Why do my UTM WGS84 calculations not match what MATLAB has calculated?

Question: Why do my UTM WGS84 calculations not match what MATLAB has calculated?

I have longitude and latitude data and I have converted them to UTM using WGS 84 standards. When I compare these to the UTM values generated from my lat and long they do not match. Default values for my conversion are from   For example: test=defaultm('utm'); utmzone=35; origin=(utmzone-31).*6+3; test.origin=[0 origin 0]; test=defaultm(test); [eastutm2,northutm2]=mfwdtran(test,44.3536,28.4981); %default values taken from manual lat -> UTM conversion diffnorth2=4912239-northutm2 diffeast2=619393.56-eastutm2  

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Expert Answer

Prashant Kumar answered . 2025-11-20

There could be several reasons why your UTM WGS84 calculations do not match MATLAB's calculations. Here are some common factors to consider:

1. Datum Differences: Ensure that both your external tool and MATLAB are using the same datum (e.g., WGS84). Different datums can result in different coordinates.

2. Projection Parameters: Verify that the projection parameters (e.g., UTM zone, hemisphere) are correctly set in both your external tool and MATLAB.

3. Precision and Rounding: Check if there are differences in precision or rounding methods used by the two tools. MATLAB might use higher precision calculations compared to your external tool.

4. Coordinate System: Confirm that both tools are using the same coordinate system and units (e.g., meters for UTM coordinates).

5. Implementation Differences: Different tools might implement the conversion algorithms slightly differently, leading to small discrepancies.

Example MATLAB Code for UTM Conversion

Here's an example of how you can perform UTM conversion in MATLAB using the wgs2utm function from the File Exchange:

% Example coordinates
lat = [48.866667; 34.05; -36.85];
lon = [2.333056; -118.25; 174.783333];

% Perform UTM conversion
[x, y, zone, hemisphere] = wgs2utm(lat, lon);

% Display results
disp(['Zone: ', num2str(zone)]);
disp(['Hemisphere: ', hemisphere]);
disp(['Easting: ', num2str(x)]);
disp(['Northing: ', num2str(y)]);

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check Datum: Ensure both tools use WGS84.

2. Verify Projection Parameters: Confirm UTM zone and hemisphere are correct.

3. Compare Precision: Check if rounding or precision settings differ.

4. Review Implementation: Look for differences in the conversion algorithms used.

By carefully checking these factors, you should be able to identify the cause of the discrepancy and ensure consistent results between your external tool and MATLAB.

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