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Getting compass directions from GPS coordinates?

J

JDemaris

Well-known Member
I'm sure this should be easy, but like anything . . . it's not easy when you don't know how.

I'm trying to verify the direction of a property line.

Surveyor has the line running 70 degrees. To be technical, it reads "S. 70 degrees - 30' - 41" E

Somebody remarked the line and it's running 100 degrees with a hand-held compass. Even with the 13.6 degrees W of magnetic deviation, that's nowhere near 70 degrees, correct?

So, I took two GPS readings. With an imaginary line drawn between those two readings - how do I calculate a compass direction for that line?

Point one - (in three different formats)

43.727003333333336 by 75.85231166666666

43 degrees, 43 minutes, 37 seconds - by - 75 degrees, 51 minutes, 8 seconds

43N 43.6202 by 75W 51.1387

Point two - (in three different formats)

43.72702777777778 by 75.85075

43 degrees, 43 mintutes, 37.3 seconds - by - 75 degrees, 51 minutes, 2.7 seconds

43N 43.621666 by 75W 51.045
 
I haven't had a GPS in several years,so should be better now. Used to you just start walking and GPS would give your heading in degrees. Read instructions, I would think they would still do that.
 
Like I said, been several years. Another way to get compass heading would be set a weigh point at one end of line, go to other end and do a "GO TO" that weigh point you set and it will give you the heading to it. Either way just be sure and know if you are set to true or magnetic north.
 
best i could tell is it is about a line 415 feet long on a heading of N 88.75' E used google earth to plot the points then used ruler to get heading and distance by chance you are heading west it would be S 88.75' W if i remeber correctly
 
Since you have a GPS, probably the easiest way is to mark one of the points as a waypoint, then go to the other point and ask for a course to the waypoint. It should give you the direction and distance. Remember, though, that unless you have a good (i.e. expensive) external antenna, your readings are not going to be all that accurate, unless your points are several hundred yards apart.
 
That 87.75 degrees you got pretty much goes along with my compass reading (100 degrees minus the 13.5 degree deviation).

If correct, that means somebody remarked that line and put it in the wrong place. It's supposed to run 70 degrees, 30', 41" E according to the survey and deed description.
 
its simple if you have the survey plat just orient the north arrow on the survey plat to north on the compass and n-e directions are measured from true north, s-e directions are 180-call on map=compass reading, s-w are 180+call on map=compass reading, and n-e directions are 360-call on map=compass, forget the gps unit unless you have a clear sky (no tree cover)
 
You lost me a bit. I already know what the degree headings are for the lines on the survey map. I'm trying to determine the heading of a line somebody has made on the land itself- with yellow ties. I don't believe this marked line is going where it ought to.
 
are there any historical markers like fenceposts, trees, fences, old metal stakes, stone markers? They are supposed to go by the original property line & its markers, not by where a re-survey might or might not find the line.
 
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