[Ldsoss] Alternate way of searching genealogy...

[Thomas Haws]

I'm a civil engineer.

What we often call GPS is officially "geographic coordinates" or "latitude
and longitude".  GPS is more correctly the satellite system that allows
real-time, map-free positioning.  GIS (geographic information system) is a
database that has coordinates on everything.

Two ways to get the geographic coordinates (lat and lon) for an event are:

1.  Manually determine where the event fits on a modern map or aerial photo
(Google Maps) and pick off the coordinates.

2.  Lookup the location identifiers (zip code, address, point of interest)
in a geo-coded database, or GIS.

Latitude and longitude are by definition stable across time with 0 degrees
longitude running through Greenwich, England.

The difference between the two canonical precise datums, NAD27 and NAD83/WGS
84 is insignificant for genealogy work.

BOTTOM LINE:
I don't know if old systems like the censuses and old town names have been
geocoded by date into GISes.  But putting latitude and longitude into
genealogical event data would be a wise move.

Tom
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