US National Grid Institute

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US National Grid Institute

Promoting US National Grid for emergency response, data analysis, asset management & public mapping.

06/17/2026

A friend of the Institute headed into the Indian Peaks Wilderness, managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service, in Colorado for his first solo backpacking trip.

Four days. 30 miles. 3,800+ feet of elevation gain. No cell service for much of it.

We suggested he load USNGapp.org on his phone, a progressive web app that works even without cell service, and pair it with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000-scale topographic map for the area. He also carried a Romer grid reader, a small transparent plastic card with markings that correspond directly to the scale of the map he was using.

Here's why that combination matters: the red grid printed on a USGS map and the coordinate displayed on USNGapp.org speak the same language. When his app showed 13T DE 4673 3591, he could place that coordinate on his paper map using his Romer grid reader and know precisely where he stood, relative to the trail, the ridge, the lake, the way out.

The point isn't that something went wrong. It's that he was prepared if it did.

For trail builders inclined to go a step further, USNG coordinates can also appear on physical printed signs called Emergency Location Markers (ELMs), giving trail users and rescuers a shared language of location right there on the ground.

Fifteen minutes learning about U.S. National Grid might be the most valuable thing you do before your next backcountry trip.

05/22/2026

People ask what real-world U.S. National Grid implementation looks like.

It can look like this.

Emergency Location Markers (ELMs) placed on trails in Lake County - Minnesota and Cook County, Minnesota provide a visible location reference that can be read directly from the sign and relayed to responders.

Mobile tools like USNGapp.org can complement that system.

That is the value of a resilient location system: one grid reference that can be used across physical markers, paper maps, mobile apps, and digital platforms.

One reference. Every environment.

🎥 example from Lake and Cook County, Minnesota.

04/27/2026

Curious about U.S. National Grid (USNG) but not sure where to start?

Join us this Wednesday for the next U.S. National Grid Institute Implementation Work Group meeting.

📅 Wednesday, April 29
⏰ 1:00–2:30 PM CST
💻 Online

Featured discussion at 1:30 PM CST:

🗣️ Can U.S. National Grid be explained in just 15 minutes?

Join Randy Knippel for a fast-paced introduction to what USNG is, why it matters, and how it can be shared with new audiences.

Whether you are brand new to USNG or already familiar with it, all are welcome.

Drop in anytime.

🔗 Learn more and join: https://usngi.org/events/meetings/

04/15/2026

On October 18, 2025, D.C.’s 911 call center sent firefighters to the wrong address twice in one night.

Crews were first dispatched to 301 Tingey Street SE instead of 4228 Wisconsin Avenue NW, and later to 900 5th Street NE instead of 900 5th Street SE.

“It happens on a daily basis,” said firefighter Zeek Dziekan. “This was just two runs that got caught.”

Public safety advocate Dave Statter added, “Some of these calls, particularly cardiac arrest calls, seconds do matter. And if you lose those seconds, you can’t make up for them. People die.”

📍These errors highlight the need for clear, standardized location data. The U.S. National Grid (USNG) provides a consistent, map-based reference system that helps responders find the right place, the first time.

Full story ▶️ https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-firefighters-wrong-address-ouc-dispatch-errors-tingey-street-statter-emergency-call-wisconsin-avenue-tingey-5th-street-mistake-wrong-location-washington-councilmember

03/18/2026

🔥 “It looked like a sunrise coming from the wrong direction.”

That is how firefighters described arriving overnight to help battle wildfires burning across northeast Nebraska.

Departments from multiple communities responded as crews worked across a wide area to contain rapidly spreading fires.

Wildfire response often brings together departments from many jurisdictions, sometimes across counties or even states. When crews from different areas arrive on the same incident, everyone must be able to communicate location clearly.

🗺️ The U.S. National Grid (USNG) provides a shared way to reference location across GPS devices, mobile apps, GIS systems, and paper maps.

📍 With as few as 8 digits, responders can identify a 10 meter square on the ground. That level of precision helps crews coordinate operations and communicate locations clearly.

03/12/2026

💡 and support different parts of the emergency response workflow, and understanding the distinction matters.

📍 NG911 is digital location determination system that uses enhanced device and network data to provide more accurate caller location to the public safety answering point (PSAP). This improves how the PSAP identifies where help is needed as the call begins.

🧭 USNG enhances that by providing an interoperable location referencing system responders can use in any environment, online or offline. Gridded maps, mapbooks, emergency location markers, mobile apps, aerial imagery, and GIS layers can all be represented using the same USNG framework. This gives responders a consistent way to reference the same place across different tools and ensures everyone can communicate a precise location while minimizing the chance for errors.

🚨 This becomes critical when cell networks degrade, devices fail, or the response moves beyond PSAP screens and into the field. USNG gives responders a reliable backup and a consistent framework for communicating and finding precise locations.

✅ Different purposes. ✅ Both essential.

🌐 USNG is the Emergency Response Language of Location

02/25/2026

🧭 Know Your Grid.

In one of his articles, longtime advocate and instructor Al Studt reflects on a backcountry search and raises an important question:

If you had to call 📞 9-1-1 while on a trail, could you clearly communicate your location quickly?

Latitude and longitude can be lengthy and difficult to relay under stress:

N 44° 8.640' W 73° 57.917'
44.143999, -73.965282

That takes time.

A U.S. National Grid reference such as:

📍 18T WP 827 883

includes the Grid Zone Designator (18T), the 100 Km grid square identifier (WP), and the easting and northing digits (827 883).

The six digits identify a 100 meter by 100 meter square, about 2.5 acres, roughly the size of two football fields.

Adding one additional digit to both the easting and northing:

📍 18T WP 8275 8838

refines the location to a 10 meter square, which is how USNG is commonly used in search and rescue operations.

When operating within the same 100 Km grid square, the Grid Zone Designator (18T) and 100 Km grid square identifier (WP) can often be omitted unless responders specifically request the full coordinate.

Al’s article walks through the reasoning, precision levels, and considerations hikers should understand before they ever need to make that call.

His takeaways are practical, detailed, and worth reviewing.

Read the full article here 👉️ https://medium.com//hikers-know-your-grid-31e02490ef39

02/17/2026

👋 Please join us in welcoming Richard McCrea to the Board of Directors of the U.S. National Grid Institute!

During his career, Rich worked 32 years in wildland fire management and forestry with the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, including assignments at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.

After learning about the 2013 Yarnell Hill Fire, Rich became a strong advocate for improving location awareness and responder tracking in wildland fire operations, which led him to the U.S. National Grid. That focus closely aligns with USNGI’s mission to advance a shared, interoperable language of location for emergency response.

We are honored to welcome Rich to the Board and look forward to his insight and leadership.

02/11/2026

🚗 On the Road

Over the next several weeks and months, Stephen Swazee, Board Chair of the U.S. National Grid Institute, will be traveling through the regions below and is excited to connect with organizations committed to advancing a clear, consistent national language of location for public safety and emergency response.

He is available to deliver an Introduction to the U.S. National Grid (USNG) presentation to help expand awareness of the importance of a shared, grid-based reference system.

📍 February 18 to 20
Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska

📍 March 1 to 23
Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah

📍 March 24 to 31
Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma

📍 April 19 to 26
Texas

Steve welcomes invitations from:
• Fire departments, EMS, and emergency management
• Police departments
• Schools and universities
• Search and rescue teams
• GIS professionals
• Hiking and outdoor recreation groups

USNG supports clearer communication, faster response, and improved interoperability across jurisdictions and disciplines. Expanding awareness and adoption is essential to ensuring responders and communities share a common reference when it matters most.

📌 If you are located in one of these states and would like to host a presentation, contact Steve directly at [email protected].

Let’s keep building momentum for a consistent national language of location.

01/23/2026

A Minnesota hunter was rescued last week after being lost for 12 hours in cold and snowy conditions ❄️. Thankfully, he survived.

For hunters, hikers, and outdoor recreationists, this is a reminder that three things matter:

1️⃣ Knowing your location
2️⃣ Being able to communicate it clearly
3️⃣ Carrying basic navigation tools, like a compass, in the field

Basic familiarity with U.S. National Grid (USNG), the language of location, can help you:

✅ Find your position on a map or device using a simple grid reference, often with as few as 8 digits
✅ Share a precise location that is easy to relay by voice or text
✅ Support the adoption of the emergency response language of location that can help reduce response times

Our thanks to the Minnesota Air Rescue Team and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for their role in this successful rescue.

View the story 👉 https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/video-shows-rescue-of-minnesota-hunter-lost-for-12-hours/

Address

1360 University Avenue West Suite 455
Saint Paul, MN
55123

Telephone

+18888764743

Website

https://usngi.org/

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