1. Chad Sperry WIU GIS Center
Topographic Maps
Chad Sperry
WIU GIS Center

2. Spring Lake, Macomb, IL

3. What if my contour lines are close together?
If the contour lines are close together, then that indicates that area has a steep slope.

4. What if my contour lines are far apart?
If the contour lines are far apart, then that indicates the land has a gentle slope (low slope).

5. Let’s take a walk up a hill!

6. We’re now at an elevation of 100 meters.

7. Let’s keep going!
100m

8. Now we’re at 200m.
200m
100m

9. Shall we march on?
200m
100m

10. We’ve made it to 300m!
300m
200m
100m

11. On to the peak!
300m
200m
100m

12. We’re on the peak, but what’s our elevation?
300m
200m
100m

13. Any ideas?
Let’s add contour lines for every 50 meters and see if that helps.
300m
200m
100m

14. We know that we are above 350m, but less than 400m.

15. Contour lines
Relationship between topographic features and contour lines

16. Title and Location
MAP TITLE

17. Title and Location
QUADRANGLE LOCATION

18. Map design
Other Information

19. Map Scale
Definition
A means of showing the relationship between the size of an object or feature indicated on a map and the actual size of the object on the ground.
Scale is expressed as a ratio, such as 1:24,000 (i.e. 1 unit on the map equal 24,000 units on the ground) and shown graphically by Scale bars marked in feet and miles or meters and kilometers.

20. Scale Decreasing Detail Increasing Coverage 1:24,000 scale

21. More than Contours
Symbols represent features such as streets, buildings, streams, and vegetation
Blue lines/shapes - represent water features, such as streams and lakes.
Brown – contour lines
Black – Roads, buildings, railroads, other man made objects.
Green – Woodland areas
Red - Highways

22. Legend