1. 2009 Road Scholars
Complete the Student-Generated Map Activity using the resources provided at your table.

2. 2009 Road Scholars
Event Guidelines

3. Presented by: Mark A. Van Hecke
Road Scholars National Event Supervisor
1999 and 2000

4. OBJECTIVES:
Determine how topographic maps are configured on the Earth’s surface
Locate marginal information on USGS topographic maps
Determine approximate and exact geographic coordinates
Create a Student-Generated Map
Create a topographic map profile

5. Topographic Maps How are they configured on Earth’s surface?
Topographic Map Features

6. Topographic Maps
Topographic maps are highly detailed representations of natural and human features found on the surface of the Earth.
One or more sets of topographic maps will be used in the Science Olympiad Road Scholars competition.

7. Topographic Maps
Most of the topographic maps used in the Road Scholars competition are 7.5” series quadrangles published by the United States Geologic Survey.
The land area shown on each map represents about square miles of the Earth’s surface.

8. Topographic Maps Longitude Latitude
Lines of longitude and latitude are used to divide each degree of the Earth’s surface in half into 30 minute units, then in quarters to form 15 minute units and then in eighths to form 7.5” (minute) units.

9. Marginal Information
Marginal Information found on USGS Topographic Maps
Nine Mental Sectors
Location of Features

10. Marginal Information
Topographic maps are loaded with information that will help you find the location of things on the map and to understand the map and its features.
We’ll begin in the upper-right corner and continue through the rest of the map in a clockwise-direction.

11. Marginal Information
Northeast Corner The NE coordinates of the map are 31°22’30”N 89°07’30”W

12. Marginal Information
Southeast Corner The SE coordinates of the map are 31°15’N 89°07’30”W

13. Marginal Information
Southwest Corner The SW coordinates of the map are 31°15’N 89°15’W

14. Marginal Information
Northwest Corner The NW coordinates of the map are 31°22’30”N 89°15’W

15. Geographic Coordinates
Geographic Grid
Approximate Geographic Coordinates
Exact Geographic Coordinates
Locating Topographic Map Features

16. Geographic Coordinates
You can use tic line information located on all four neatlines to help you determine approximate and exact geographic locations on topographic maps.

17. Reading Latitude
Read upward from the bottom neatline along the right neatline. You should see a tic line along the margin labeled 17’ 30”

18. Reading Latitude
Look directly across the map along the left neatline. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 17’ 30”

19. Reading Latitude
Now continue reading upwards along the right neatline. You should see a tic line along the margin labeled 20’

20. Reading Latitude
Read directly across the map. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 20’

21. Reading Latitude
Read upward to the upper right corner of the map. You should see a tic line along the margin labeled 31° 22’ 30” You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 31° 22’ 30” if you read directly across to the left side of the map.

22. Reading Latitude
As you read latitude upwards, the number of minutes and seconds increases.
Latitude measurements in the United States are always north of the Equator
Measurement of latitude is the same on the right and left sides of the map.
There are 2.5 minutes between each measured section

23. Reading Longitude
Locate the longitude reading of 89° 07’ 30” printed near the lower right corner of the quadrangle.

24. Reading Longitude
Read to the left along the bottom neatline until you reach the tic line marked 10’. Look directly across the map along the top neatline. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 10’

25. Reading Longitude
Continue reading to the left along the bottom neatline until you reach the tic line marked 12’ 30”. Look directly across the map along the top neatline. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 12’ 30”

26. Reading Longitude
Continue reading to the left along the bottom neatline until you reach the southwest corner marked 89° 15’ Look directly across the map along the top neatline to the northwest corner. You should see another tic line along the margin labeled 89°15’

27. Reading Longitude
As you read longitude from right to left the number of minutes and seconds increases
Longitude measurements in the United States are always east of the Prime Meridian
Although there are 2.5 minutes between each section, lines of longitude are not equidistant.

28. Geographic Coordinates
Geographic Coordinates are formed at the intersection of lines of latitude and longitude

29. Geographic Coordinates
Northeast Corner The NE coordinates of the map are 31°22’30”N 89°07’30”W

30. Geographic Coordinates
Southeast Corner The SE coordinates of the map are 31°15’N 89°07’30”W

31. Geographic Coordinates
Southwest Corner The SW coordinates of the map are 31°15’N 89°15’W

32. Geographic Coordinates
Northwest Corner The NW coordinates of the map are 31°22’30”N 89°15’W

33. Identifying Map Sectors
You can use tic line information located on all four neatlines to help you identify the nine mental sectors of your topographic map.

34. Identifying Map Sectors1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The tic line boundaries can be used to form the Nine Mental Sectors of topographic maps that can be used as a reference point to locate features

35. Identifying Map Sectors
The cross-hairs can be used to determine the approximate coordinates of features located near them.

36. Exact Coordinates
Let’s use the Cartersville, MS map to determine the exact coordinates of the Mt. Zion Church in Sector 9

37. Exact Latitude Coordinates
To determine latitude:
Measure the distance in millimeters (mm) from the bottom neatline to where the cross joins the main building.
That measurement should be approximately 186mm

38. Exact Latitude Coordinates
Divide that measurement (186mm) by 192- the distance in mm from the bottom sector boundary to the top sector boundary.
Your answer should be SLDN (some long decimal number)
.96875

39. Exact Latitude Coordinates
Multiply your answer by 150-the number of seconds in a 2.5’ topographic map sector
Your answer should be
This is the number of seconds that the building is away from the sector boundary

40. Exact Latitude Coordinates
Now, let’s convert our seconds to minutes…
First round to the nearest ones-place which would give you 145 seconds…
Then divide the number of seconds by 60 giving you 2 minutes and 25 seconds.

41. Exact Latitude Coordinates
Now, add the 02’25” to the value of the bottom sector boundary.
If the bottom neatline measures 31°15’ and we add an additional 02’25”, then our latitude measurement for Mt. Zion Church will be:
31° 17’ 25”N

42. Exact Longitude Coordinates
Measure the distance in millimeters from the right sector boundary to where the cross joins the main building on the Mt. Zion Church
That measurement should be 64mm

43. Exact Longitude Coordinates
Measure the distance in millimeters from the right sector boundary to where the cross joins the main building on the Mt. Zion Church
That measurement should be 64mm

44. Exact Longitude Coordinates
Divide that measurement (64mm) by 165-the distance in mm from the right sector boundary to the left sector boundary.
Your SLDM should be

45. Exact Longitude Coordinates
Multiply your answer by 150- the number of seconds in a 2.5’ sector.
Your answer should be
Round that answer to 59 seconds (59”)

46. Exact Longitude Coordinates
Add 59” to the value of the right sector boundary.
If the right sector boundary measures 89° 07’ 30” and we add an additional 59 seconds, your answer should be:
89° 08’ 29”W

47. Exact Longitude Coordinates
The exact geographic coordinates of the Mt. Zion Church are: 31° 17’ 25”N 89° 08’ 29”W

48. Student-Generated Maps
Orientation of a Map
USGS Topographic Map Key
Drawing the Student-Generated Map

49. Student-Generated Maps
Use a USGS Topographic Map Key as a guide to drawing features. First, determine the orientation of the paper.

50. Student-Generated Maps
Then, divide the paper into a four square grid. You do not have to put the directions. They are only a reference NW NE SW SE

51. Student-Generated Maps
Each square is in turn divided into four sections. This will help you place features in the correct place NW SW SE
NW 1/4 NE
1/4
SW 1/4
SE 1/4

52. Profiling
Drawing a Topographic Map Profile is a useful skill in determining where to place roads, pipelines, railroads and other construction projects.

53. Profiling
To construct a topographic map profile, draw a line on the map from where the profile is to begin from where it is to end as shown below

54. Profiling
Then find the value of the highest and lowest contour lines that cross or touch your profile line.
Add one contour line above the highest value and one below the lowest value to compensate for hills and valleys.

55. Profiling
Use lined or graph paper similar to below. Place it just beneath the area you are profiling
Number the top line with the highest value and the bottom line with the lowest value as shown.

56. Profiling
Number the rest of the lines in sequence starting with the second line from the top. Lines should be numbered in accordance with contour interval.

57. Profiling
Position the paper on the map with the lines next to and parallel to the profile line.

58. Profiling
Then from every point on the profile line where a contour line, stream, or any body of water crosses or touches, drop a perpendicular line to the line on your paper having the same value.

59. Profiling
Place a tic mark where the perpendicular line crosses the number line.

60. Profiling
After all of the perpendicular lines have been drawn and tic marks placed where the lines cross, connect all tic marks with a smooth natural curve to form your profile