Geodetic Calculator

The Geodetic Calculator solves the direct (forward) and inverse (reverse) geodetic problems.

Menu path

MenuToolsGeocalculator

The calculator solves problems on a plane (rhumb line) and on a sphere (great circle).

Hint

It is recommended to use coordinates in the ENC coordinate system — WGS 84 — for calculations.

To calculate

  1. Select Task type

  2. Select Line type

  3. Enter input data (Input data)

  4. Press Calculate

Direct geodetic problem — rhumb line

Direct geodetic problem — great circle

Inverse geodetic problem — rhumb line

Inverse geodetic problem — great circle

Element

Description

1

Direct

Select to solve the direct geodetic problem

2

Inverse

Select to solve the inverse geodetic problem

3

Rumb Line

Select to solve the problem on a plane

4

Great Circle

Select to solve the problem on a sphere

5

Origin point coordinates

Coordinates of the origin point from which the problem is solved

6

Direction

Direction from the origin point (for the direct problem)

7

Distance

Distance from the origin point (for the direct problem)

8

Result

Coordinates of the geodetic line endpoint (for the direct problem)

9

Calculate

Press to calculate

10

Point №1 coordinates

Coordinates of the first point (for the inverse problem)

11

Point №2 coordinates

Coordinates of the second point (for the inverse problem)

12

Direction from Point №1 to Point №2

Calculated direction (for the inverse problem)

13

Reverse direction

Calculated reverse direction from Point №2 to Point №1 (for the inverse problem)

14

Distance between points

Calculated distance between Point №1 and Point №2 (for the inverse problem)

Direct geodetic problem

Input data for the Direct geodetic problem: origin point coordinates, direction, and geodetic line length.

Result: endpoint coordinates.

Line types:

  • Rhumb line — calculation on a plane

  • Great circle — calculation on a sphere

Inverse geodetic problem

Input data for the Inverse geodetic problem: coordinates of the start and end points of the geodetic line.

Result: direction and length of the geodetic line.

Line types:

  • Rhumb line — calculation on a plane

  • Great circle — calculation on a sphere

Note

After performing the calculation, the input data is not cleared. This allows you to perform a series of calculations with parameter adjustments.

Tip

For precise navigational calculations, it is recommended to use the great circle, as it accounts for the Earth’s sphericity and provides more accurate results for long distances.

Tip

For short-distance calculations (up to 100 nautical miles), the rhumb line can be used, which simplifies calculations and provides sufficient accuracy.