MAP READING & INTERPRETATION
Identifying features on the topographic
map
Locating features and places on the map
Measuring distances on the map
Finding direction on the map
Calculating areas on the map
Drawing cross sections and longitudinal
profiles from the topographic map
Enlarging and reducing maps
Any diagram that represents the surface
of the earth or part of it drawn to a
scale is called a map
It is the representation of the surface of
the earth
It is not a diagram of an object such as
house, human being
Neither it is a picture of a person or
group of people
A good map must have the following
elements
1. Title (heading)
2. Key (legend)
3. Symbols (emblems)
4. Frame
5. Scale
6. Direction
Locating places and features
Finding direction
Calculating distances
Calculating areas
Locating places or locating features
simply means identifying places or
features on the map
This involves using grid references
These are a network of evenly drawn
vertical and horizontal lines on a map
The vertical lines are called eastings while
the horizontal lines are called northings
Vertically drawn lines whose value increases
towards the east.
The diagram shows eastings
These are horizontally drawn lines whose
values increase northwards
The diagram below shows northings
To locate places or features on a map
follow the following steps
a. Find the place or feature in question
b. Record the value of the easting passing
through the point (place of feature)
c. Then record the value of the northing
passing through the point
d. Remember to start with easting then
northing
For six figure references contain values of
the grids and their fractions.
Make sure that you provide the value of
easting and its fraction then the northing
and its value
For example, the six figure grid reference
of V is 230985 whereby 0 is a fraction of
easting and 5 is fraction of northing
Using map of Dedza, find the six figure grid
references of the points
a. PO transmitter
b. BP 10
c. BH H 038
d. Dedza secondary school
There are two ways of finding direction on the
map:
a. Using cardinal points
b. Using bearing
This involves the use of directions such
north, south, east, west, south east, south
west, north east, north west
For example the direction of point Q from P
on the map below is South East
This an angle that tells the direction of a
point (feature or place) on the map.
To determine the angle, the following
steps are followed:
a. Draw direction signs on the points in
question
b. Draw a straight line to join the two
points
c. Use the protractor to find the angle.
Ensure you read from the north
Example:
Find the bearing of R from V.
First draw the crosses at R and V
The join R and V by drawing a straight
line as shown below
• Determine the angle (bearing) at V as
indicated by the arrow
• NB bearings are read from north
Use the map of Ntcheu to answer the
questions that follow. Find the bearings of the
following:
a. Chimkanda 1 from trigonometry 76/NYP
6187
b. Kauwa village from trigonometry
172/MWT 3854
c. Alikizanda village from trigonometry
172/MWT 3854
Definition of a scale?
It refers to the relationship between the
distance on the map and the distance on the
actual ground (surface of the earth)
As map represents the ground and its
features, the scale ensures that the distance is
correctly represented
1: 10 000
1: 50 000
1: 100 000
1: 20 000
1: 250 000
1: 150 000
Small scale
Is used on map which covers a large area such
as map of the world, map of the Africa, map
of Malawi
Eg 1: 1 000 000, 1:250 000, 1: 500 000
Large scale
Used on a map that covers a small area such
as Map of Ntcheu Boma
Eg 1: 10 000, 1: 20 000
Statement scale
It is expressed in words such as 1 cm
represents 1 km, 1 cm represents ½ km
Representative fraction
It is expressed either as a fraction or a ratio eg
1:100 000, 1: 50 000
Linear
It is expressed on a line as shown below
Scales can be converted from one form to
another.
Ie statement scale can be expressed as RF or
linear scale or vice versa
Example
1 cm represents 1½ km as RF is 1: 150 000
As linear it is
1. Convert the following scales to RF
a. 1 cm represents ¼ km
b. 1 cm represents 2½ km
2. Convert the following scales to linear
a. 1: 25 000
b. 1 cm represents ¾ km
Is one of uses of a map
Follow the following steps when measuring
distances on the map:
a. Establish the two points between which the
distance is to be measured
b. Use the edge of paper or string (thread) to
determine its length
c. Use the ruler to find out the numerical
length (distance) between the two points
d. Use the given scale to determine the
distance on the actual ground (in km)
e. NB distance on the map is in cm while on
the ground it is expressed in km
Example
How long is L from T on the map below
Assuming the distance from T to L is 15 cm
on the map then on the ground it will be …
Scale: 1:50 000
1 cm represents ½ km
15 1
∴ 15 cm represent × = 7.5 km
1 2
Usethe map extract of Ntcheu to
answer the questions that follow:
How long is the M1 road
Howlong is the boundary between
Kwataine and Mpando
To calculate areas on the map the following
steps are followed:
a. Identify the area in question on the map
b. Count the number of boxes that cover the
area in question. Full boxes and half filled
boxes should be counted separately
c. Multiply half filled boxes by ½ to make
them full
d. Find the sum of boxes
Use the scale to determine the area
Example:
Find the area of maize field on the map below
Number of boxes
Full boxes = 5
1
Half filled = 17 as full = 17 × = 8.5
2
Total = 5 + 8.5 = 13.5
Scale : 1:50 000
Ie 1 cm represents ½ km
As a square 1 cm2 represents ¼ km2
ie Area of 1 box = ¼ km2
1
∴ Area of 13.5 boxes = 13.5 × 𝑘𝑚2 =
4
3.375
Use the map sheet of Ntcheu to find the area
of Mvai forest reserve to the nearest km2
Use the map of Ntcheu to calculate the area
which north of M1 road
Maps can be either be enlarged or reduced
Ie their sizes can be changed; making them
large or small
This involves changing the scale
Maps are enlarged by following steps:
a. Enlarge the given scale of the map according
to number of times the map is to be enlarged.
For instance, 1:50 000 scale can be 1:25 000
when enlarged 2 times; 1:100 000 will be 1:25
000 if enlarged by 4 times.
b. Draw the grid lines on a paper on which the
new map will be drawn according to a new
scale.
c. Copy the map as the original one appears
including all features, symbols and all
elements
Enlarge the area of Mvai forest reserve north
of northing 59 twice its size.
Reduce maps by following these steps:
a. Reduce the scale according the number of
times the map is to be reduced. Eg 1:25 000
scale can be 1:50 000 and 1:100 000 scale
can be 1:200 000 if reduced
b. Draw the grid lines on a paper on which the
new map will be drawn according to a new
scale.
Copy the map as the original one appears
including all features, symbols and all
elements
Reduce the area of Mvai forest reserve half
its size
Relief /topography/terrain entails such
landforms as hills, valleys, mountains, plains,
plateaus,
These features can be represented (shown) by
using the following ways:
a. Bench mark
b. Trigonometry
c. Spot height
d. Hill shading
e. Hachures
f. Layer tinting
g. Contours
Lines on the map that indicate places of the
same altitude.
Closely drawn contours indicate steep slopes.
As such the area is mountainous
Sparsely drawn contours show gentle slopes.
As such the area shown is generally flat (plain)
The V- or U- shaped contours either show
valleys or spurs
A valley is the lower ground between two
higher grounds
A spur is a higher ground between two valleys
These are shown by V-shaped contours or U-
shaped contours on a map
The V-shaped or U-shaped contours that
point towards the higher ground show the
valley
On other hand the V- or U-shaped contours
that point towards the lower ground show
spurs.
A spur is a higher ground between valleys
Describe how the following features are shown
on a contour map with the aid of diagrams
a. Dissected plateau
b. Escarpment
c. Knoll
d. Undulated plain
e. Watershed
