a) Uses of important types of maps

. Importance of maps

A map is a simple depiction of a part or whole of the earth on a piece of paper or any flat
surface. It is a two dimensional form to represent the three dimensional earth. It is drawn to a
scale. As it is not possible to represent all the features of our planet in their true size and form, a
map is drawn at a reduced scale using symbols of different colours to show various features

. So the essential elements of a map are its title, scale, orientation and legend or key of symbols.
It is made on a network of latitudes and longitudes which represent the graticule or grid of the
earth. This - helps us to locate places with accuracy.

Types of maps
Maps can be classified into different categories, based on

1. The scale of the map: accordingly the two main types of maps are large scale and small scale
maps.

I. Large scale maps show a small area in great detail because they are drawn on a relatively large
scale. For example, topographical maps and cadastral maps are drawn on a scale of 1:250,000 or
1:50,000 or even 1:25,000.

 Cadastral maps are generally prepared for two purposes. The first purpose is to show the
owner ship of landed property by a detailed demarcation of fields and boundaries of agricultural
land. And the second is to show the plan of individual houses in urban areas. Government
agencies prepare these maps to realise revenue and taxes and keep a record of ownership.

 Topographical maps show smaller areas in much greater detail. Topographic maps for the
whole country have been prepared after a detailed survey, by the Survey of India, Dehradun.
They are made on a fairly large scale. Our country has been mapped on scales with RF
1:10,00,000; 1:250,000 and 1:50,000. These maps show in colour and through symbols the
various natural and man-made features, such as relief, drainage, agricultural land, forest,
settlements, means of communication and location of important buildings. Town guide maps are
based on topographic maps.

II. Small scale maps show a large area such as a country or a continent on a small scale with
fewer details.

 Wall maps are small scale maps meant for display. They show large areas of the earth at a
glance. They may show relief features, vegetation, population or communication, etc.

 Atlas maps are drawn to a smaller scale than wall maps. They give a very general picture of
physical and cultural features because they do not give many details (unless the atlas is for a
particular state with maps made on a larger scale). They are well suited for a comparative study
of maps of two or more areas. A comparative study of variables like temperature and rainfall can
also be made.

2. Purpose for which the map is used: accordingly we can have tourist maps, political maps,
cadastral maps, topographic maps, weather maps and so on.
 I. Physical maps show relief features, geology, soil, drainage, elements of weather and climate,
vegetation, etc.

II. Relief maps show the general topography of an area like mountains, hills, plateaus, rivers,
plains, etc. (See map 1 for reference)

III. Geological maps show the geographical structures, rock types and distribution of minerals.

IV. Climatic maps depict the climatic regions in an area. They show the distribution of
temperature, rainfall, cloudiness, relative humidity, direction and velocity of winds and other
elements of weather.

V. Soil maps show the distribution of soils, based on the criterion selected.

VI. Natural vegetation maps depict the flora. Related fauna may also be shown on maps.

VII. Political maps show the administrative divisions of an area such as a country, state or
district, etc.

VIII. Cultural maps show features related to the cultural environment, the location of urban and
rural settlements, transport and other services, distribution and flow of different commodities
and all such features that are man made, or a result of human activity. They also include
historical, linguistic, industrial and ethnographic (showing distribution of human races) maps

. IX. Population maps are drawn to show the distribution, density and growth of population, age
and sex composition, and other demo graphic information about population such as its
distribution on the basis of social and religious composition, literacy and occupational structure.

X. Transport maps show roads, railway lines and the location of airports and railway stations
and other details related to means of transport XI. Economic maps depict the distribution of
different crops, minerals, location of markets, industries, trade routes and flow of commodities.

XII. Thematic maps are all such maps that represent the distribution of a particular feature or
theme and its spatial variations. They may, for instance, depict weather conditions, climatic
types, distribution of rainfall, natural vegetation, minerals or industries for a particular area.

Uses of maps
Maps are useful to everyone. We use advanced technology to map each and every part of the
earth on land, under water and even the rocks underground. The information on a map depends
on its purpose.

 Navigators and pilots use them to steer their ships or planes and find their locations.

 Town planners, geologists, miners, tourists, engineers and sales persons need maps.  Defense
personnel need maps for their functioning.

 Planners and geographers also use maps.

 Everyone needs to be able to read and interpret maps to get from one place to another,
understand a weather forecast, and locate places. Many types of maps are now available to help
us learn about the world of yesterday, solve the problems of today and plan for tomorrow.

b) Directions and how to identify them – an illustrative diagram

Direction is an element of a map that helps us to find the way. It is in relative terms. The
direction of a place is expressed in relation to a given point, for example, Allahabad lies to the
east of Mumbai or Bengaluru, to the south of Bhopal and west of Chennai. There are four main
directions called the cardinal directions-East, West, North and South. These can be determined
with reference to the rising and setting sun.

Most maps are generally oriented to the north. The northerly direction is usually indicated on a
map by a north-south line with the north direction represented by an arrowhead. A short line
perpendicular to this line is drawn to show the west or east directions. Some maps also show a
compass face to indicate north. On topographic maps, longitudes represent the north-south
lines while latitudes run east-west. Both distance and direction are needed to find the location
of places on a map.

The intermediate directions are north-east, north west, south-east and south-west. Direction
can be determined in several ways. Some have been mentioned.

True North and Pole Star: All the meridians in the Northern Hemisphere converge at the North
Pole. This direction is the True North. It is also called Geographic North. It is almost aligned with
the North Star or Polaris which helps to find the North direction in the Northern Hemisphere. As
a convention, all maps are aligned so that north points at the top on the map sheet. If we place a
map on a flat surface facing the north, then west lies to the left and east to the right.

Magnetic North: The magnetic compass is an used to find or show directions. The north to
which the compass points is called the Magnetic North and it deviates from the True or
Geographical North by a few degrees.

Grid North: Maps are prepared on a flat surface while the earth is a sphere. The semi-circular
longitudes are shown as straight lines and the direction they show is called the Grid North.

c) Reading and using statement of scale, graphic scale and scale shown by representative
fraction method. (No drawing work, only explaining their meanings.)

There are two types of distances, straight line distance often referred to as, distance 'as the
crow flies', and indirect distances. To measure straight distances, you may use the straight edge
of a strip of paper along the required line and read it off a linear scale of the map or use a divider
with its pointed ends placed at the two places on a map, between which, the direct distance is to
be determined.

Indirect distances can be measured by using a string, the knotted end of which is placed at one
of the two points in question. Then the rest of the thread is to be placed along or on the
zigzag/winding course (of a river or a road) to be measured. Thereafter, the thread can be
marked with ink where it touches the second end of the course being measured. Having done
so, the length of the thread is measured on the map scale after it is stretched, to calculate the 5
indirect distance.

Scale of a map
The scale of a map is the ratio or proportion between the distance on the map between two
points and the actual distance between the two places on the ground. For example, if two places
are 10 km apart and they are shown as 2 cm apart on the map then the scale of the map is 1 cm:
5 km. Maps are drawn to a scale so that the relative distances of the places are as correct as on
the earth. The scale of the map can be shown in three ways:-
 I.Linear scale: A scale can be shown on a graduated line called a linear scale. This is a line of
convenient length divided at regular intervals and graduated in terms of distances on the
ground. Using a linear scale, the distance between any two points on the map may be measured
directly in terms of the distance on the ground.

II. Statement of a scale: Sometimes the scale is mentioned as a statement (in words) in certain units
of measurement. The units of measurement may be kilometre or miles.A statement may be written
as-one cm to four kilometres or 1 cm to 4 km or one cm on the map represents four kilometres on
the ground. This method also has limitations because only a person who is familiar with the
mentioned unit of measurement can use a map which only gives a statement of scale (as units of
measuring distance vary from one country to another).

III. Representative Fraction or RF is the ratio of the map distance to the ground distance where the
numerator is always 1. It is expressed as map distance / ground distance. The numerator and
denominator being a ratio can be conveniently converted to a suitable unit of measurement.
However, both should be converted to the same: either inches or centimetres.

The RF method of expressing a scale has the advantages of not having a unit of measurement, so it
can be used internationally. If the scale of 1 cm on the map represents 1 km on ground, then the
representative fraction is written as1:100,000.