[SOLVED] How to convert packed DMS (with decimal point) to decimal degrees

How to convert packed DMS (with decimal point) to decimal degrees

I have the following coordinates in a dataset :

352215.78N 0041448.71E 352351.58N 0041637.08E 324554.53N 0883049.65W 324016.54N 0883153.19W 374733.00S 1450640.30E 374606.50S 1445054.20E

I believe that those coordinates are in packed DMS with decimal point).

Unfortunately, I don't know a lot about this unit, and I couldn't find a documentation I understood.

Is there a particular way to convert packed DMS with decimal point to DMS (ultimately I will convert it in decimal degrees) ? Is it just a 1/10000 to apply ? Should I pay attention to E(+),W(-), N(+), S(-) ? If anyone has a clear and understandable documentation to propose on the subject, i'll take it !

I'm sure it's something easy, but it's just not quite clear to me...

Solution

Yes, the coordinates you provided appear to be in a packed Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds (DMS) format with a decimal point.

Packed DMS Format - DDMMSS.ss

DD is degrees, MM is minutes, SS.ss is seconds with a decimal point

For Example: 374733.00S represents 37 degrees, 47 minutes, and 33.00 seconds South.

Let's extract degree decimal from this packed DMS

Extract degrees, minutes, and seconds from the packed DMS format.
```
Degrees (DD): 37
Minutes (MM): 47
Seconds (SS.ss): 33.00S
```

Use the formula:

Decimal Degrees = Degrees + Minutes/60 + Seconds/3600

Decimal Degrees = 37+ 47/60+33/3600
Decimal Degrees = 37.7925

Let's consider direction as well:
```
North (N) and East (E) are positive.
South (S) and West (W) are negative.
```
Since it’s South (S), it will be negative. So, the result is -37.7925.