The importance of grid conversion to lat and long

[jez_au]

What is the format - what does it look like please. I'm interested to know more.
I Googled and got a Rapidmap site.

Both systems below are South Australian systems, I have no idea if they extend elsewhere.

The RAPID system (Rural Areas Property Directory) is the UTM coords of a property, expressed in 6 digits, accurate to 100m (same 6 digits many would use when hiking and reading topo maps). A RAPID number is not unique as the map number is not included, but the specific location is worked out by emergency services based on the locality provided. The RAPID system is being phased out during 2011 with the Rural Property Addressing scheme, my property has already been reassigned.

Typical RAPID plate

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The Rural Property Addressing scheme is an easier to understand system, systematic, and useful to both emergency services and the public alike. It is also an Australian/NZ standard so might already be in place in other states. Each rural property is assigned a "street number" based on their distance from the start of the road, that distance in metres is divided by ten to give the number. Odd numbers are assigned to left hand side properties (as measured by the location of the driveway), evens on the right. Ie, my driveway is 1,570m (1.57km) from the start of the road, so my number is 157 XXXXX Road, Locality. Every road is named with a clear, but not necessarily unique, name (ie, the road between Strathalbyn and Aldate was previously known as the Strathalbyn Road or ALdgate to Strathalbyn Road by people in Aldgate, and the Aldgate Road or Strathalbyn to Aldate Road to people in Strathalbyn, is now officially the Strathalbyn Road)

Typical Rural Property Address plate

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[taswegian]

Thanks
yes - we have RPA here in Tasy. Its interesting as that is what I quoted recently and they asked 'What State', 'Is that North or South' and so it went on!
Its not a simple solution and at the end of the day local knowledge is indispensable.
I doubt the average Joe Blow will ever understand spatial data in a format that is intended for 'experts' in a User friendly way. It is in the majority of the population a very insignificant part of our lives. (absolute locations ie)
That's not saying we shouldn't endeavour to make it as easy as possible.

Based on my experience from the outside looking in, I'd suggest better training for the operators may be needed? (said in ignorance of just how they are trained)

[jez_au]

at the end of the day local knowledge is indispensable.

Very true.

Based on my experience from the outside looking in, I'd suggest better training for the operators may be needed? (said in ignorance of just how they are trained)

Likewise, I don't know, but there was a couple of incidents here in SA which were badly handled, and the case in NSW of the teenager who despite being repeatedly asked was unable to provide a valid street address for the hiking track he was dying on. I'm pretty sure the call centres learnt a lot from these.

[sailfish]

So which UTM is the RAPID system, AMG, MGA....?
Then of course you have to know the mapping zone you are in.


Rural addressing is well under way in NSW. There are complications.
Which end of the road is the start?
Some propertied have multiple entrances so primary and secondary addresses. Viable access depends on conditions. How do emergency services know which one to use?
Some properties had multiple dwellings.
The list goes on.

Regards,
Ken

[jez_au]

So which UTM is the RAPID system, AMG, MGA....?

I don't know, in many ways it doesn't matter as it is a redundant system here now. You didn't need to work it out for yourself, the CFS (Country Fire Service) would tell you if you asked, or would tell you when you ordered your RAPID plate.

Which end of the road is the start?

Same problem here in SA, generally the end closer to Adelaide, or the end closer to the bigger road, but of course like you know this cant be applied to many situations.

Some properties had multiple dwellings.

Property law in SA makes this situation uncommon. If multiple dwellings or separate titled houses share a common driveway multiple signs will be posted at the road, suffixed with A, B, C ...