Schwarzeck / Lo22/23 to KML & KMZ

Good to know

• Coordinates in this system count positive to the west and south. Enter the westing (Y) in the easting field and the southing (X) in the northing field.
• Datum: Published 3-parameter shift (typically a few metres).

Convert a whole spreadsheet

For now, convert points in this system one at a time with the converter above. Whole-sheet conversion for grids that count to the west and south is being added to the web and Windows apps.

Common mistakes with Schwarzeck / Lo22/23

• Feet entered as metres. Schwarzeck / Lo22/23 is in metres. Coordinates copied from a drawing in feet must be converted first, or every point moves outwards from the grid's origin.
• Forgetting the datum. Schwarzeck / Lo22/23 is not on WGS 84: published 3-parameter shift (typically a few metres). Picking a WGS 84 grid with the same projection instead leaves the points off by that amount.
• Signs of the coordinates. Schwarzeck / Lo22/23 counts its axes west and south. Keep the signs exactly as the survey gives them; flipping them moves points across the origin.
• Points outside the grid's area. Schwarzeck / Lo22/23 is meant for Namibia - between 22°E and 24°E. Points well outside that area convert with growing error; the converter flags them so you can choose the right grid.
• A local site grid. If every point is off by the same distance and direction, the drawing may be on a local site grid. Calibrate on three or more known control points instead.

New to this? Read how to convert easting and northing to latitude and longitude.