Final answer:
Geocoding is the process of converting latitude and longitude coordinates to physical street addresses and vice versa. Using the graticule, a method based on the ancient geographic coordinate system, modern devices pinpoint our location on Earth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of converting latitude/longitude coordinates to street addresses and back is known as geocoding. This geographic coordinate system has been crucial for navigation and map-making since its inception by the likes of Eratosthenes and Ptolemy and was later refined by Sir George Airy. Modern technology such as smartphones and GPS devices leverage this ancient coordinate system, complemented by satellite data, to help us pinpoint our location anywhere on Earth. Latitude measures our position north or south of the equator, ranging from 0° to 90°, while longitude measures east or west of the prime meridian that runs through Greenwich, England, extending from 0° to 180°. Together, these coordinates allow geographers and navigators to accurately locate and measure spatial activity on the globe.
Geographic coordinate system is the process of converting latitude/longitude coordinates to street addresses and back. Latitude is the position north or south of the equator and goes from 0° to 90° north and south, while longitude is the position east or west of the prime meridian and goes from 0° to 180°. This system allows us to accurately locate and navigate places on Earth.