Maruf Islam
Excel is efficient in conducting any type of calculation. Therefore, users trying to calculate coordinates from bearing and distance Excel is not absurd. A simple understanding of geographic Northing and Easting in respective bearing and distance can result in coordinates.
Let’s say we have a reference point (i.e., New York City coordinate). From the reference point, we have multiple points maintaining intervals of certain distances. We want to calculate those points’ coordinates in Excel.
In this article, we demonstrate the step-by-step process of the Latitude and Departure method to calculate coordinates from bearing and distance Excel.
Download Excel Workbook
What Is Coordinate (Northing and Easting)?
The geographic Cartesian Coordinates of a point on earth are referred to as Easting (the x value), and Northing (the Y value). The distance (L) is referred to as the Orthogonal Coordinate measured from a horizontal datum. Here, we use the method of Latitude and Departure to find the Northing and Easting thus calculating the Coordinate.
Steps to Calculate Coordinates from Bearing and Distance in Excel
Before commencing the calculation, users need to gather their source data such as the bearing and distance of lines connecting two or multiple points. As Excel only takes bearings in Radians, it’s convenient that users first convert the bearing readings into radians. Follow the below steps to calculate the coordinates from bearing and distance in Excel.
🔄 Setting Up Bearings and Distances
Arrange the given bearing (i.e., Degrees, Minutes, Seconds) and distance readings in an organized manner in Excel Worksheet. Also, provide a clarified naming along with their units (i.e., Meter or Degree, Minute, Second) of the given data as shown in the image below.
Read More: How to Calculate Distance Between Two Addresses in Excel (3 Ways)
🔄 Bearing Conversion in Radian
As we mentioned earlier, Excel only takes bearings in Radian; users need to convert all the bearing readings into radians.
➤ Use the below formula to convert Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds into Radians.
=RADIANS(E7+(G7/60)+(I7/3600))In the formula, G7/60 converts the Minutes into Degrees, I7/3600 the Seconds into Degrees, and at last the RADIANS function converts the Degree values into Radians.
➤ Drag the Fill Handle to apply the formula in other cells as depicted in the below image.
Similar Readings
- How to Calculate Miles between Two Addresses in Excel (2 Methods)
- Calculate Manhattan Distance in Excel (2 Suitable Ways)
- How to Calculate Levenshtein Distance in Excel (4 Easy Methods)
🔄 Finding Latitude and Departure
Additional LatitudeÂ
The Latitude is the product of the Cosine value of the Bearing and the Distance (L).
➤ Type the below formula in cell L7.
=D7*COS(K7)
➤ Afterward, drag the Fill Handle to execute the formula in other cells.
Thus, you get the additional Latitude from your reference point (i.e., New York City).
Additional Departure
Departure is the horizontal distance from a reference point. We can find the additional Coordinate value of random points or connecting lines to our reference Coordinate.
Alternative to the Latitude, Departure is the product of the Sine value and Distance.
➤ Write the below formula in any blank cell (i.e., M7)
=D7*SIN(K7)
➤ Now, apply the Fill Handle to display all the Departure values in the cells as depicted in the below picture.
🔄 Calculating Coordinates from Bearing and Distance
Users need a reference point (i.e., New York City Coordinates) to measure the coordinates of regular intervals and bearings. There is a reference Coordinates in the dataset and users have to add each additional Latitude and Departure to find respective Northing and Easting.
Point Northing
➤ Add the additional Latitude to the reference Northing to find the final Northing of any point.
=L7+N6
➤ After that, drag the Fill Handle to make appear all the Northing Coordinate values similar to the image below.
Point Easting
➤ Again, use the Addition Operator to find the final Easting of any points.
=M7+O6
➤ To execute the addition operator in other cells, use the Fill Handle.
In the end, you get the Coordinates from bearing and distance.
Read More: How to Calculate Distance between Two GPS Coordinates in Excel
Practice Section
You can practice the Coordinates Calculation using the attached Dataset. We provide the raw data in the Practice Worksheet as depicted in the below image.
Conclusion
In this article, we demonstrate the concept of Coordinates and its components such as Northing and Easting. Also, we calculate coordinates from bearing and distance Excel. Hope you find this described method helpful in your case. Comment, if you have further inquiries or have anything to add.
Thanks! Very helpful
Welcome @Janice