1. Map Projections
used to transfer the image of the earth’s surface onto a flat surface
no projection is an exact representation
generally, the larger the area, the larger the distortion
the 3 most common projections are cylinders, cones and planes

3. Cylindrical Projections

4. Mercator Projections
results when the contents of a globe are transferred onto a cylinder of paper

5. Conic Projections
made by transferring the contents of a globe onto a cone
distortion increases north to south
best used for land masses that have more area east to west (USA) than north to south (South America)

6. Planar Projections

7. Azimuthal Projections
made by transferring the contents of a globe onto a plane
the plane touches the globe
at only 1 point, usually at
the poles
very little distortion at that point
distortion of direction, distance and shape increase as the distance from the point of contact increases

8. West Wing Map Projection Clip

9. Modern Map Making

10. Aerial Photographs taken from planes
are very important to map makers in making accurate maps
allow for a different perspective

11. Remote Sensing
the gathering of information about a place without being there
cameras in planes, satellites with sensors
allow for very accurate maps

12. Information shown on maps

13. Title
tells what area is being shown on the map or gives information about the map subject
A Map of the Coast of East Florida from the River St. John Southward near to Cape Canaveral – 1791
A Map of the New Governments of East and West FLORIDA. Inset of Pensacola – 1763
A map of the peninsula of Florida showing the present field of surveying in the territory
A Map of the Southern Indiana District of North America Manuscript in Ayer Collection at the Newberry Library –1775
A Map of the WEST INDIES

14. Map’s scale
shows the relationship between the distance on the earth’s surface and the distance on the map

15. Graphic scale  “map’s ruler”
the distance on the earth’s surface is represented by a bar graph that shows units of distance

18. Verbal scale
is a phrase that describes a measure of distance on a map relative to the distance on the earth’s surface

19. 1 inch on the map = 62500 inches on the ground.
UNITS
VERBAL SCALE
inches
1 inch on the map = inches on the ground.
feet
1 foot on the map = feet on the ground cm
1 cm on the map = cm on the ground m
1 m on the map = m on the ground

20. Representative fraction
a fraction or ratio that shows the relationship between the distance on the map and the distance on the earth’s surface
it is unitless
it remains constant no matter the measurement used

22. Compass rose
shows how the map is positioned in relation to true north

24. Legend
is a list of symbols used on the map and their explanations

25. Date gives the time at which the information on the map was accurate
County Map of Florida
County Map of Florida

26. Topographic map
a map that shows surface features (topography) of the Earth
natural features like rivers, lakes, mountains
man made features like cities, roads, bridges
also show elevation

27. Elevation
the height of an object above sea level
sea level is 0

28. Topographic maps of the entire US were prepared by the Unites States Geological Survey (USGS)

29. Contour lines are lines that connect points of equal elevation
are used to show elevation
the closer the contour lines, the steeper the slope
the more spread out the contour lines, the flatter the slope
contour lines never intersect

30. contour interval the difference in elevation between contour lines
contour interval is chosen according to the area’s relief

31. relief
the difference in elevation between the highest point and the lowest point being mapped

32. index contour
a darker, heavier contour line (usually every 5th line) that is labeled by elevation
makes reading the map easier

33. hachures short, straight lines within a contour line
indicate a depression

34. Reading a Topographic Map

35. Step 1
Contour lines never cross; all points along a contour line are of the same elevation

36. Step 2
Closely spaced contour lines indicate a very steep slope; widely spaced contour lines indicate a subtle slope

37. Step 3
Contour lines crossing valleys or streams are “V” shaped. The “V” points to the higher elevation. If there is a river or stream in the valley, the “V” indicates the upstream direction.

38. Step 4
Contour lines formed closed loops around hills, mountains and depressions.
Check for hachures.