UTM is a good way to go, and there are a large number of sites on the net that has conversion charts.
http://www.maptools.com/ I am providing an example to demonstrate how ingrained the LAT/LONG system is in the U.S.A.
LAT/LONG is alive and well. When a Federal or State of California air tanker, Lead Plane, and Helicopter are ordered the location is imputed in LAT/LONG and Township, Range, and Section. The dispatcher imputes a LAT/LONG into the ordering system.
The initial dispatch goes out to ground forces for the proper command (Chief), geographic location (address), type of response, dispatch area, and then a check-in of responding units. Normally the Township, Range, Section and Ľ Section is given. If there is more than one Meridian on the unit the proper one will be identified. Most State and Federal agency maps use this measurement along with LAT/LONG and UTM.
In the WildCad System and many other dispatch CADS once the dispatcher gets a report he/she enter the location into the system. The system generates LAT/LONG in a number of formats and UTM. The system also displays the Township, Range, and Section.
In a pre-season drill aircraft were requested in LAT/LONG hddd⁰mm’ss.s”. The CAD maps are based on WGS 84.
I.R. mapping flights are done late at night. These are normally done on large fires with a lot of potential. When the order goes into the system for the IR flight the order will identify a nearby community. One with an airport helps. Anniston (KANB)65˚, 16.5 miles. The request will box in the area to be flown, N33˚45’27.9” W 85 33’ 34.5” and N33˚47’27.0 W85˚33’32.8”. Fire name Coleman. This information is checked by a qualified aircraft dispatcher for correctness.
The different systems create confusion. Search and Rescue is using UTM. Every once and while the Military Grid system comes into play. If you get a National Guard unit in they train in Military Grid.
Land surveys have changed over the years. Most of the public land surveys in the West are based on Township, Range, and Section. I can pick up a Forest Service or BLM map in the West and it will be broken up in Township, Range, and Section. The map will also be in LAT/LONG, and UTM. I am currently looking at a Topo Map dated 1953 and generated for aerial photographs from 1946, and field checked in 1953. The map was updated using correction guides in 1978. This map is setup in LAT/LONG and UTM.
If you have a Forest Service map for the nearby Talladega N.F. let me know what units of measure are used.
Fortunately the gps user who leaves his unit set at the default settings or a switch to UTM does not need to worry about most of this. One time I took a phone call from a lady who had a problem. She said she was at A-12. I told her we did not have an A-12. Come to find out she was using an AAA map. That reference did not work for me because I did not have an AAA map. Does the travel map you buy at the service station identify A-12 as the same location as AAA. I doubt it. Enough of that for a minute, I just gave myself a headache.
A link to mapping and conversion tools.
http://www.maptools.com/If your GPS-12 gives up the ghost put it in electronic recycle bin and start new. In the world of electronics it has lived a very long life.
Even with the gps our hunts have not changed a great deal. Last fall we pulled up on an old logging landing, stood, pointed and made a plan. We shoot a compass bearing on a tall, white pine snag on a far ridge, discussed how the hunt would go, and the meeting point near an old mine.
The change: We created a Waypoint where our vehicle was parked, and our gps units were in the Track Mode. I had also created a Waypoint at an old mine shaft, with a Proximity Warning set. Years ago I had killed a buck late in the evening ˝-mile below the shaft. I was concerned about dropping into it in the dark when I hiked out in the moon light.
In the past when a buck was shot survey flagging would be placed the animal was standing at the shot. On that morning I created a Waypoint in case tracking was need to recover the buck. I had already created a waypoint at my ground stand.
The next morning I was the driver and pickup guy. As planned after my partners had time to get beyond where I killed my deer I used the gps to find the waypoint I created at my stand. I picked up the empty .270 case, and went to the location the deer was standing at the shot. I used my rangefinder to measure the distance for the record. I went down to where the gut pile had been. It appeared that a bear had already cleaned it up. One of my hunting partners hopes to get that guy one day. He does not need a gps or a map to find him, just being at the right spot at the right time. I should note baiting and feeding of wildlife is illegal in California.
