Map Reading 1

MAP READING
DIRECTION ON MAPS
Identification of Direction
Many of us are familiar with the four cardinal points of the compass–North, East, South and West.
There are thirty-two points of the compass, but only sixteen are used to describe direction. The points
midway between the cardinal points are known as North-East (NE), South-East (SE), etc. The others,
North-North-East (NNE), East-North-East (ENE), etc. relate to further sub-divisions.
The degrees start at the north from 0°, and increase in the clockwise direction. The direction points
coincide with degree points. For example, 0° coincides with N, and 180° coincides with S
Measurement of Direction and Bearing
The cardinal direction could be anyone but at present, internationally, we use North as the cardinal
direction and measure all other bearings from this one.
Directions from one point to another or the bearing of one point from another can be given using two
different sets of units. The traditional system uses the cardinal compass points north, east, south, west
and subdivisions of them. A modern, and more accurate, method gives the directions in degrees and
fractions of degrees clockwise from north.
A direction indicated in degrees is called a bearing. The bearing of an object refers to its direction and a
clockwise measurement in degrees from the zero line (0° or N), which is the north direction
Focus
1. If a forward bearing is less than 180°, add 180° to obtain the back bearing.
2. If a forward bearing is more than 180°, subtract 180° to obtain the back bearing.
POSITION ON MAPS
The position of places on the earth’s surface and upon maps can be given in a number of different ways.
The most important are through the use of:
I. Latitude and longitude (international grid references)
II. National Grid References (eastings and northings)
If you study a globe carefully you will find that two sets of lines form a network on the surface
of it. One set of lines run from the North pole to the South pole. These lines are known as
Merdians
The other set of lines are running around the globe parallel to the equator. They are known as
parallels.
Using this grid we can now give the accurate position of any place on the earth’s surface
 Latitude and longitude sometimes are confused with two other terms: parallel and Meridian.
 Parallel: an imaginary line joining all points with the same latitude.
 Meridian: An imaginary line joining all points with the same longitude.
National Grid Reference System

A National grid is a network of horizontal and vertical lines printed on the face of a map.
 All vertical lines are numbered eastwards. They are called eastings.
 All horizontal lines are numbered northwards. They are called northings.
MAP ENLARGEMENT AND REDUCTION
Enlargement: We enlarge a map when we need to show more details (features) about the area it shows.
Often, enlarged maps are produced in order to support detailed study of the area that the map presents.
We enlarge a map by enlarging its scale. The size of the paper on which the new map is printed increases
in proportion to the new scale.
Example:
city maps are often enlarged maps.
An enlarged map would be quite helpful for demonstrating the required area for a class room.
Reduction: We reduce maps when we need to be selective and to generalize the information that the map
presents.
When the scale of the map decreases, the size of the map also decreases accordingly.
When you enlarge or reduce a map, consider these principles: if a map is to be enlarged x times, the new
map will be x times the scale of the old map. If you reduce a map by 1/x, the scale of the new map will be
1/x times the scale of the old map.
Example 1
If we enlarge a map with a scale 1:200,000 two times, what will be the scale of the new map?
Solution:
Previous scale = 1: 200,000 or 1/200,000
The scale of the new map = 1/200,000 × 2 = 1/100,000 or 1:100,000
The scale of the new map (1:100, 000) is two times larger than the scale of the old map, (1:
200,000)
Example 2
If we reduce a map with a scale 1:50,000 by half, what will be the scale of the new map?
Solution:
Previous scale = 1:50,000
The scale of the new map = 1/50,000 × 1/2 = 1/100,000 or 1:100,000
The scale of the new map (1:100,000) is half of the scale of the old map (1:50,000).
The amount of increase or reduction of scale can be obtained by applying the following formulae:
1 Amount of enlargement = The denominator of the small scale The denominator of the large scale
Example 3
A map at 1: 200,000 is to be enlarged to a map at 1:100,000. By how many times is the scale
increased?
Amount of increase = 200,000/100,000 = 2 times
2 The amount of reduction = Denominator of large scale Denominator of small scale

Example 4
A map with a scale of 1: 50,000 is reduced to 1:1000,000. How many times is the scale reduced?
Amount of reduction = 50,000/100,000 = 1/2 times

Map Reading 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Map Reading 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Map Reading 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MAP READING

Measurement of Direction and Bearing

National Grid Reference System

MAP ENLARGEMENT AND REDUCTION

2 The amount of reduction = Denominator of large scale Denominator of small scale

You might also like