Map Reader
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Purpose of a Map
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Adopting a right map against the purpose of
use is interrelated. To identifying a location one should take the road map
with various land marks. For general people, map is only used to identifying a
location. So adopt the right map which will fulfill your requirements. The
normal methods to read a map is first identify the location “where are you
now”. Then identify the destination
location where you suppose to go. Once the current location and destination
location identified, then you can follow the way with right direction. But it
is always suggested to mark the location through the pencil so that you can
easily access in the next time.
Map Elements
There are various elements present on a map
which provide basic information to the reader. Among these are the titles,
scale, legend, body of the map, north arrow, neatline, date of production,
projection used, information about sources etc... The placement of such
elements and the style of its representation may vary from one map to another.
Some of the elements are found almost in all maps no matter what the themes
are. The theme area is the largest area in map representing the spatial
features.
Title:
The title is displayed on top of the map to
provide a clear indication on the thematic and geographic area displayed on the
map. It is describe the area name, representation, subtitle or date of
publication. A title might be sufficient for the readers where one can be
assumed to be familiar with the theme being presented.
Legend:
The legend is a vital part of a map and
help us for map reading. It shows the lists of the styles, color, pattern of
the symbols used on a map and what they stand for. These symbols in the legends
are appearing exactly as they are found in the map theme. Sometimes the
necessary information is put in a caption, or leble placed directly on the theme
of the map.
North
Arrow:
The north arrow is an integral part of the
map. A North arrow is shows the direction of north on the map. Its primary
function is to convey information regarding the orientation of the map.
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Various North Arrow Styles |
Neatline:
The border delineating and defining the
extent of geographic data on a map. It demarcates exactly where the area of a
map begins and ends. In a cartographical map, it is the most accurate element
of the data; other map features may be moved slightly or exaggerated for
generalization or decorative point of view, but the neatline is never adjusted.
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Neatline define the extent of the Map |
Scale:
The scale of a map defined as the ratio of
a distance on the map to the corresponding distance on the ground. The map
scale is usually located in the legend box of a map, which explains the symbols
and provides other important information about the map. A map scale can be
printed in a variety of ways.
Example:
Distance on the Map
Scale = ----------------------------
Distance on the Ground
The scale is defined by RF (representative fraction) which
indicates how many units on the earth's surface are equal to one unit on the
map. It can be expressed as 1/100,000 or 1:100,000. In this example, one
centimeter on the map equals 100,000 centimeters (1 kilometer) on the earth. Scale Bar is found at every National Topographic System
map to determine distances between points or along lines on the map sheet.
Map Notes:
Map notes are not always found in general
maps. Maps prepared by any National topographical Map agencies or Govt. Maps
having such kind of notes. Some of the relevant notes which may concern to the
restrictions of map use or where the reference of the map was taken or any
other relevant points the creator of the map wants to shares are comes under
map notes.
Label:
Labels are mentioned along with the spatial
features in map theme. These labels are make easy for the map reader to easily
identify any location on a map. This may be road name or a location name or
rive name etc.
Reference:
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