Geospatial & Environmental
Tools for coordinate conversion, geographic calculations, sun position analysis, and environmental planning.
Our geospatial calculators help with land surveying, solar planning, and environmental analysis. From converting GPS coordinates to calculating watershed drainage areas, each tool uses standard geodetic formulas and algorithms. You might also find our Convert land area units, Plan agricultural irrigation, Estimate land purchase costs, Calculate energy requirements, Solve mathematical calculations, Convert measurement units, Coordinate across time zones and Design environmental studies helpful for related calculations.
Geospatial & Environmental Guide
Last updated: February 21, 2026
Last updated: February 21, 2026
What you can do in Geospatial & Environmental
- •Convert between coordinate systems (WGS84, UTM, State Plane, decimal degrees, DMS)
- •Calculate distances on Earth's surface using Haversine and Vincenty formulas
- •Compute land areas from polygon coordinates with support for irregular shapes
- •Determine sun position (altitude, azimuth) for any location and time for solar planning
- •Estimate watershed drainage areas and runoff volumes from rainfall data
- •Calculate land requirements for solar, wind, and other renewable energy installations
Accuracy, assumptions, and sources
- •Coordinate conversions use WGS84 (GPS datum) as the reference. NAD83 differs by up to 2 meters in North America.
- •Distance calculations use Earth's mean radius (6,371 km). Actual distances vary slightly due to Earth's oblate shape.
- •Sun position algorithms are accurate to within 1 minute of arc. Atmospheric refraction is approximated.
- •Watershed calculations assume uniform rainfall distribution. Real storms vary spatially.
- •Renewable energy land estimates use industry-average capacity factors. Site-specific conditions may differ.
- •Area calculations assume planar surfaces. Large areas may need geodetic corrections for Earth's curvature.
Pick the right calculator fast
- If you need to calculate area from GPS coordinates→GPS Coordinate Area Calculator
- If you're estimating land for solar power→Solar Land Requirement Calculator
- If you need watershed drainage calculations→Watershed Catchment Calculator
- If you're planning wind turbine spacing→Wind Turbine Spacing Calculator
- If you need stormwater runoff estimates→Stormwater Runoff Volume Estimator
- If you need elevation and contour analysis→Contour Area Calculator
- If you're sizing a retention pond→Retention Pond Size Estimator
- If you're planning off-grid solar battery→Off-Grid Solar Battery Size Estimator
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Confusing WGS84 with NAD83—they differ slightly and mixing them introduces errors in precise work.
- •Using spherical distance formulas for high-precision work. Vincenty's ellipsoidal formula is more accurate.
- •Entering coordinates in wrong order. Latitude comes first in some systems, longitude in others.
- •Ignoring magnetic declination when converting between true north and magnetic compass readings.
- •Assuming solar panels should face exactly south (northern hemisphere). Optimal azimuth depends on local factors.
- •Using theoretical sun angles without accounting for horizon obstructions (hills, buildings, trees).
- •Calculating areas in decimal degrees instead of projected coordinates, giving distorted results.
- •Forgetting that GPS accuracy is typically ±3-5 meters. Survey-grade work requires differential corrections.
Editorial policy
- ✓All calculators provide educational estimates for planning, not professional surveying or engineering results.
- ✓Coordinate algorithms follow standard geodesy references (EPSG, NGS). We cite sources where applicable.
- ✓We don't store your location data. All calculations run client-side in your browser.
- ✓Solar algorithms use standard astronomical formulas. For commercial installations, verify with site surveys.
- ✓Found an error? Email us at hello@everydaybudd.com and we'll fix it promptly.
- ✓Tools are updated when geodetic standards change or calculation methods improve.
Top Picks
All Geospatial & Environmental Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What coordinate systems do the geospatial calculators support?
Our tools support WGS84 (GPS standard), UTM zones, State Plane coordinates, and decimal degrees. Most GPS devices and online maps use WGS84. For surveying work, verify your local datum—NAD83 differs slightly from WGS84 in North America.
How accurate are distance calculations on a curved Earth?
We use the Haversine formula for spherical Earth calculations (accurate to ~0.3% over long distances) and Vincenty's formulas for ellipsoidal calculations (accurate to ~0.5mm). For most practical purposes, our results match professional GIS software.
Can I calculate areas for irregularly shaped parcels?
Yes, our Area Calculator accepts polygon vertices as coordinate pairs. Enter points in order around the boundary. For complex shapes, more points give better accuracy. Results are in square meters, acres, hectares, or square feet.
How do environmental calculators estimate carbon footprints?
We use EPA emission factors for energy, transportation, and waste. Factors are US averages—your local grid's renewable percentage may differ. For business carbon accounting, consider professional services that audit actual operations.
What's the difference between magnetic and true north in compass tools?
True north points to the geographic North Pole. Magnetic north points to the magnetic pole (currently in northern Canada, moving ~40 km/year). Our tools calculate magnetic declination for any location so you can convert between them.
Are sun position calculations accurate for solar panel placement?
Our Sun Position Calculator uses standard astronomical algorithms accurate to within 1 minute of arc. Results include altitude, azimuth, sunrise/sunset times, and optimal solar panel angles. For commercial solar installations, verify with professional site surveys.