North Direction northDirType extNorthDirType refinedNorthDirType refinedExtNorthDirType POSC 1.0 true North, as determined by the direction to the north pole. This is also known as the geographic north. magnetic The direction that a magnetic compass points. grid The north direction, as defined by the northing or southing in a map projection coordinate reference system. true calculated The north direction has been calculated from another north direction. This calculated, true north direction is being used. unknown It is not known which north direction is being used as the reference direction.