Where can I find a map for converting gps x and y coordinates to
aliquat land descriptions in Michigan Counties?  The town, range,
sections, etc. must be on the same map with the globle positioning
coordinates.

I have your answer for you...

What you're looking for is a topographical map. The definition of a
topographical map is this....
"1.Detailed, precise description of a place or region." 
"2.Graphic representation of the surface features of a place or region
on a map, indicating their relative positions and elevations."

What GPS does is give you this same information.... 
"to determine his or her precise longitude, latitude and altitude
anywhere on the planet"
      --Excerpt from http://www.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm
.....telling you where you are by your latutude, longitude, and
altitude, which are the same features a topographical map show.

So, therefore, a topographical map and a GPS cordinate would be the
same thing on a map. You could find your place on the map by the GPS
cordinates you were given.


Maps do not have both things on them, as they are one and the same.
Below are 2 websites which will give you the detailed maps you need
for Michigan counties..


This is the website I would reccomnd first, You can search by name,
county, state..... or type pf place for the maps you need, they are
downloadable as well....

http://www.topozone.com/findplace.asp

Secondly, I would reccomend this one....From what i read about it,
it's one that is used by many farmers and comes well recomended also.

http://mapping.usgs.gov/

Searches used:
://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&q=topographic+maps&spell=1
"topographic maps"

There are also many other sites on there for topographic maps.....but
I listed the best 2 (in my opinion)

Thanks for using Google Answers
Nenna-GA

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Request for Answer Clarification by penultimate-ga on 21 Aug 2002 06:55 PDT

I may have to rephrase my question.  I obviously didn't make it clear
to nenna-ga what I was looking for.  I have seen topographical maps
and have never seen one with town, range, section numbers and quarter
sectons like what you would find in a Michigan plat book.  I need this
to convert gps readings to aliquat locations.  A typical aliquat
location would be as follows:  The northwest quarter of the southeast
quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 19, Town 34 north, Range 7
west.

I don't even care about elevation.  Have no need for topography.   
This would be a 2 dimentional map that showed Town, Range, Sections
and Fractions of sections as well as "gps" x and y coordinates.
penultimate-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by penultimate-ga on 21 Aug 2002 07:00 PDT

I'm sorry.  I didn't find the link to to "Request for answer
carification untill after I rated nenna-ga's answer.  If I can find a
link to remove it I will.
penultimate-ga

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Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 21 Aug 2002 07:20 PDT

I'm sorry, it seems we misunderstood each other. I know of no maps
like that either, so I think the best thing to do would be to write
answers-editors@google.com, explain the confusion and the rating, and
request a refund and then let someone else handle your question.
I hope someone with more knowledge than I in this area can help you
out.
Nenna-GA

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Request for Answer Clarification by penultimate-ga on 22 Aug 2002 05:18 PDT

Yes, seeing red.  Thanks ulu-ga!  If I ever find the time.
penultimate-ga

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Clarification of Answer by nenna-ga on 22 Aug 2002 16:58 PDT

So, are we getting somewhere here....I'll split the cost of this
question with ULU if possiblle, since we double teamed it. But....that
would require him and I talking...and we are not allowed to post
contact information. I wonder if editors-answers@google.com could help
us out?

Nenna-GA

I may have to rephrase my question.  I obviously didn't make it clear
to nenna-ga what I was looking for.  I have seen topographical maps
and have never seen one with town, range, section numbers and quarter
sectons like what you would find in a Michigan plat book.  I need this
to convert gps readings to aliquat locations.  A typical aliquat
location would be as follows:  The northwest quarter of the southeast
quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 19, Town 34 north, Range 7
west.

I don't even care about elevation.  Have no need for topography.

penultimate-ga

You can get township/range/section information from topo maps.  Look
for the red (numbers, lines, dashes).  You can then subdivide into
quadrants and subdivide again to find the "back 40" (and again to find
10 acres).  The township and range seem to be missing from most free
on-line versions of the topos.  They would appear around the edge of
the paper map.  I think the software or paid download also provide
that information.  I haven't found an on-line calculator to convert
between the two.
(the details are buried in these pages)
http://www.ghosttowns.com/topotmaps.html
http://www.umkc.edu/sites/env-sci/module9/weblab9.htm
http://water.az.gov/Forms/files/NOI/township-section-rangecolor.PDF
(the number 12 is the section)
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=16&n=4782708&e=646054&s=25&u=1

Also, make sure the map and your GPS unit are using the same datum
(WGS84, NAD83, NAD27,...) and coordinate system (DMS, UTM) as the map
you plan to use.
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/coordsys/coordsys.html

Public Land Survey System (data file)
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/plssm.html

http://www.karlnelson.com/GMN/Parting.htm

Are you looking to convert just a couple of coordinates that might
appear on one map (see below) or have a statewide project with
hundreds of positions?  Do you need it in the field (no computer?) or
can it be done later (on the web)?

"Law" states that any point of interest lies at the intersection of
four quads.  :-)

ulu-ga,

I really appreciate your interest in this.

I'm looking to convert about 35 per year all in 6 northern Michigan
counties in the lower peninsula.  Mostly, from the time the snow is
gone, till it starts again in the fall.  All I would need to do in the
field is get my "gps" readings.  The rest could be done in the comfort
of hearth and parlor.  It could be done on the web or a paper map, as
long as it were the right map; or maps, as the case may be.

I don't understand the last paragraph of your comments.  What does the
law have to do with this?

penultimate-ga

"Are you looking to convert just a couple of coordinates that might
appear on one map (see below) or have a statewide project with
hundreds of positions?  Do you need it in the field (no computer?) or
can it be done later (on the web)?
 
"Law" states that any point of interest lies at the intersection of
four quads.  :-) ".

The "Law" (I didn't find the right name) is an old joke found posted
in a Map Library.  It just seemed that you always had to buy 4 maps
because the area of interest was in the corner.

In combination with topozone, these will help you get the Township and
Range.  Sometimes you might see the T & R on the topo map, but in
general, I think they were on the edge and hence cut off for the
electronic versions.  The name of the township can be found on the
topo map in black letters with large spacing.  Black dashes separate
townships.
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/1,1607,7-153-10371_14793-31264--,00.html
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/1,1607,7-153-10371_14793-31058--,00.html

Previous example for "Eureka Place, MI"
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=16&n=4782708&e=646054&s=25&u=1 
Greenville East Quad, Eureka, Twp
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/topomaps/county_files/montcalm/montcalm_topo.htm
T09N, R08W, Eureka Twp.
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/glo_plats/montcalm/montcalm.htm
Full quad of the area (large pdf), see MONTCALM, SIDNEY, EUREKA,
FAIRPLAIN townships.
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/topomaps/GREENVILLE_EAST.pdf

How to Read a Land Description 
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mikalama/landdescription.htm

If you like, you could post an example set of GPS coordinates (use
NAD27) that you would like converted.  We could see if we get the same
answer.

Would you like more details on how to use the above sources?

No.  I won't need more details.  I have already been playing with the
on line map at Topozone and it will do the job.  All I need now is a
gps unit with NAD 27 DATUM.

This is to both ulu-ga and nenna-ga.  So far ulu-ga has not claimed an
"answer", but you both directed me to Topozone.  If you are both
satisfied to split the fee, I have a plan to get 10 bucks to each of
you.  If you both agree, let me know, then watch for 2 more questions
valued at 10 bucks a piece.
Thank's to both of you,
penultimate-ga

I think almost every GPS unit allows you to change the datum.  They
often allow many different formats for the coordinates.  (This is all
just math).  They probably can do the conversion too (if you already
have some locations).  Always good to check the features of the
particular model you want to be sure.

Your original question needs a large database of all the sections.  I
think there is software out there, but it might come with a big price
tag and lots of extras.  With 35, you can probably do it by "hand" in
a couple of hours (or less).

I wrote Garmin last night about the datum on their etrex model, or any
models that would have the right datum.  I couldn't find anything on
the web site about switching, but I should have an answer soon.
penultimate-ga

to ulu-ga:
Are you a Googles Reasearcher or are you a registered user?

"Map datums: More than 100
Position format: Lat/Lon, UTM/UPS, Maidenhead, MGRS and other grids"
http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/spec.html

PDF of the new manual.  It only mentions WGS 84 and says don't change
it unless you know the map you will be using is different.  It would
have NAD 27.
http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/manual.html

Google is still reviewing my application to be a researcher.  I will
remind them about that.  You don't need to post anything special for
me or change anything for Nenna until that is resolved.

GPS coordinates and township range info can be obtained online and
downloaded using this service....
http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/mapcardpro/air-photos.shtml