PLS2XY.AML is an ArcInfo Arc Macro Language (AML) program developed at the Washington State Department of Ecology to allow tabular data with locational information stored as Public Land Survey System (PLS) Township/Range/Section subdivision locations down to the quarter/quarter section to be converted into x,y coordinates for spatial display, query, and analysis.
The AML takes a table with PLS subdivision descriptions, adds X and Y coordinate fields, and loops through record by record. For each record, it reselects out the section polygon outline from a source coverage of PLS section polygons into a temporary coverage. If the description contains section subdivisions (half section, quarter section, or quarter/quarter section), the appropriate grid is rubber-sheeted to the section outline in the temporary coverage. The coordinate for the PLS description is taken from the centroid of the rubber-sheeted grid cell which matches the PLS subdivision. The coordinates are written to the X and Y coordinate fields in the input table and the AML loops to the next record. Upon completion, the X coordinate, Y coordinate and point ID fields in the table can be imported into a point geodataset for use in GIS display and analysis functions.
This program produces only estimated locations for the point data based on the PLS description. The accuracy of the coordinates generated will depend upon the accuracy of the input PLS subdivision description, the PLS section coverage used, and the amount of error resulting from the rubber-sheeting process. THE COORDINATES SHOULD BE TREATED AS BEST GUESSES OF THE LOCATION FROM THE AVAILABLE INPUT DATA AND NOT AS EXACT LOCATIONS.
This program does not yet support PLS descriptions containing half townships and/or half ranges.
Portions of the PLS2XY.AML code are based on input code from Michael Ciscel from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and James Wilkinson of the USGS Water Resources office in Portland, Oregon.
The Washington State Department of Ecology provides these AML programs "as is." Ecology makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of the algorithms contained in the programs. Ecology further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although these programs have been run successfully on computers at Ecology, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by Ecology regarding the use of these programs on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty.
In no event shall Ecology have any liability whatsoever for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of use of or reliance on the programs or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by Ecology.
Read the README file (contained in the download below).
PLS2XY is available for download here.
Dan Saul
GIS Technical Services
Washington State Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, Washington 98504-7600
Phone: (360) 407-6419
Fax: (360) 407-6493
E-Mail: dsau461@ecy.wa.gov
Last updated on January 6, 2000 by Dan Saul