MAP READING AND BASIC
TECHNIQUES
JHSA GEOGRAPHY SECONDARY 3
MAP READING
1. Interpreting symbols
2. Specifying locations
3. Determining direction
4. Measuring distances
5. Representing heights
6. Interpreting human activities from topographical map
INTERPRETING SYMBOLS
 What is symbols?
 Symbols in a map
represent the actual
features found on the
earth’s surface.
 Types of symbols
1. Abbreviation
2. Area
3. Height
4. Line
5. Point
65
336
N
64
63
62
61
60
59
14
15
16
LEGEND
plantation
18
19
20
21
1 centimetre represents 5 kilometres
Ring road
Rubber
17
Forest
5
10
Contour
Road
Settlement
Bridge
School
Mosque
Hospital
SPECIFYING LOCATIONS
 Grid references describe the location of the feature on
topographical map.
 The vertical and horizontal lines divide the map into grid
square.
1. Four figure – describe the location of a large features;
lake.
2. Six figure – describe the exact location of the features.
65
336
N
64
NORTHINGS
63
62
61
60
EASTINGS
59
14
15
LEGEND
16
17
18
19
1 centimetre represents 5 kilometres
20
21
QUIZ #1
What is four figure grid reference for:
 Tanarata Laketown Resort
 Mosque in Tanarata town
 Hospital
What is six figure grid reference for:
 School in Tanarata Town
 Mosque in Tanarata Town
 School in Pekan Gring
ANSWERS
What is four figure grid reference for:
 Tanarata Laketown Resort – 17 61
 Tanarata town – 15 60
 Hospital – 14 63
What is six figure grid reference for:
 School in Tanarata Town – 152608
 Mosque in Tanarata Town – 158 602
 School in Pekan Gring – 158 618
DETERMINING DIRECTION
1. Compass points
2. North Points
3. Bearings
COMPASS POINTS
NNW
NNE
NORTH WEST
NORTH EAST
WNW
ENE
WEST
EAST
ESE
WSW
SOUTH EAST
SOUTH WEST
SSW
SOUTH
SSE
NORTH POINTS
1. TRUE NORTH
GN
2. MAGNETIC NORTH
3. GRID NORTH
TN
MN
Using compass directions
Give
directions to
the boatman
to steer his
way out of
the jetty to
reach the
island.
west
east
east
N
north
E
W
S
north
west
What problem do you think can happen if
we use this method of giving directions?
Lacks accuracy
COMPASS BEARINGS
0°
360 °
NNW
NNE
315 °
NORTH EAST
NORTH WEST
WNW
270 °
45 °
ENE
90 °
EAST
WEST
ESE
WSW
SOUTH EAST
SOUTH WEST
135 °
225 °
SSW
SSE
SOUTH
180 °
What is the direction of the dam from Upper Mandai II?
Northeast
North
North
Southeast
What is the direction of the school from the pier?
To find the bearings of (Y) from (X)
For bearings from less than 180 °
Draw the North line that is
parallel to the eastings on
the map From X
Read bearings in the
clockwise direction
Y
0°
Draw a line to join
X and Y
X
90°
Align protractor along the North Line
with 0° corresponding to North
180°
To find the bearings of (Y) from (X)
For bearings more than 180 °
Draw the North line that is
parallel to the eastings on
the map From X
Read bearings in the
anti-clockwise direction, then
subtract from 360°
0°
Y
Draw a line to join
X and Y
X
90°
Align protractor along the North Line
with 0° corresponding to North
180°
What is the bearing of the school from Upper Mandai II?
What is the bearing of Upper Mandai II from the school?
MEASURING DISTANCES
Scale is used to calculate distances between
features on a map
Three ways of showing a scale on a map:
1. Statement in words
2. Representative fraction (R.F)
3. Linear Scale
65
336
N
64
63
62
61
60
59
14
15
16
LEGEND
plantation
18
19
20
21
1 centimetre represents 5 kilometres
Ring road
Rubber
17
Forest
5
10
Contour
Road
Settlement
Bridge
School
Mosque
Hospital
REPRESENTING HEIGHT
SPOT HEIGHT ( )
 Indicates the specific height of a point on a map.
BENCH MARK (
100M)
 Indicates height of the place above sea level.
TRIGONOMETRICAL STATION ( 50)
 Usually found on the hilltops or mountain peaks.
65
336
N
64
TRIGONOMETRICAL STATION
63
SPOT HIGHT
62
61
60
59
14
15
16
LEGEND
plantation
18
19
20
21
1 centimetre represents 5 kilometres
Ring road
Rubber
17
Forest
5
10
Contour
Road
Settlement
Bridge
School
Mosque
Hospital
CONTOURS
 Imaginary lines joining places of the same
height above sea level.
 The height of each contours usually marked on
the line.
 Vertical interval help us to find the value of the
line of the contours.
EARTH
OUR
HOME
PAGE
18 - 20
CALCULATING GRADIENT
GRADIENT =
1.
2.
VERTICAL DISTANCE
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE
FIND VERTICAL DISTANCE FROM A TO B.
FIND HORIZONTAL DISTANCE FROM A TO B.
B
ANSWER:-
100
___40m___
20000m
80
_1_
500
A
60
This means that the slope AB
rises 1 m for every 500 m of
horizontal distance.
INTERPRETING HUMAN ACTIVITIES
FROM TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP
 Settlement patterns
 Transport patterns
QUIZ #3
SETTLEMENT
PATTERNS
DISPERSED
SETTLEMENTS
NUCLEATED
SETTLEMENTS
LINEAR
SETTLEMENTS
TRANSPORTATION
PATTERNS
(EXAMPLES)
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
BASIC TECHNIQUES
 INTERPRETING PHOTOGRAPH
 TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPH
 STEPS TO INTERPRET
 SKETCHING A PHOTOGRAPH
TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPH
LANDSCAPE
2. AERIAL
3. SETELLITE IMAGES
1.
QUIZ #3
 Each group will discuss on the steps
to interpret a photograph.
 Choose any types of photograph and
explain the photography using the
steps that you have discussed.