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    Map Reading & Interpretation

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    Kay chomba
    The document discusses maps and map reading. It provides definitions of what a map is and the essential elements that must be included in a map, such as a title, key, margin, and scale. It describes different types of maps, including topographic maps and statistical distribution maps. Topographic maps show physical features of an area while statistical maps show data distributions. The document also explains how to read and interpret map scales, including statement, representative fraction, and linear scales. It discusses selecting an appropriate scale depending on the size of the area being mapped and level of detail.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Map Reading & Interpretation

    Uploaded by

    Kay chomba
    305 views35 pages
    The document discusses maps and map reading. It provides definitions of what a map is and the essential elements that must be included in a map, such as a title, key, margin, and scale. It describes different types of maps, including topographic maps and statistical distribution maps. Topographic maps show physical features of an area while statistical maps show data distributions. The document also explains how to read and interpret map scales, including statement, representative fraction, and linear scales. It discusses selecting an appropriate scale depending on the size of the area being mapped and level of detail.

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    Reading maps

    Original Title

    MAP_READING_and_INTERPRETATION

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    The document discusses maps and map reading. It provides definitions of what a map is and the essential elements that must be included in a map, such as a title, key, margin, and scale. It describes different types of maps, including topographic maps and statistical distribution maps. Topographic maps show physical features of an area while statistical maps show data distributions. The document also explains how to read and interpret map scales, including statement, representative fraction, and linear scales. It discusses selecting an appropriate scale depending on the size of the area being mapped and level of detail.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    305 views35 pages

    Map Reading & Interpretation

    Uploaded by

    Kay chomba
    The document discusses maps and map reading. It provides definitions of what a map is and the essential elements that must be included in a map, such as a title, key, margin, and scale. It describes different types of maps, including topographic maps and statistical distribution maps. Topographic maps show physical features of an area while statistical maps show data distributions. The document also explains how to read and interpret map scales, including statement, representative fraction, and linear scales. It discusses selecting an appropriate scale depending on the size of the area being mapped and level of detail.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 35

    MAP READING & INTERPRETATION

    A map is a portion or part of the features of the earth’s surface drawn to scale on a
    plane surface such as paper, card, plastic, cloth or some other material. Or a map
    is a representation on any plane surface of the features of part or portion of the
    earth’s surface drawn to scale.

    ESSENTIALS OF A MAP.

    A map must have the five essentials:-

    (i) A title – This is used to tell us what the map is about


    (ii) A key –This is used to identify and interpret the signs and symbols used
    on that map
    (iii) A margin –This is used to bound the area shown by the map
    (iv) North direction – To indicate the north direction on a map
    (v) Scale –To show the relationship between the distance on that map and
    that ob the ground.

    THE USES OF MAPS TO THE GEOGRAPHY STUDENTS:

    Map like topographical maps are particularly useful to geographers because:-

    (i) They provide a basis for an orderly geographical description of a region.


    (ii) The provide much information on the nature and distribution of
    geographical situation e.g. Population distribution and settlements.
    (iii) They are essential to any field study.
    (iv) They are used to produce personal maps to explain about the research
    projects and other projects.

    Types of Maps

    There are many types of maps. Most of these maps are grouped into major types
    of:-

    1. Topographic maps. 2. Statistical or Distribution maps.


    (i)
    (ii)
    (iii)
    (iv)
    (v)

    1.1

    1.1 Topographic maps

    The word topography is derived from the Greek word topos, which means place.

    Topography is a term used to describe all physical features of a given area.


    Topographic maps are small-scale drawings of a part of the earth’s surface. These
    maps show:-

    (a) Location
    The geographic location in a map may be shown by using:-
    (i) Compass bearing.
    (ii) Grid reference.
    (iii) Latitude and longitude.
    (iv) Political and administrative boundaries.
    (v) Use of place names.
    (b) Landscape
    Some of the landscape features shown on a topographic map are
    mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, lakes, rivers, seas, oceans and shape of
    coast lines.
    (c) Cultural features
    Some of the cultural features or artificial features are roads, railways, cities,
    towns, dams and other structures built by man.
    Most of the topographic maps in Tanzania are produced by the Lands and
    Survey Department. To make these maps, airplanes are used to take
    pictures for an area for the first survey. Late, only certain points on land
    need to be measured and surveyed by surveyors. When all the necessary
    data has been compiled it is then used to print and produce maps.

    Uses of topographic maps


    (i) Topographic maps are useful for describing features of the earth’s
    surface.
    (ii) People use maps t reach their direction. That is the direction where
    to go and how far to go.
    (iii) Builders use maps to plan the best use of land.
    (iv) Road builders use maps to design new roads.
    (v) Farmers use maps to plan the best use of their farmlands.
    1.2 Statistical or Distribution maps.
    The statistical or distribution maps are the type of maps which have been
    made with the help of exact statistics. These maps show such things as
    distribution of rainfall, temperature, pressure, vegetation, crops, minerals
    and many other things. The commonly used Statistical or Distribution maps
    are the Atlas maps.
    Atlas maps.
    (a) They are maps drawn on small scales.
    (b) They show whole countries, continents or even the world on a single sheet
    of paper or page.
    (c) They show generalized information. They do not include or show a great
    amount of detail as shown in topographic maps.
    (d) Atlas maps my be drawn on one map and include and show the distribution
    of many things such as crops, minerals, roads, railways, towns, relief,
    vegetation and many others. Such details may be shown by the use of
    colors, signs and symbols.
    (e) Atlas maps ate simple, easy to read and interpret. They are easy to draw or
    to reproduce.

    Uses of statistical and distribution maps

    (i) They are useful for describing the distribution of many things found on
    the earth’s surface or showing certain selected features such as physical,
    political, historical or economic features.
    (ii) They are useful for showing generalised information on large or small
    areas.

    Some examples of the uses of the statistical or distribution maps.

    (i) Physical maps show the arrangement or the distribution of mountains,


    hills, uplands, lowlands, rivers and so on.
    (ii) Political maps show areas with their political and administrative
    boundaries.
    (iii) Climatic maps show the distribution of temperatures, rainfall, pressure,
    winds, climatic regions, etc.
    (iv) Historical empires and historical sites, for example. Olduvai Gorge.
    (v) Economic maps show the distribution of chief crops, animals, industries,
    roads, mines, etc.
    SCALE OF A MAP

    A scale is the relationship or ratio between the distance on map and the true
    distance on the earth’s surface.’

    Scale= Distance on map


    Distance on earth’s surface
    THE USES OF SCALE:

    (i) Helps map interpreter to calculate distance, area and computation of


    other facts.
    (ii) Helps contractors, engineers to design appropriate plans for bridges,
    railway lines etc.
    (iii) Helps economists and geographers in establishing the projects.
    (iv) Helps map maker to represent a part of the earth’s surface on a small
    piece of paper.
    (v) Helps map makers t draw maps.

    Expression of scales

    There are three types of scales:-

    1. Statement scale. 2. Representative fraction scale. 3. Linear Scale.

    1. STATEMENT OF SCALE
    This is the way of expressing the scale by using words. Example: 1:500,000
    or 1cm to 5km.
    This means that one centimeter on the map represent five kilometers on
    the actual ground.
    NOTE: Statement scale is written in cm to km.
    LINEAR SCALE DIAGRAM
    Where by

    M-meters

    Km =kilometers

    II. SECONDARY SIVISION

    This is important part of the linear scale which is found at left hand side of the
    graph and is shown by using meters.

    III. BAR LINEAR SCALE

    This is a way of expressing the scale by using line divided into sections and each
    section represents one centimeter on the map Bar linear scale is also divided into
    two parts: namely

    (i) Secondary division (iii) Primary division


    (ii) Example Construct the bar linear scale by using the scale of 1:700,000

    Solution

    Bar linear scale is a way of expressing the scale by using line divided into sections
    and each section represent one centimeter on the map.
    To change 1: 700,000 into kilometer on the map.
    100,000cm…………………………km
    7000,000…………………….?
    700000cm x 1 kilometer =7km
    100000cm
    2.2. Representative fraction scale.
    A representative fraction or R.F. in short is a means of expressing the relative size
    o f a map or drawing in terms of a fraction. R.F. scale is frequently expresses as a
    fraction with the the numerator as one. The ratio means that-One unit on the
    map represents a given number of units on the ground.

    Example:

    One centimeter equals to one kilometer. This scale means that 1 cm on the map
    represents 100,000 cm on the ground. (1km-100 cm x 1,000 cm). As a
    representative fraction it is written as a fraction.

    (b) The Small Section or Secondary Section


    It is placed at the left hand side of the line scale. This section is sub –divided
    into fractions indicating the smaller units of measurements, for example o,
    ¼ , ½, ¾ , 1 km. or 0,250,500, 750, 1,000 meters.
    2.4 Selection of Scales

    The selection of the type of scale depends on the size of the area and amount of
    details to be shown on a particular map. The larger the area of the map, the less
    details that can be shown. The smaller the area of the map, the more details that
    can be shown, for example. The map of Tanzania will show less details than a
    town map for example Tanga. The size of the map so depends on the size of the
    scale. There are three types of scales:-

    (i) Small Scale (ii) Medium Scale


    1: 10,000,000 or 1cm: 100 km 1: 500,000 or 1 cm: 5 km
    1: 1,000,000 or 1 cm: 10 km 1:250,000 or 1 cm: 2.5 km
    (ii) Large Scale

    1: 50,000 or 1 cm: 0.5 km

    1: 25,000 or 1 cm: 0.25 km

    Note that:

    (a) In small scale maps the ratio has a large number or large denominator for
    example,
    1
    1,000,000
    The map shows less details as it covers a large area on a piece of paper for
    instance, Atlas map of the world, Africa or Tanzania.
    (b) In medium and large scale maps the ratio has a smaller number or smaller
    denominator, for example, 1
    50,000

    R.F.1: 250.000
    (MEDIUM SCALE MAP)

    MTANG’ATA BAY
    A B
    (a). MEASURE THE TWO POINTS AB.

    1¾ ½ ¼ 0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETRES

    (b)MEASURE THE DISTANCE ON LINEAR SCALE


    DIVISION METHOD FOR MEASURING LONG DISTANCES WITH
    BENDS AND CURVES

    Add up all the measurements


    AB 1.0 BC -1.5 DE -2.0 Total length -7.0 kilometers
    (b)Stepping method
    Procedure
    (i) Open and set the pair of dividers to a known short distance by using
    the linear scale, for example, quarter or half a kilometer.
    (ii) Follow the river, road or line by stepping it using the set devides.
    (iii) Add up the numbers or steps and divide them by the quarter or half a
    kilometer, for example number of steps is 10 ½ = 5 kilometers
    OR,
    Number of steps is 20 ¼ =5 kilometers
    Note that if the distance of the last step is less than the set distance of the
    dividers, measure it separately and measure its distance on the linear scale. Add
    up this distance to the total distance from the steps to get the full distance of the
    river, road or line.

    STEPPING METHOD MEASURING LONG DISTANCES WITH


    BENDS AND CURVES
    Direction
    “True north” which is given on the map.
    “True North” which is given on the map.
    v
    GRID REFERENCE

    Grid reference is a pattern square which is written from easting toward nothing.

    Study the diagram below & indicate the asked grid reference.

    Relief Features on Maps.

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