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Mapping Notes

The document explains the components and features of maps, including the 5 D's: Description, Details, Direction, Distance, and Designations. It also outlines the color representations for various geographical features and discusses cardinal points and bearings, including forward and back bearings with examples. Additionally, it emphasizes the use of conventional signs for clarity in map information presentation.

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159 views2 pages

Mapping Notes

The document explains the components and features of maps, including the 5 D's: Description, Details, Direction, Distance, and Designations. It also outlines the color representations for various geographical features and discusses cardinal points and bearings, including forward and back bearings with examples. Additionally, it emphasizes the use of conventional signs for clarity in map information presentation.

Uploaded by

poovizhidhilip
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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A map is a pictorial representation of the earth’s surface as looked from above, on a flat surface

drawn to scale

5 D'S:
DESCRIPTION: Names of Area, Location, Date.
DETAILS: Map Symbols, Map – made features, Water features, Vegetation features, Elevation
features.
DIRECTION: North (True, Magnetic)finding by day and night. Orientation – Declination, Year,
Bearings – FORWARD & BACKWARD BEARING.
DISTANCE: Proportion – Land Measure to Map Measure. Scale – Statement, Plain Scale,
Representative Factor.
DESIGNATIONS: Name of places.

Colours representation:
Blue – lakes, rivers, streams, oceans, reservoirs, highways, local borders
Red – major highways, roads, urban areas, airports, special interest sites, military sites, place
names, buildings, borders
Yellow – built-up or urban areas
Green – parks, golf courses, reservations, forest, orchards, highways
Brown – deserts, historical sites, national parks, military reservations or bases, contour
(elevation) lines
Black – roads, railroads, highways, bridges, place names, buildings, borders
Purple – highways, (also used on U.S.G.S. topographic maps to represent features added to the
map since the original survey)
CARDINAL POINTS
North, East, South, West are the four main cardinal points. It is denoted by single letter N E S W
There are four Sub/Semi cardinal points, they are denoted by two letters, the points are as NE,
SE, SW, NW.
There are eight midway/intermediate cardinal points, they are denoted by three letters, the
points are as NNE, ENE, ESE, SSE, SSW, WSW, WNW, NNW.
BEARING
Bearing is an angle from the north to the object from observation point in clockwise direction. It
is also called forward bearing.
BACK BEARING
Back bearing is an angle at object made from north to the observation point in clockwise
direction.
Picture
Formula:- while working on the ground to check the correctness of the Forward bearing we take
the help of back bearing, for this a formula is given here for your practice.
Forward bearing and back bearing are always with the difference of 180°. To get the backward
bearing, if the forward bearing is less than 180° we add 180° to it. When the forward bearing is
more than 180° from forward bearing.
For Example: forward bearing 75°. Then back bearing is 75° + 180° = 255°.
If forward bearing is 265° Then back bearing is 265° - 180° = 85°.
Another method is just see the bottom of the needle. The angle shown is a backward bearing.
Conventional signs are designed to enable the maximum amount of information to be put on a
map in the clearest way possible.

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