Creating Geospatial Maps via Coordinates

Using Coordinates to define your Map Location:

Geospatial Maps can be associated with their real-world locations using the “Location” field or the “Coordinates” field.

The Coordinates field can be useful for defining highly specific locations, or locations that don’t correspond to a clean, searchable address, for your Map.

To use Coordinates for your Geospatial Map, click the toggle to select “Coordinates.” You can then input GPS coordinates for your Map.

Retrieving GPS Coordinates:

GPS Coordinates can be easily attained using Google Maps or similar location services.

For example, in Google Maps, click anywhere on the Map Image. The GPS coordinates associated with your Pin on the Map will appear.

For example, a User clicked on a Location near City Hall in Philadelphia. The GPS Coordinates of their Pin appear in the bottom left hand corner of the screen: 39.952497, -75.163948.

Formatting Coordinates Properly:

Coordinates must be submitted in Decimal Degrees format. This means:

• The first number is the latitude. Postive values are North, negative values are South. 
• The second number is the longitude. Postive values are East, negative values are West.

 Other formatting guidelines include:

• Do not use degree symbols or cardinal direction letters
• Ensure a comma or space is between the Coordinates

Therefore, an example set of valid Coordinates is: 39.952497, -75.163948

Finalizing your Geospatial Map:

Once you add the relevant fields and click the Submit button, the Map will be created!

Visually confirm its location matches what you intended. 

For help perfectly aligning your Geospatial Map, check out our Map Alignment Guide!

Pro Tip: Hover Text is available next to the “Coordinates” input field for quick reference on how to correctly format Coordinates.