I've slowly been getting my locations in order. Its fun to look them up on the map and try to find the exact location. For doing that I have been using Google Earth since its really fast. However, when I enter the coordinates named in Google Earth, it only helps me get in the general vicinity on the Birdstack map. I've tried both types of coordinates but neither gets me there. Has anyone else run across this problem? I wonder which one is more accurate.
You should be able to use either decimal or DMS to enter coordinates that are accurate within at least a few feet. Are you sure that Google Earth is giving you the full detail on the coordinates it reports?
Could you post an example of some coordinates you are entering that don't give you the precision you want?
As far as which one is more accurate, either format can carry the same accuracy in theory. However, the way we have the input fields set up, you can enter slightly more precise data using the decimal format. But, I doubt you really need to enter coordinates that are accurate down to an inch or less, so the DMS format should be fine!
Thanks for your response. Since looking at it, I have been carefully writing down the coordinates and found that the ones on Google Earth are the DMS ones. The Birdstack map has pinpointed most of them accurately. Once, for a site in Ecuador, the pointer was quite a ways off and I had to hunt for the location.
Here I am again. I really like what you did to sort out locations by country! Very nice! One problem: when I edit a location to add county or fix the name, it loses the coordinates and map location. Am I doing something wrong?
The location creation page is designed to reset itself whenever a change is made to the country or state/province field. This is because the city/town and county/parish fields are tied in with the country and state information in part of our database. If possible, try to fill in those fields first before working on the coordinates and map.
Chivis said:
I've slowly been getting my locations in order. Its fun to look them up on the map and try to find the exact location. For doing that I have been using Google Earth since its really fast. However, when I enter the coordinates named in Google Earth, it only helps me get in the general vicinity on the Birdstack map. I've tried both types of coordinates but neither gets me there. Has anyone else run across this problem? I wonder which one is more accurate.
Posted Saturday, 22 March 2008, 02:06
cghawthorne said:
You should be able to use either decimal or DMS to enter coordinates that are accurate within at least a few feet. Are you sure that Google Earth is giving you the full detail on the coordinates it reports?
Could you post an example of some coordinates you are entering that don't give you the precision you want?
As far as which one is more accurate, either format can carry the same accuracy in theory. However, the way we have the input fields set up, you can enter slightly more precise data using the decimal format. But, I doubt you really need to enter coordinates that are accurate down to an inch or less, so the DMS format should be fine!
Posted Saturday, 22 March 2008, 04:01
Chivis said:
Thanks for your response. Since looking at it, I have been carefully writing down the coordinates and found that the ones on Google Earth are the DMS ones. The Birdstack map has pinpointed most of them accurately. Once, for a site in Ecuador, the pointer was quite a ways off and I had to hunt for the location.
Posted Monday, 24 March 2008, 05:51
Chivis said:
Here I am again. I really like what you did to sort out locations by country! Very nice! One problem: when I edit a location to add county or fix the name, it loses the coordinates and map location. Am I doing something wrong?
Posted Sunday, 30 March 2008, 01:11
djringer said:
Hi,
The location creation page is designed to reset itself whenever a change is made to the country or state/province field. This is because the city/town and county/parish fields are tied in with the country and state information in part of our database. If possible, try to fill in those fields first before working on the coordinates and map.
David
David J. Ringer
http://djringer.com/birding
http://birdstack.com
Posted Wednesday, 02 April 2008, 12:23