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Bearing and Distance Calculator

Bearing and Distance Calculator: project points from a location using a bearing and distance

Welcome to the Bearing and Distance Calculator! This tool helps you calculate and visualize a new point on a map based on a starting location, a direction (bearing), and a specified distance. Whether you’re interested in navigation, surveying, or just exploring geographic concepts, this tool is designed to make projecting points easy and interactive.

Bearing and Distance Calculator

Current Status

Starting Point: N/A
Bearing: N/A
Distance: N/A
Projected Point: N/A

How to Use the Tool

  • Select a Starting Point: To get started, simply click anywhere on the map. This sets a starting point, which will be marked on the map with a draggable marker. You can also manually enter a latitude and longitude in the input fields to set your starting point.
  • Adjust the Starting Point: After placing the marker, you can drag it to a new location on the map. The coordinates in the input fields will update automatically as you move the marker, giving you real-time feedback on the position.
  • Input Bearing and Distance: Once you have a starting point, use the provided input fields to enter a bearing (in degrees) and a distance. The bearing represents the direction from the starting point, and the distance can be specified in meters, feet, kilometres, or miles.
  • Project the New Point: After entering your desired bearing and distance, click the "Project Point" button. The tool will calculate and display the projected point on the map. This new point is also draggable, allowing you to further adjust its location and see the effect on bearing and distance.
  • Real-Time Information Panel: As you interact with the tool, the information panel will update automatically. It provides the current coordinates of the starting point, the bearing, the distance, and the coordinates of the projected point. This way, you always have an overview of the current calculations.

What You Can Do with This Tool

  • Navigation and Route Planning: Use this tool to plan routes by calculating points based on a given direction and distance from a known location. This can be useful for hikers, sailors, or anyone needing to navigate using bearings.
  • Surveying and Field Work: Surveyors and field workers can quickly calculate a projected point without the need for complex GIS software. The tool's simplicity and accuracy make it ideal for quick checks and on-the-fly calculations.
  • Learning and Teaching: If you're learning about geospatial concepts or teaching others, this tool provides a hands-on way to explore how bearings and distances work. The real-time feedback and interactive features make it an engaging educational resource.

Key Features

  • Interactive Map: Click on the map to set your starting point, or manually enter latitude and longitude values. The map is fully interactive, making it easy to explore different locations.
  • Draggable Markers: Both the starting point and projected point are draggable, meaning you can easily adjust their positions and see the impact on your calculations.
  • Flexible Distance Units: The tool supports multiple units for distance, including meters, feet, kilometers, and miles. This allows you to work in units that are most familiar or relevant to your needs.
  • Dynamic Updates: The information panel updates in real time, giving you immediate feedback as you change the starting point, adjust the projected point, or modify the bearing and distance values.

Practical Applications

  • Hiking and Outdoor Adventures: Plan a hike by projecting your route based on bearings and distances from known points. This tool helps you visualize and understand the path you need to take.
  • Property and Land Surveying: Calculate boundary points or other specific locations relative to a known point, making this tool helpful for quick field calculations in surveying work.

Give the Leaflet Bearing and Distance Calculator a try and see how easy it is to project points and explore geographic relationships directly on the map!

About the Author
I'm Daniel O'Donohue, the voice and creator behind The MapScaping Podcast ( A podcast for the geospatial community ). With a professional background as a geospatial specialist, I've spent years harnessing the power of spatial to unravel the complexities of our world, one layer at a time.