Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)

The Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) is a two-dimensional grid that uniquely identifies a square meter anywhere on the earth. The MGRS attempts to represent the entire surface of the Earth on a worldwide grid. The grid is based on the UTM (between 80°S and 84°N latitudes) and UPS (Universal Polar Stereographic) systems.

Currently, the Geographic Calculator only supports MGRS points in the UTM-based latitude range (between 80°S and 84°N ).

MGRS coordinates are comprised of 7 parts, 3 of which correspond to the UTM/UPS zone that contains the coordinate. In addition to the Datum (which is not explicitly expressed in the MGRS coordinate), the UTM/UPS zone and latitude band (described below) are part of the MGRS point.

UTM

  • The UTM area is divided into 60 longitudinal strips, each 6° wide. The strips are numbered 1-60 beginning at the 180°-174° W (Zone 1) and increase to the East (i.e. 174°-168° W = Zone 2, etc.).

  • Each strip (i.e. Zone) is then divided (horizontally) into 8° latitude bands. The bands are lettered “C” (80° S) through “X” (80° N) omitting the letters “I” and “O”.

MGRS Coordinates

The MGRS coordinate consists of seven parameters:

  1. Datum (as applied to MGRS)

    Equivalent to corresponding UTM/UPS datum, and thus is not expressed explicitly in the coordinate.

  2. Zone Number

    Equivalent to corresponding UTM/UPS zone number.

    Example:
    19TDJ3858897366
    19” is equivalent to the corresponding UTM zone.

  3. Band Letter

    Equivalent to UTM/UPS latitude band letter.

    Example:
    19TDJ3858897366
    T” is the corresponding UTM latitude band letter.

  4. MGRS Column Letter

    This is the first of 2 letters used to define the 100 kilometer square within the UTM/UPS block. The columns A-Z (excluding "I" and "O"), like UTM, start at 180° and increase toward the East. Every 3 columns, the pattern repeats.

    Example:
    19TDJ3858897366
    D” is the MGRS column letter

  5. MGRS Row Letters

    This is the second of 2 letters used to define the 100 kilometer square within the UTM/UPS block. Row letters increase to the North. The letters cycle backwards through the alphabet in the southern hemisphere (J, H, G, ... going south).Zone 1, A-H; Rows

  6. MGRS Easting

    MGRS Easting value consists of 5 digits. Represents the number of meters east of the origin (i.e. southwest corner) of the 100 kilometer square in which it is contained.

    Example:
    19TDJ3858897366
    38588” is the MGRS Easting value

  7. MGRS Northing

    MGRS Northing value consists of 5-digits. Represents the number of meters north of the origin (i.e. southwest corner) of the 100 kilometer square in which it is contained.

    Example:
    19TDJ3858897366
    97366” is the MGRS Easting value

Example MGRS Coordinate Conversion

44° 13’ 36.96” N, 069° 46’ 08.11” W (Geodetic/WGS84) is equivalent to 19TDJ3858897366MGRS(WGS84).

UTM Zone 19

Latitude Band T

MGRS column D

MGRS row J

MGRS Easting 38588

MGRS Northing 97366

Note: The DATUM is not explicitly stated in the MGRS coordinate.

Note: Conversions between geodetic and MGRS are ellipsoid dependent.

Note: This coordinate system is not supported for vector data conversions

References:

Parker, W. and Bartholomew, R., Issues in Automating the Military Grid Reference System, IN: The Fifth International Geodetic Symposium on Satellite Positioning, Vol. II, 903-913.

Parker, W.S., and Bartholomew, R.G., 1988, Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy in the DoD Standard GPS Receivers, IEEE Plans Record, 145-152.