Template talk:GeoTemplate

Note: changes to this template may take several days to propagate to Toolforge.

This template is for use by the geohack.php tool, currently located at Toolforge. It is not for use directly within articles. Template:coord and associated templates create links to geohack.

The template has a sandbox for design work and testing. If changes are not immediately visible try purging the cache (Purge GeoTemplate). Other globes or bodies are located on subpages, such as Template:GeoTemplate/moon. Some of their talk pages redirect here. Do not delete these subpages even if they do not appear to be used! For test coordinates, see /test coordinates.

All subpages | GeoHack documentation | GeoHack.js

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Frequently asked questions

Q: Which World Geodetic System is used?

A: Wikipedia uses the WGS84 datum ellipsoid for all coordinates, which is also used for GPS. This model can vary as much as ±100 m when compared to the geoid, which represents mean sea level.

Q: How can I report an error?

A: Report it on this page, with this link.

Q: Why do I see two markers on Google Maps?

A: Google Maps has introduced a reverse-geocoding feature, which gives priority to the closest object in their database, instead of the desired coordinates. The closest object is shown with a bright red marker with the map centered on it, and the requested coordinates are given a green marker that often blends into the background or is outside the displayed area. It might be called the "you must have meant this" feature. Our use of the Google Maps KML generator for Google Earth links is also affected. That's not something that can be fixed here.

Q: What is "UTM"? Does it use the WGS84 geoid?

A: UTM stands for Universal Transverse Mercator which is a map projection. Maps using UTM are usually based on WGS84 but, notably, the Ordnance Survey grids for Great Britain and Ireland are based on slightly different geoids: OSGB36.

Q: How can I get to Google maps quicker?

A: A user script is available, but easiest is to use WikiMiniAtlas. Click on the

to the left of the coordinate link will open a frame with a map of the surrounding location populated with Wikipedia articles.

Other common questions? edit

Geographical coordinates

GeoTemplate is of interest to WikiProject Geographical coordinates, which encourages the use of geographical coordinates in Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project and see a list of open tasks.Geographical coordinatesWikipedia:WikiProject Geographical coordinatesTemplate:WikiProject Geographical coordinatesGeographical coordinates

Microformats

GeoTemplate is part of, or of interest to, WikiProject Microformats, which encourages the deployment of microformats in Wikipedia, and documents them in the article space. If you would like to participate, visit the project page.MicroformatsWikipedia:WikiProject MicroformatsTemplate:WikiProject MicroformatsMicroformats

Archives

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Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 29 August 2024

This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.

I propose an edit to add direct links to the web view of Google Earth.

Change this line:

| [{{fullurl:toollabs:geocommons/earth.kml|latdegdec={latdegdec}&londegdec={londegdec}&scale={scale}&title={titlee}}} w/ meta data]

to this:

| [{{fullurl:toollabs:geocommons/earth.kml|latdegdec={latdegdec}&londegdec={londegdec}&scale={scale}&title={titlee}}} w/ meta data], [https://earth.google.com/web/@{latdegdec},{londegdec},0a,{scale}d,1y,0h,60t,0r Web]

Bombenleger (talk) 13:10, 29 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Since Google Earth is now based in the web browser, this proposal is very interesting. Mikelo (talk) 14:10, 14 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I have added the link. --тнояsтеn ⇔ 19:09, 14 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Broken geocommons link

In the Global/Trans-national services section, along the Google Earth row, and under the More column, there's a broken link to toolforge:geocommons/earth.kml. As the root page toolforge:geocommons shows, there's only two subpages: toolforge:geocommons/geocommons.kml and toolforge:geocommons/web.kml. I'm not sure whether earth.kml was just renamed to geocommons.kml or web.kml, or if the functionality was actually removed. I'm noting this here in case someone who understands this template better can fix it. jlwoodwa (talk) 22:49, 15 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]

NASA FIRMS entry added

I just went ahead and added an entry for NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), my first change to this template (and possibly to any template). I did see the instructions about getting consensus here - but thought at the time that my discussion over here was what that referred to. So apologies in advance. Hope I didn't break anything... Lklundin (talk) 15:29, 13 October 2024 (UTC) PS. In addition to "thermal anomalies" FIRMS displays a map with global coverage in decent resolution, using just a browser - and it being from NASA means it's free to use f.ex. here on Wikipedia. So really quite useful, I would say.[reply]