Open map List

Grid

A grid in cartography and GIS refers to a network of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines overlaid on a map to aid in location referencing, navigation, and spatial analysis. Grids are used for dividing geographic space into smaller units for measurement, mapping, and data organization.

Basic

Introduction

Types of Grids in Cartography & GIS:

  1. Geographic Grid (Latitude & Longitude Grid)

    • Based on the Earth's coordinate system.
    • Uses parallels (latitude) and meridians (longitude) to specify locations.
    • Example: A world map with latitude and longitude lines.
       

  2. Projected Coordinate System Grid (UTM Grid, State Plane Grid)

    • Divides the Earth into smaller, flat sections to improve spatial accuracy.
    • Example: UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) grid, used in military and topographic maps.
       

  3. Reference Grid (Map Index Grid)

    • Uses labeled squares or rectangles to divide a map for easier referencing.
    • Often uses alphanumeric labels (e.g., A1, B2).
    • Example: City street maps with a reference grid for finding locations.
       

  4. Tessellated Grid (Raster Grid)

    • A grid of equally sized cells (pixels) used for raster-based GIS data.
    • Common in satellite imagery, digital elevation models (DEM), and heat maps.
    • Example: A temperature heat map with a grid of colored cells.

Outgoing relations