13° 24' 7.0812'':

• 7.0812/60=0.11802
• 0.11802 + 24 = 24.11802
• 24.11802/60=0.401967
• 0.401967 +13= 13.401967°

Image source: Vadim Georgiev