----------------------------Original message----------------------------
At 04:34 PM 5/7/96 EDT, Donna Schenstrom wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>A professor has come in requesting information on the Palestine Grid,
>also referred to as the Israel Grid.  Are there base lines that
>correspond to Lat/Long.  He would like to transform
>coordinates from the Palestine Grid system to Lat/Long.  Any references
>would be appreciated.
>TIA
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Donna G. Schenstrom
>Head Cartographer
>Cartographic Services Laboratory
>University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
>PO Box 413
>Milwaukee, WI 53201
>                                        414-229-4865
>email: [log in to unmask]                  414-229-4866 Geography
>UWM homepage: http://www.uwm.edu        414-229-3981 Fax
>
>
Dear Donna,
        I have three references for you.  The most complete description is
contained in: Clough, A.B., Brigadier (comp.).  Maps and Survey.  London:
The War Office, 1952.  Series: The Second World War[,] 1939-1945[,] Army.
See pages 77 and 122-124.  Briefly, on page 122 it says, "The origin was a
point at Jerusalem with geographical co-ordinates:-
                Lat. 31* 44' 02.749"
                Long. 35* 12' 39.290" + 4.200"
        The additional 4.200" to the longitude was in accordance with a 1928
decision to adopt the French value for the longitude of points of juncion
with the French triangulation in the north, and to correct all Palestine
longitudes accordingly."
        On page 77 it says: "The grid systems adopted for the various zones
within the theatre are referred to briefly below...
        Palestine.  ATransverse Mercator grid covered Palestine and
Trans-Jordan.  This extended from the eastern limit of the Egyptian Red belt
to its junction with the Iraq grid in the east, and northward to its
junction with the Levant grid just north of Haifa."
        If you need a photocopy of pgs 122-124, let me know and I'll mail it
to you.
        You will certainly have the Atlas of Israel.  The 1970 edition, text
accompanying map I/6 is a bit more complete in its description of the grid
than that which accompanies the same map in the 1985 edition.  However only
the latter names the Israel Grid.
 
Ron Whistance-Smith
14520 84 Ave.
Edmonton, AB
Canada   T5R 3X2                    email: [log in to unmask]