MAP Reading

• MAP Reading - is the utilization and appreciation of MAPS for military use.
• PURPOSE OF MAP READING

  Provides information on the ......

  • existence, location, and distance between ground features.
  • routes of travel and communication.
  • variation in terrain.
  • heights of natural features.
  • the extent of vegetation cover.
• MAP

  • is a graphic representation of the Earth's surface drawn to scale, as seen from above.
  • it uses colors, symbols, and labels to represent features found on the ground.
• SCALE - the ratio or fraction between the distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the surface of the earth.
• TYPE - Maps are categorized according to its purpose or the manner it was made. Maps produced by other government agencies or civilian entities
• SMALL SCALE

  • 1:1,000,000 & SMALLER
  • used for general planning and for strategic studies
  • standard SMALL - scale map is 1:1,000,000.
• MEDIUM SCALE

  • 1:75,000-1:1,000,000
  • used for operational planning
  • standard medium-scale map is 1:250,000.
• LARGE SCALE

  • 1:75,000 & LARGER
  • used for tactical, administrative, and logistical planning
  • STANDARD LARGE-SCALE IS 1:50,000
• Types of MAPS

  1. PLANIMETRIC
  2. TOPOGRAPHIC
  3. PHOTOMAP
  4. JOINT OPERATIONS GRAPHIC
  5. PHOTOMOSAIC
  6. TERRAIN MODEL
  7. MILITARY CITY MAPS
  8. SPECIAL MAPS
• PLANIMETRIC MAP

  • Presents only the horizontal positions for the features represented.
• TOPOGRAPHIC MAP

  • Portrays terrain features in a measurable way (usually through use of contour lines)
  • Shows both horizontal and vertical positions of the features represented.
• PHOTOMAP

  • A reproduction of an aerial photograph upon which grid lines, marginal data, place names, route numbers, important elevations, boundaries, and approximate scale and direction have been added.
• JOINT OPERATIONS GRAPHICS

  • Maps based on the format of standard 1:250,000 medium-scale military topographic maps that contain additional information needed in joint air-ground operations
• TERRAIN MODEL

  • A scale model of the terrain showing features, and in large-scale models showing industrial and cultural shapes.
  • It provides a means for visualizing the terrain for planning or indoctrination purposes and for briefing operations.
• PHOTOMOSAIC

  • An assembly of aerial photographs.
• MILITARY CITY MAP

  • A topographic map (usually at 1:12,550 scale, sometimes up to 1:5,000), showing the details of a city.
• SPECIAL MAPS

  • Maps for special purposes, such as trafficability, communications, and assault maps.
• MARGINAL INFORMATION

  • ARE INFORMATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE MAP.
• SHEET NAME

  • TITLE OF THE MAP AND IS NAMED AFTER THE LARGEST GEOGRAPHICAL AREA PRESENTED
• SHEET NUMBER

  • used as a reference number for the map sheet
• SERIES NAME

  • Usually includes a group of similar maps at the same scale and on the same sheet lines or format designed to cover a particular geographic area
  • the name given to the series is generally that of a major political subdivision
• MAP SCALE

  • A representative fraction that gives the ratio of a map distance to the corresponding distance on the earth's surface.
• SERIES NUMBER

  • It is a sequence reference expressed either as a four-digit numeral (1501) or as a letter, followed by a three- or four-digit numeral (S711, S701, etc.). In the regional grouping of allied mapping projects, our map series was designated "S".
• EDITION NUMBER

  • Editions are numbered consecutively; the highest numbered sheet is the most recent
• INDEX TO BOUNDARIES

  • Is a miniature of the map that shows the boundaries that occur within the map area, such as provincial and city boundaries.
• ADJOINING SHEETS DIAGRAM

  • The diagram usually contains nine rectangles that represents the adjoining sheets surrounding your map. All represented sheets are identified by their sheet numbers.
• DECLINATION DIAGRAM

  • Indicates the angular relationships of true north, grid north & magnetic north.
• BAR SCALE

  • Are rulers used to convert map distance to ground distance
• CONTOUR INTERVAL NOTE

  • It states the vertical distance between adjacent contour lines of the map
• SPHEROID NOTE

  • Spheroids (ellipsoids) have specific parameters that define the X Y Z axis of the earth.
• GRID NOTE

  • Gives information pertaining to the grid system used and the interval between grid
• PROJECTION NOTE

  • The projection system is the framework of the map. For military maps, this framework is of the conformal type; that is, small areas of the surface of the earth retain their true shapes on the projection; measured angles closely approximate true values; and the scale factor
• VERTICAL DATUM NOTE

  • Any level surface (for example, mean sea level) taken as a surface of reference from which to determine elevations.
• HORIZONTAL DATUM

  • A geodetic reference point (of which five quantities are known: latitude, longitude, azimuth of a line from this point, and two constants, which are the parameters of reference ellipsoid).
• CONTROL NOTE

  • Indicates the special agencies involved in the control of the technical aspects of all the information that is disseminated on the map.
• PREPARATION AND PRINTING NOTE

  • Indicates the agencies responsible in the preparation and printing of the map.
• TOPOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS

  • REPRESENTS THE NATURAL AND MAN MADE FEATURES OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE.
• STANDARD COLORS OF TOPOGRAPHIC FEATURES

  • Black
  • Reddish Brown
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Brown
  • Red
• BLACK

  • indicates cultural (man-made) features such as buildings and roads, surveyed spot elevations, and all labels.
• Red-Brown

  • red and brown are combined to identify cultural features, all relief features, non-surveyed spot elevations, and elevation, such as contour lines on red-light readable maps.