MAP WORK: BASIC TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS

Map Reading and Interpretation

INTRODUCTION
 A Map is a representation of both physical (natural) and manmade features in a given
area on a flat sheet of paper using symbols.
 A map is a representation of all or part of the Earth drawn on a flat surface at a specific
scale.
 A map is simply a drawing or picture of a landscape or area of a country.
 A map uses symbols, colours and labels to represent features found on the ground.
 The symbols used are accepted all over the world and called conventional signs
 To use a map one should be able to read and interpret the characters used
 Map reading refers to the identification, interpretation and analysis of geographical
information from maps.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A MAP
1. A title.
 The title describes what a given map represents by explain the subject of the map.
2. Location
 Every map shows the Location or position of a place using a grid reference.
3. Direction/north symbol
 A compass shows the direction of the map which has cardinal points
 A Compass shows the position of places or features in relation to others.
4. Scale
 Scale can be defined as the ratio of the distance between two points on the map and the
same two points on the Earth’s surface.
 Scales provides the reader with important information regarding linear relations on the
map.
 A map scale gives the relationship between distance on a map and distance on the actual
ground.

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 TYPES OF SCALES
Statement of scale(word scale): A statement of scale or word sale uses words to describe the
relationship between the units measured on the map and the units measured on the actual ground.
 For example, one centimeter on the map to represent two Kilometres on the ground. This
can be abbreviated as 1 cm represents 2km.
Ratio scale (Representative fraction (R.F. scale): This type of scale uses only numbers to
describe the relationship between the distance on the ground and that on the map. For
example,1:50,000 or 1/50000
Line scale: A line scale is a line drawn below the map that shows the relationship between map
distance and ground distance.
 The length of the line matches the distance on the map. The units of measurement that are
labeled on the line represent the distance on the ground.
1. key/legend
 A key is also known as a legend.
 A key is a list of symbols which try to explain features to the reader for easy
interpretation and understanding
2. GRID
 The map needs to have a co-ordinate system inform of latitude and longitude so that the
place can be placed in its geographical position on the globe.

LOCATING OF PLACES ON THE MAP USING GRID REFERENCE

GRID REFERENCE
 Grid Reference is a way of defining where you are in the country
 A map grid reference is combination of parallel vertical and horizontal lines
 The grid is made up of the Easting’s (Vertical lines) and the Northings (Horizontal lines)
 The grid lines running from North to South (Vertical) are called Eastings because they
show increasing distances eastwards from the origin (X Co-ordinates).
 The grid lines running from West to East (horizontal) are called Northings because they
show increasing distances Northwards from the origin (Y Co-ordinates).
 Grid Reference are given in one of two ways:
 Four Figure grid reference - Used to identify a 1km x 1km square
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  Six Figure grid reference - Used to identify a location 100m x 100m
FOUR Figure Grid Reference
 We use a four figure grid reference if we want to identify a large object e.g. a lake
 The four figure grid reference depicts only a the general location of the point in the grid
square.

 When taking a reading from a grid reference map, you take the EASTING first
 After taking the eastings, NORTHINGS are then read.
EXAMPLES
1. What is the four figure grid reference for station A?
 The EASTING for station A is 71
 The NORTHING for station A is 31
 Therefore the four figure grid reference for station A is 7131
EXERCISE
1. What is the four figure grid reference for the following points?
(A) B
(B) C
(D) D

SIX Figure Grid Reference

 The six figure grid reference is used when you want to identify a smaller object inside a
square e.g. a stream junction

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  A six figure grid reference gives a precise or accurate position of a point in a given grid
square.
 We need to subdivide our 1km x 1km square into smaller 100m x 100m squares
 Write down the two figures representing the easting on the immediate left
 Divide the space between the easting in which the point is found into 10 equal lines and
mark the lines 1 up to 9
 write down the line that passes through or on the left of the point next to the first two
digits

 When taking a six figure grid reference, a four figure grid reference is taken first
 Therefore, the six grid reference for point A can be taken in the following steps:
1. The four figures is taken first starting with EASTING and then then the
NORTHING.
71—30---
2. Then the box is divided into 10 units of Easting’s and Northings
3•write down the line that passes through or on the left of the point next to the first
two digits
 Starting with easting first (1) and then the Northing (7).
 Therefore, the six figure grid reference for station A is 711307
What is relief?
 Relief is the difference in elevation (or height) between parts of the Earth's surface

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  Relief is a central component of topographical and physical maps
 There are a number of techniques which have been developed over time to accurately
represent relief features on a map.
Ways of representing/Identifying and interpreting relief
1. Hachuring
 Hachures are short lines of varying thickness which show the shape and slope of the land.
 In accordance with this technique, the steeper the slope is, the thicker the lines are which
represent it.
 They do not represent exact elevations, but are mainly used to show large, rocky outcrop
areas.
 Hachures are used extensively on small-scale maps to show mountain ranges, plateaus,
and mountain peaks.

2. Hill shading
This method also shows the steepness of slope but it differs from hachuring in that it
does not show the steepness using lines but uses shadow .
This method does not show the exact height of the slope
3. spot heigts
 Spot heights are used to show the exact height of the land at a particular point.
 Spot heights are depicted using a dot (or triangle) and a corresponding number, which
represents the altitude (height above sea level) at that point
 Spot height provide accuracy in elevation

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 4. Layer tinting (colouring)
 Layer tinting uses different colours (or shades) to represent different heights.
 It is a mapping convention for darker colours to signify greater height.
 When using layer tinting, green is often used for low land, yellow for higher land and
brown for the highest land.

5. Contour Lines.
 Contour lines are the most common method of showing relief and elevation on a standard
topographic map.
 A contour line represents an imaginary line on the ground, above or below sea level.
 All points on the contour line are at the same elevation.
 The elevation represented by contour lines is the vertical distance above or below sea
level.

 A contour interval (VI) is the difference in height between contour lines.

 Contour lines always increase or decrease by the same amount.
 This means that if one contour line represents points 50 metres above sea level and
the next contour line shows points at 100 metres above sea level, then the third

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 contour line will be 150 metres above sea level. In this example, the contour interval
is 50 metres.
 The Horizontal equivalent (HE) is the distance between two contours expressed as a
horizontal measurement.
 The horizontal equivalence will vary according to how the steep or gentle the slope of
the land is.

TRIGONOMETRICAL POINTS
 A Trigonometrical point or station is a permanent survey mark situated at the top of a
high hill or mountain
 These are found at the hill summit on which the height of the hill is shown.
 Some Trigonometrical stations are substantial concrete structures or pillars while others
are simple survey marks embedded in concrete

On maps a Trigonometrical station is represented by a triangle and height in meters

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CALCULATING DISTANCE ON THE MAP
1. Measuring straight line distance:
The following steps are followed:
a. Draw a straight line connecting the two points as shown below in the example.

b. Get a piece of paper and place the edge of the piece of paper along the line and mark the two
points on the piece of paper.
c. Measure the length on the linear scale by placing the piece of paper along the scale with the
first marked point at 0.

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2. Measuring distance not straight (i.e. Road, Railway) or River:

 What is the distance of the road from grid square 8144 up to the bridge in grid
square
8749.
 This can be done in the following way as follows:
A. Using a string
 A string is put along the road starting at easting 81 up to northing 50.
 The string is then straightened and put along the scale and measure the distance it
represents.

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DETERMINING THE DIRECTIONS OF PLACES ON THE MAP
 The direction of a place on the map can be determined by using:
 Compass
 Bearing
COMPASS
 A compass is an instrument used to determine direction
 The compass has the magnetic needle which responds to earth magnetic force
 The needle always points northwards
 The compass has four main points which are known as primary or cardinal points
 The cardinal points are North, South, East and West
 From cardinal points other points are created which are known as subsidiary points
 The subsidiary points include: North East, South East, South West and North
Westand these subsidiary points provide accurate direction of places.

 Direction is usually measured relative to the location of North Pole.

 Direction determined from this location is said to be relative to the True North
 Apart from the True North there is also the magnetic North and Grid North

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  Describing direction using the magnetic North, True North and Grid North compass
direction is known as Azimuth system
 The Azimuth system calculate direction in degrees of full circle (3600)
 The North has the direction of either 00 or 3600
 The south has the azimuth direction of 1800
 The East has the azimuth direction of 900
 The West has the azimuth direction of 2700

Measuring Bearings
 Bearing is an accurate way of giving the direction of one place in relation to another
 Bearing is the direction measured as an angle.
 Bearing is measured in degrees.

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  The measuring of the angle is made from the true north and measured in a clock wise
direction.
 True North is shown by the vertical straight line.
 True North is known as Geographic North or Map North.
 Magnetic North is shown by the arrow pointing to the west of True North.
 To find the bearing of a place from one another, the following steps are followed:
1. Join the two places involved. e.g point A and B using a straight line.

2.Draw an arrow showing the direction of the True North through A, the place
from which the bearing of B is being considered.

2. Using a protractor, measure the angle between the North and the line which joins
the two places A and B. Angle NAB. The angle you get is the bearing of B from
A

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 EXAMPLE

EXAMPLES
1. What is the bearing of B from A= 660
2. What is the bearing of D from C= 1800 +500= 2300

GRADIENT
 Gradient is the steepness of a slope.
 To calculate the average gradient, there is need to know:
 The altitude or height of two points.
 The distance between the two points
 Then find the different in height between two points
 Then measure and convert the distance in height of two points by their
distance apart.
 Finally divide the difference in height of two points by their distance
apart (horizontal equivalence)
 Therefore gradient is calculated by the following formula
Gradient = Difference in Height
Difference in equivalence
Example:
1. Find the average gradient between point A, 3000 meters high and point B, 2,000. B is 10km
from A.

 Difference in height between A and B is 3000-2000=1000 meters

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  The distance between A and B is 10 km ( 10km x 1000 m )= 10,000 meters.
 Divide 1000 by 10000 as shown below:
Gradient = 1000 1
10,000 10

or 1 in 10
2. What is the bearing of B from A?

Angle NAB is 1800 + 900 = 2700, Therefore the bearing of B from A is 2700

REPRESENTING HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON THE MAP

 The major human activities that appear onthetopographical map include:
 Farming and forestry
 Tourism
 Mining
 Fishing
 Sports
REPRESENTING SETTLEMENT PATTERN ON THE MAP
 A Settlement is any place where people live
 Pattern of settlement are varied and include the following:
 Dispersed settlement
 Nucleated settlement
 Linear settlement

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  Details on settlement refer to settlements notes discussed earlier on.

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