#34: Geocoding and Geocaching

Alright we've been doing pretty good so far using the google maps. Now let's talk about Geocoding and Geocaching both can be found using google maps. What is Geocoding? Well you now how people say Longitude by Latitude with a number following each well that's basically what it amounts to.

Finding the Longitude by Latitude is what we need first. Hop on the website http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocode and type in a public address. Afterward at the bottom you'll get either the Decimal Degrees (top number) or the Degrees in Minutes (bottom number). Copy either.

Now open maps.google.com and paste the coordinates in the search bar. Now search for the coordinates and it should find the exact place where the business or public area is.

The public area I'm doing is the Baldwin Boettcher Library found off of Aldine Westfield and 1960.

Here are the coordinates in Decimal Degrees:

30.037481, -95.381284

Now copy that and paste it into google maps.

You'll see that it will pull the exact location for the library.

Seems like a novelty item to use the directions in google maps. But there is much more than you can do with this coordinates it's called Geocaching.

Geocaching is basically a type of scavenger hunt. What people do is find a well hidden spot and bury an item. And you basically go out and use the longitude and latitude to find the buried item.

It's a fun way to use what we've learned and put it to use.

This seems to a fun geocache to find and it's by the airport. Seems it has great GPS coordinates to find it easier but it shouldn't be too hard.

Geocaching seems to be a fun way to use the coordinates in google maps. Some of the things I can see that may be dangerous are parking in the airport having security question you on what you are doing. Especially if it has to be dug up.

But I would love to try this out and dig something up by the Arboretum where the trails could hide something well.