1. 1st Class Training Course
Map Reading
1st Class Training Course

3. Introduction
This lecture is a condensed version of the Map Reading Training course. During this lecture, you will learn about Maps and their language and Scale.
In part 2 of this lecture you will study Grid References, Relief and Gradients & Inter-visibility.

4. Agenda What is a Map Map Language Scales Grids Relief
Gradients and Intervisibility

5. What is a Map?
A Map is a birds eye view of the surrounding area to help guide us from one place to another.
A traveller needs a map to help them find their way around more easily.

6. Lines of Longitude
A line of Longitude is also referred to as a Meridian
Lines of Longitude run parallel to the Prime Meridian at Greenwich

7. Lines of Latitude
Lines of Latitude run parallel to the Equator

8. Recording your Position
Lines of Latitude & Longitude come together to form a matrix
1.5

9. Recording your Position
First we state its Latitude followed by its Longitude in degrees & minutes
e.g.:
A= 20’N 56’W
B= 17’S 17’W
C= 45’N 15’E
1.5

10. Although this system can give reasonably accurate positioning it is not accurate enough for everyday use.
So each degree is further broken down into 60 minutes.

11. Topographical Maps
The M726 series are classed as topographical maps. This means they show the shape and surface detail of the land. This includes natural and man-made features.

12. Get the latest edition
OS maps are constantly being updated. It is always advisable to have the most up-to-date map available as some features will change.
Roads will be built
Rivers could become dams
New Buildings could be built
Some features such as mountainous areas may stay fairly constant

13. Looking after your map
Some maps are now produced laminated and you can treat maps with a waterproof coating
Always keep your map folded
NEVER mark a map surface with ink
If you do need to mark your map do so lightly with a pencil
Try to avoid getting it wet
If you do get it wet allow it to dry naturally.

14. Folding your map
First fold your map in half length wise, with the printed map outwards like so:
1.9

15. Then concertinawise:

16. Remember: The M726 series is a 1:50,000 scale map
The unit of height used on this map is in METRES.

17. Latitude / Longitude
The lines of latitude are expressed in degrees and minutes and are marked along the right and left (east and west) hand side of the map (key position 15).
The lines of longitude are marked along the top and bottom (north and south) of the map in key position 3. The lines of latitude and longitude are not actually drawn on the map itself - it would be too confusing.

18. North
In map reading there are always references to north. There are in fact 3 north's:
True North
Grid North
Magnetic north

19. True North
This is the geographical north pole of the earth - the point where the earth’s axis meet the surface.

20. Grid North
This north takes its name from the National Grid System. This is a system of imaginary lines drawn vertically & horizontally on the map which divide it into a series of squares.
Because Grid lines are drawn on a flat map and lines of latitude & longitude are curved like the the earth's surface. The 2 systems are different.
This difference is shown on the map (key position 10) as a difference between True & Grid north.

21. Magnetic North
This is the point the magnetic needle aligns itself to when freely suspended. The earth has its own magnetic field.
Unfortunately the earth’s north and south poles do not line up with the geographical poles - in fact they are about 1200 miles apart!!

22. Sometimes the same symbol is shown in different colours to signify a difference
example:
Red National Trust symbols show the area is open all year.
The same symbol in blue indicates it has a restricted opening period.

23. Contour Lines
A contour line is a reddish brown line drawn on the map joining all points of equal height above mean sea level (MSL) Mean sea level is a fixed height approximately half way between high and low tides calculated at Newlyn in Cornwall over many years.
By joining all the points at the same height you can achieve a picture and shape of the land. 50

24. These contour lines will wonder all over the map and will eventually rejoin at the start point to show an area of equal height.
The only exception to this rule is where a contour line meets a cliff face.

25. The height is shown in small breaks in the contour line.
Every 5th line is shown thicker to make them easier to read.
These contour lines are situated at 10 metre intervals on the M726 series.
The rise & fall between contours is the Vertical Interval (VI)

26. Agenda What is a Map Map Language Scales Grids Relief
Gradients and Intervisibility

27. Scales
The objective of this lecture is for you to be able to display an reasonable understanding of size and scale in map work.

28. Introduction
If your map is to cover a reasonable area then everything on the map has to be reduced considerably from its real size.

29. Why do we use scale?
We use scale so that we can cover a reasonable area of the ground around us and show it on the map.

30. How do you express scale?
There are 3 ways to express
scale.
These are:

31. A: In Words
by saying “so many centimetres to the kilometre”
Example: a scale of “2cm to 1km” means that for every 2 cm on the map you would travel 1 km on the ground.
Measuring the distance from the Squadron headquarters to the local Police Station as 12cm on this scale would be equal to 6km on the ground

32. In this method the scale is expressed in the form of a fraction.
B: As a Representative Fraction
In this method the scale is expressed in the form of a fraction. 1
e.g.
50,000
Using this method you are saying that any distances measured on the map are one-fiftythousanth of the real distance on the ground.

33. A Representative Fraction is also referred to as RF

34. This is very similar to B, but is written as:
C: As a Ratio
This is very similar to B, but is written as:
1:50,000
this means the same as: 1
50,000

35. Calculation
In the case of RF and ratio the expression of distance, whether it’s inches, centimetres or metres, is the measurement on the ground
So a 1:50,000 ratio would be equally valid for:
1 inch on the map = 50,000 inches on the ground
1 cm on the map = 50,000 cm on the ground
1 m on the map = 50,000 m on the ground

36. If the scale is expressed in words it may be necessary to convert it into either a RF or a ratio.

37. For example: to convert a scale of 1 inch to 1 mile, you have to calculate the number of inches in a mile:
There are 1,760 yards in a mile
There are 5,280 feet in a mile (1760 x 3)
There are 63,360 inches in a mile (5280 x 12)

38. So the scale of 1 inch to 1 mile can be expressed as a ratio of 1:63,360.
This type of calculation is made easier using the metric system, but it will still require careful thought.

39. Area
When using scales, areas of ground will also be proportionately reduced but remember that areas contract rapidly on small scale maps.

40. For example if you take a map that is half the scale of another, then the area is reduced by a quarter (not a half). This is because the area of a rectangular figure is length multiplied by breadth. If you therefore halved the scale you will quarter the area of the map. 4 2
e.g. 2 4
4 x 4 = 16
2 x 2 = 4

41. The same area of ground in three different scales
1 km square
at 1:12,500
1 km square
at 1:25,000
1 km square
at 1:50,000
The same area of ground in three different scales
(Half the scale = one quarter of the area)

42. Examples of different scales:
Large scale city or town maps (defined buildings)
Medium scale - Larger areas (buildings as symbols)
Small scale atlas (large towns in name only)