EastUp

EastUp, often written eastup, is a map orientation in which the direction of east is at the top of the display. This contrasts with the standard north-up orientation that places north at the top in most maps. The underlying geographic data are unchanged; only the display orientation is rotated.

In practice, eastup can be achieved by rotating the map view 90 degrees clockwise so that east aligns with the top edge. Many GIS and digital cartography tools offer EastUp as an orientation option alongside North-Up and other heading-based views.

Historically, some early printed maps and navigational charts used eastup when eastward travel or east-facing coastlines were emphasized. Today, eastup remains a niche choice used for specific tasks, such as eastbound navigation scenarios or teaching map reading from an east-facing perspective. It is less common in general navigation and can be confusing for readers accustomed to North-Up.

Trade-offs include potential misalignment with compass conventions, and many datasets and coordinate grids assume a fixed north-up orientation. When switching orientation, it is important to convey the change to readers and to maintain consistent reference directions for navigation or analysis.

See also: map orientation, north up, orientation in cartography, geographic information systems.