Topographic Maps
5 points (-1 pt for every three missed)
Name_________________
Section One:
Topographic Foamboard models
The north arrow is on the back of the model.
The contour interval is 10 feet.
The representative fractional scale is 1:24,000.
This means that one inch on the model represents _______________________inches on
the ground in real life.
This also means that once centimeter on the model represents __________________
centimeters on the ground in real life.
Determine the elevation for the following:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
What direction is the stream flowing?
When a contour line crosses the stream, does the contour line point upstream or
downstream?
Section Two: Lenexa and Lawrence Maps
Topographic maps use colors and symbols to represent the elevation and shape of the
landscape, natural features like rivers, as well as cultural features like roads. During this
exercise, you will want to refer to the topographic map symbols handout. Maps are
produced at different scales. A large-scale map shows more detail over a small area. A
small-scale map shows a larger area but at less detail. Property locations can be
described based upon a survey grid system. The United States Geological Survey (USGS)
has standardized the way map information is presented. Here is an example to use while
looking at the Lenexa Topographic Quadrangle:
Map Name
longitude
R24E R25E
survey boundary
longitude
latitude
latitude
T12S
survey
boundary
T13S
latitude
latitude latitude
longitude
longitude
Scales
Contour interval
north arrows
Road legend
Date published
Map Scale
A map’s scale is the ratio of the object on the map to the real object on the
ground. Map scales may be represented in written form such as “one cm on the map
represents one kilometer on the ground”; they can be represented graphically with a bar
scale marked off in units of measure such as kilometers; or they can be represented
mathematically as a fractional scale (representative fraction) such as 1:250,000.
This scale means that one unit on the map represents 250,000 units on the
ground. The fractional scale must have a 1 in the numerator and it is unit-less. It does
not matter if we are using inches or centimeters.
It can be difficult to visualize 250,000 units, for example centimeters, so we can
convert that to a recognizable value by changing it to meters or kilometers using known
conversion factors.
100 cm = 1 m
1000 m = 1 km
12 inches = 1 foot
5280 feet = 1 mile
Example: you have cm and want to convert to meters
250,000 cm X 1 meter
100 cm
=
2,500 meters
Example: you have meters and want to convert to km
2,500 m X 1 km
1000 m
= 2.5 kilometers
This same type of problem setup can be used to convert inches, feet, and miles.
1. What is the fractional scale of the Lenexa map?
2. One centimeter on the Lenexa map equals how many meters on the ground?
3. What is the length in kilometers of the section of Interstate 435 between the
cloverleaf intersection with I-35 and the intersection with Highway 69 on the Lenexa
map?
4. What is the fractional scale of the Lawrence map?
5. One centimeter on the Lawrence map equals how many meters on the ground?
6. Which map, Lenexa or Lawrence has the larger fractional scale (shows more detail
over a smaller area)?
Public Land Survey System for locations
An exact location can be given using the latitude and longitude coordinates.
Parallels of latitude are measured N/S of the Equator and on a map, they are lines that
run E/W. Meridians of longitude are measured E/W of the Prime Meridian and on a
map, they are lines that run N/S.
Another way of describing location is the Public Land Survey System which is a
grid of townships and ranges based on survey baseline. A map of the United States with
the survey baselines with the Surveyor’s Stone article shows us the baselines associated
with Kansas.
In this method, a township is 6 square miles. It is divided into 36 sections that are
1 mile square sections. Each section can be further divided into quarter-sections, as
many times as necessary. Wills and legal notices often describe land locations using this
system.
Example: The location of your plot of land named B is
SW ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 32, Township 2 N, Range 4 E
1. Use the Public Land Survey System to describe the general location of the entire JCCC
campus. The campus is southwest of the center of the map.
Contours
A contour line is a line that connects points of equal elevation. On a map, the
contour lines indicate the topographic relief of an area, the changes in elevation from
the highest point to the lowest point. The contour interval is the difference in elevation
between adjacent contour lines.
Contour line rules:
1. Usually printed in brown.
2. A contour line is an isoline showing equal elevation.
3. Closely spaced contour lines indicate a steep slope. Wide spacing indicates a
gentle slope.
4. Hills are represented by concentric, closed contours.
5. Depressions are represented by concentric closed contours with hachures
(small tick marks) on the downslope side.
6. When going into a depression, the first hachured contour line has the same
contour value as the adjacent lower line.
7. Contour lines form a V shape when they cross a stream. The apex of the V
points in the upstream direction.
8. Contour lines don’t cross. An overhanging ledge or waterfall may have some
contours depicted as dashed lines. Dashed lines may also represent
topographic changes due to construction or other earth moving events.
1. What is the contour interval of the Lenexa map?
2. Tomahawk Creek is in the southeastern part of the Lenexa map. Which direction does
it flow?
3. What is the elevation of the hilltop in the NW ¼ of the NW ¼, Section 35,
Township 13 S, Range 24 E
4. Drawing contour lines is just like drawing other isolines, like isobars or isotherms.
This is a map of spot elevations around a lake. Draw contour lines, beginning with the 50
foot line, and continuing at 10 ft intervals. You may have to interpolate where the
contour line goes. Not all of the spot elevations will be on one of your lines. The dashed
and dotted line represents a stream. So when a contour line crosses the stream, it needs
to V or point in the upstream direction exactly when it crosses the stream.