Plan pointer
A schedule pointer is a special ruler shape , each with a mutually perpendicular scale with a common zero point for detection or transmission of rectangular coordinates , such as UTM coordinates , or in topographical maps , as well as for transmission of a global navigation satellite systems such as GPS determined UTMRef / MGRS - coordinates serves. Regardless of which map with UTM / MGRS grid and scale of the map the coordinate was determined using, this can be transferred back during orientation. Usually a map pointer is combined with a map protractor .
Plan pointers are used for map work in seafaring , aviation , hiking and trekking as well as for expeditions , orienteering and military in combat duty , in tactical and operational planning in staff duty mostly on a command post with topographic maps.
The appropriate map pointer in the same scale is required for the respective map scale. The ruler arms of the map pointer are each as long as the map grid is high and wide. If the map grid is larger than this at the same scale, the map pointer has to be drawn several times from left to right and from bottom to top and the terrain point to be determined must be measured accordingly.
For the determination, the east or right value is determined first and then the north or high value. The motto is: Get to the tree, up the tree .
In Germany, topographic maps have a map pointer printed on the edge of the map. This can be cut out and used as a makeshift.
Map pointers can also be made of transparent materials and combined with a protractor for map work and other aids. There are also pointers on the base of some compasses. A scale can also be used for the determination that divides the grid square into ten (or a multiple of ten) divisors. Regardless of the scale, a grid square (along a line that runs through a location) can also be divided with a bundle of rays .
The Wehrmacht already used a map protractor / plan pointer to determine unambiguous coordinates according to a topographic map and the like. a. for the shooting of artillery and the use of attack aircraft for the immediate support of the combat troops.
Officially, this ruler shape is also referred to as a plan pointer in Austria, but colloquially it is often referred to as the power supply unit , as it is also used in the federal reporting network .
See also
- UTM coordinate system
- UTM reference system / MGRS
- Global navigation satellite system
- Global Positioning System
- Map protractor