geographical accuracy

[Graham Seaman]

Just in case anyone else runs into the same issue, here's a description 
of the problem and a (bodgy) solution:

The task:
Given a set of UK ordnance survey eastings and northings, convert them 
into latitude and longitude for use with google maps

The problem: Geo::Coordinates::OSGB and Geography::NationalGrid::GB,  
when (correctly) set to use the WSG84 ellipsoid return values which 
agree with one another to 6 decimal places. Unfortunately the results 
only agree to 2 decimal places with the values expected by Google maps. 
The Google map value coincides with the results returned by the 
reference converter at http://gps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/convert.asp, so 
there is nothing strange happening at the google end.  But I have around 
20 metres of error in my output, enough to look silly on the map 
(features in the middle of rivers, in roads, etc)

The partial solution (a better one would be to rewrite one of the perl 
modules..): download the document 'Transformations and OSGM02 User 
Guide' from the gps.ordnancesurvey site. Apply the iterative 
transformation titled 'inverse transformation (OSGB36 to ETRS89)'  (page 
22) to your OS eastings and northings, using the lookup tables provided 
in the zip file with the document. Use the resulting  ETRS89  eastings 
and northings as input to either of the two perl modules. Result: on a 
quick sample of the outputs, I'm getting around 4 to 5 decimal places of 
agreement with google and the reference converter. Not perfect, but good 
enough for what I need..

Cheers
Graham