Mapping Basics

Question 1

What does the acronym B.O.L.T.S.S stand for?

Answer 1

Border
Orientation
Legend
Title
Scale
Source

All these components are required to achieve full marks when creating a map.

Question 2

Name the 3 types of scales:

Answer 2

Stated (Word): 1cm = 250km
Linear: 0 - — —- 10km
Ratio: 1:250000

Question 3

How do we convert a ratio scale to an understandable word scale?

Answer 3

Move the decimal point 5 places to the left in the larger number. Your scale is now equivalent to 1cm = x km (where x is your new number).

1: 250 000 000.
1: 250 0.00 000
1: 2500
1cm = 2500km

Question 4

Create a 16 point compass:

Answer 4

. N
|
NNW | NNE
|
NW | NE
\ | /
NNW \ | / ENE
\ | /
W——————|———————E
/ | \
WSW / | \ ESE
/ | \
SW | SE
|
SSW | SSE

                             S

Question 5

Are lines of longitude vertical or horizontal? What about latitude? What format do we write these in?

Answer 5

Lattitude is represented by horizontal lines, and runs across the sides of your map. This is written FIRST.

Longitude is represented by vertical lines, and runs across the bottom of your map. This is written SECOND.

Question 6

What is a Contour Interval? How do we find it?

Answer 6

A Contour Interval is the difference in height between two contour lines on a topographic map. It may be marked under the scale, or you may have to find it on the map.

Let’s say every fith contour line is marked with a height. We can find the difference between two marked lines (e.g. Every fifth line marked as 100, 150, 200, etc = a difference of 50m) then divide this difference by the amount of lines (5) to get your Contour Interval, in this case 10m.

Question 7

Is this an acceptable statement? Why/Why Not?

1cm on the map equals 1km.

Answer 7

This is not acceptable. 1cm REPRESENTS 1km, but does not equal it. The correct phrase would be:

1cm on the map represents 1km.

Question 8

What is Gradient? How do we calculate it?

Answer 8

Gradient is a ratio that shows how many metres we have to move forward in an area to move up (increase elevation) by 1m.

The formula for gradient is Rise/Run, where rise is the difference in height between two points and run is the straight distance between them.

e.g. If point A is 100m asl (above sea level) and point B is 110m asl, the difference in height is 10m. If the points are 60m away from each other then your gradient formula would appear as 10/60

Your next step is to divide both numbers by the rise (in this case 10). Your new numbers would look like this: 1/6

Change the division/fraction line to a colon (:) and the remaining numbers form your ratio. This is your gradient, in this case 1:6.

Question 9

What is an Area Reference? Give an Example.

Answer 9

An Area Reference (AR) is a set of 4 numbers that locate one square in the grid on your map.

An example of an Area Reference is AR 2302. Here we are looking for the box where easting 23 (grid lines moving up and down accross the map) intersects northing 02 (grid lines moving left and right accross the map).

Question 10

What is a Grid Reference? Give an Example.

Answer 10

A Grid Reference (GR) is a set of 6 numbers that locate one point in the grid on your map.

An example of a Grid Reference is GR 473728. Here we are looking for the point where easting 47.3 (grid lines moving up and down accross the map) intersects northing 72.8 (grid lines moving left and right accross the map).

Question 11

What is a spot height?

Answer 11

A spot height is the peak of a hill or mountain, marked with a triangle. The height is always marked.

Question 12

What is the difference between cultural and natural features?

Answer 12

Cultural features are man-made, while natural features are natural (originate from nature).

Question 13

Compass bearings are written in what format?

Answer 13

Degrees, Compass Direction
e.g. 308* NW

ALWAYS check which point you are starting from.

Question 14

A slope that is steeper at the bottom and more gentle at the top is called a:

Answer 14

Convex Slope

Question 15

A slope that is more gentle at the bottom and steeper at the top is called a:

Answer 15

Concave Slope

Question 16

What needs to be included in a sketch map?

Answer 16

BOLTSS Characteristics, labled important features (as requested by the question) and a legend in relation to them. Don’t use too much detail. Use lots of color.

Roads - Red
Water - Blue
Built Up Area - Pink
Vegetation - Green

Question 17

Explain the process for identifying the relative scale of a source by using a topographic map:

Answer 17

In your source (let’s assume it’s an ariel photograph) look for two reference points that stand out, such as an oval or lake or intersection. Locate these two points on the topographic map and measure the distance between them. Now go back and measure the distance between the two points on the photograph. If the distance measured on the photograph is less than on the map, then the photograph’s relative scale is larger. If not, it’s smaller.