Geography Department
Ordnance Survey Mapping
Name: _________________ Class: ____
Learning Outcomes
By then end of this unit you should be able to do the following:
[1] The Basics
Learning Intentions:
- To be able to give situations where you may be required to read a map
- To be able to use the 16 point compass
- To be able to accurately measure distance
[A] What are maps?
Maps are two dimensional plan
of an area. For a map to be
accurate it must be drawn to an
appropriate scale.
Maps can now be incorporated
into new technology such as
SatNav and Google maps.
[B] Direction
In order to give direction
accurately you should refer to
the points on a compass (as
opposed to up, right and left
etc.). The sixteen point compass
is much more accurate than the
8 point compass and can be
seen opposite.
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[C] Measuring Distance
Straight line distances can be calculated between 2 points on a map using the scale
line. The diagram below explains how this is done.
1
2
Place the edge of a piece of
paper between the two points
Mark each point on to the paper
3
4
Place the paper against the
scale line at the bottom of the
map, lining up the first mark
with the 0 on the scale
Read off the distance between
the marks on the paper. In this
case the distance is 3km.
[Task 1.1]
[a] In your jotter give at least three examples of a situation where you would use a
map.
[b] Using the map on the following page:
- You are standing at A looking over to B, which direction are you facing: _________
- What is the distance between A and B? __________
- You are standing at B looking over to C, which direction are you facing: _________
- What is the distance between B and C? __________
- You are standing at C looking over to D, which direction are you facing: _________
- What is the distance between C and D? __________
- You are standing at D looking over to E, which direction are you facing: _________
- What is the distance between D and E? __________
- You are standing at E looking over to F, which direction are you facing: _________
- What is the distance between E and F? __________
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Map of Keswick
F
A
B
E
C
D
0
1
2
3
4km
[Task 1.2] Measuring around curves can be more challenging. You will have to turn
the paper appropriately.
Measure the distance of:
[a] A66: ___________________
[b] A591 : ___________________
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[2] Map Symbols
Learning Intentions:
- To accurately identify symbols using the key of an Ordnance Survey map
Ordnance Survey is a government department which produces maps of Great
Britain (and to an extent, the Isle of Man). It is one of the world's largest producers of
maps.
[Task 2.1] Using a key from a 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey Map, identify the symbols
below:
1.
General Map Features
(a)
(n)
(b)
(o)
(c)
(p)
(d)
(q)
(e)
(r)
(f)
(s)
(g)
(t)
(h)
(u)
(i)
(v)
(j)
(w)
(k)
(x)
(l)
(y)
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(m)
2.
(z)
Tourist & Recreation Features (blue)
(a)
(f)
(b)
(g)
(c)
(h)
(d)
(i)
(e)
(j)
3.
Abbreviations
(a)
CH
(e)
P
(b)
PC
(f)
LC
(c)
CG
(g)
TH
(d)
MS
(h)
Sch
4.
Water Features
(a)
(d)
(b)
(e)
(c)
The keys to 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey Maps share many of the same
symbols. However 1:25,000 maps also include a more detailed range of tourist/
recreation features and abbreviations.
Use the key to a 1:25,000 OS map to identify the symbols below:
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5.
Features found only on 1:25,000 maps
(a)
(h)
(b)
(i)
(c)
(j)
(d)
(j)
(e)
(k)
(f)
(l)
FB
(g)
(m)
Mon
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[3] Four-figure Grid References
Learning Intentions:
- To be able to accurately use four-figure grid references
Many maps have a grid of lines printed over them. The lines go across and down.
Each line has a number. These numbers can be used to show the position of
something on the map. We do this by finding the grid reference.
How to give a four-figure grid reference
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[Task 3.1] Here is a larger map. Write down the four-figure grid references for the
following features:
1 The village of Barham ________
2 The village of Farthing ________
3 The village of Longton ________
4 Round Wood ________
5 Long Wood ________
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6 The Windmill __________
7 Fallow Hill __________
8 The Lake __________
9 Mill Farm __________
10 Willow Farm ___________
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[Task 3.2] Using the map below, give the four- figure grid reference of:
The golf course
One public
telephone
The viewpoint
The works
Picnic area
Little Down
70
69
68
10
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[Task 3.3] On the grid below colour in the following squares: 4212; 4815; 5115; 5116;
4918; 4216; 4515; 4512; 4817; 5112; 4218; 4518; 4213; 4513; 4812; 4813; 4814; 4718; 4415;
4214; 5114; 4912; 4712; 4315; 4215; 4217; 4514; 4516; 4517; 5118; 5117; 4816; 4818.
[Task 3.3] Give the four figure grid reference of the following symbols
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[4] Six-figure Grid References
Learning Intentions:
- To be able to accurately use six-figure grid references
A more precise way of identifying a location on a map is to use a six figure grid
reference. To give a six figure grid reference, imagine that each grid square has ten
divisions along each side and that each division has a number from one to ten.
Figure 4: Six Figure Grid References
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
E
J
G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
H
C
D
F
Points A and B are both found in square 9366. By adding an additional number after
the easting and northing we can give a more precise 6 figure grid reference.
e.g.
NB
A is 93 and 2 tenths along. The first 3 number of the grid reference are 932.
A is 66 and 3 tenths up. The last 3 digits are therefore 663.
A has a six figure grid reference of 932 663.
When a point is on a line, we must look at it as 0 tenths e.g. any point which
lies on easting 93 (such as H in the diagram above) will start of with the grid
reference 930.
[Task 4.1] Using Figure 4 above, give the six figure grid reference for the points
below:
B
93 _ 66 _
F
C
G
D
H
E
J
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[Task 4.2] Draw your own simple picture in the box (e.g. a smiley face). Then give the
six figure grid references so that the picture can be redrawn.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
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19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
41
42
43
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45
46
47
48
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50
51
52
53
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[5] Six-Figure Map Tasks
Learning Intentions:
- To be able to accurately identify features on an OS map using six-figure grid
references.
[Task 5.1] Use the 1:50,000 map of Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny, to complete the
tasks below:
1.
Identify the features at the following grid references:
(a)
281119
(i)
321111
(b)
264107
(j)
229101
(c)
209121
(k)
296123
(d)
209153
(l)
315154
(e)
301145
(m)
248115
(f)
232148
(n)
263155
(g)
194154
(o)
249108
(h)
268167
(p)
142092
2.
Give the six figure grid references of the following features:
(a)
Abergavenny railway station
(b)
Abergavenny bus station
(c)
Gilwern caravan park
(d)
Big Pit Mining Museum (Blaenavon)
(e)
Club house of Ebbw Vale golf course
(f)
Abergavenny town hall
3.
Using the map, answer the questions below:
(a)
What type of woodland is found at 277168?
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(b)
What does the yellow boundary in 2719 indicate?
(c)
In square 1614, the B4560 road has “dashed” edges. What does this indicate?
(d)
What do the > > symbols indicate on the road in square 2910?
(e)
Who owns the woodland in 2516?
(f)
What feature is found at 244145? (canal crosses a river)
[Task 5.2] Falkirk Map Tasks
Use the 1:25,000 map of Falkirk, to complete the tasks below:
1.
Identify the features at the following six figure grid references:
(a)
882807
(k)
881831
(b)
873809
(l)
867813
(c)
847840
(m)
898793
(d)
851834
(n)
856801
(e)
840804
(o)
876831
(f)
875820
(p)
877826
(g)
891798
(q)
865834
(h)
858819
(r)
867774
(i)
853794
(s)
860816
(j)
883802
(t)
886783
2.
Give the six figure grid references of the following features:
(a)
Falkirk Infirmary
(b)
The Falkirk Wheel
(c)
Larbert railway station
(d)
Falkirk tourist information centre
(e)
The tunnel on the Union Canal
(f)
Larbert pottery centre
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(g)
The clubhouse of Stenhousemuir golf course
(h)
Falkirk Grahamston railway station
3.
Using the map, answer the questions below:
(a)
What does the “NTL” indicate at 898823?
(b)
Who manages the area at 843799?
(c)
Give 2 features (with 6 figure GRs) that this area was used by the Romans.
(e)
Give a reason for the location of the tip at 858792
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[6] Showing Height on a Map
Learning Intentions:
- To be able to name and describe the three ways to show height on an OS map
There are three ways of showing height on Ordnance Survey Maps:
1.
Spot Height
This marks the height of any point on a map above sea
level.
2.
Trig Point
Triangulation points or pillars also give the height above
sea level. They are often found on the top of hills.
Both of these methods give a precise height above sea level, but they do not tell us
about the shape of the land. This is called relief.
Contours
3.
A contour is a line on a map that joins up all points of
the same height
On 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey Maps, the contour interval (spacing) is 10 metres.
Every 50 metres (50, 100 150 . . . . ) will have a darker brown line to help identify the
changes in relief.
[Task 6.1] Contour Intervals
(a)
Using the contour diagram below, work out the heights of A to h
A
B
C
d
e
f
g
h
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(b)
Using the words up; down; across, complete the sentences below:
(i)
Helen walked ____________ the slope from point e to point g.
(ii)
Jim walked ____________ the slope from point e to point h.
(iii) Tom walked _____________ the slope from point f to point e.
(iv) Jane walked _____________ the slope from point h to point g.
[Task 6.2] Using the 1:50,000 map of Kirkwall, complete the activities below:
(a)
Identify the highest point in the following squares:
(i)
4111
(iv)
3705
(vii)
(ii)
4505
(v)
4609
(viii) 3710
(iii) 3611
(vi)
4813
(ix)
(b)
3910
4108
Match the grid references below with the descriptions underneath:
4106
4112
4008
(i)
A steep slope falling to the north
(ii)
A gentle slope falling to the north west
3514
4612
4013
(iii) A gentle hill rising to over 100 metres
(iv) Almost flat land next to the sea (coastal plain)
(v)
A very steep slop rising to the north west
(vi) A valley rising to the north west
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[7] Contour Patterns
Learning Intentions:
- To be able to describe the landscape using contour patterns.
- To be able to accurately answer questions using an OS map.
Contour lines are a map’s way of showing you how high the land is. They join
together places of the same height and form patterns that help us to imagine what
the land actually looks like.
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Ordnance Survey Mapping Questions: 2010 Copeland Map
[Task 7.1] Complete the questions (in sentences) in your jotter.
Relief
1. How would you describe the relief in grid square 1605 and why? Choose
from (very steep, steep, gently sloping or flat).
2. How would you describe the relief in grid square 0104 and why? Choose from
(very steep, steep, gently sloping or flat).
Symbols
3. What symbol is at 074,018? Use the key to help you.
4. What symbol is at 068,037? Use the key to help you.
5. What symbol is at 031,052? Use the key to help you.
6. What symbol is at 033,020? Use the key to help you.
7. There is a wide yellow line through the map. What is this the boundary of?
Height
8. What height is Seatallan in grid square 1308 and what does the blue symbol
there mean?
9. What height is Swainson Knott in grid square 0708?
Scale
10. What is the distance of the A595 road?
11. What is the length of Wast Water at its longest point?
Direction
12. You are standing at the top of Middle Fell in grid square 1507. What direction
are you facing to see the following things:
- [a] Wast Water
- [b] Greendale Tarn
- [c] The settlement of Calder?
Extension
1. Give a four grid reference of a square containing a river.
2. Give a six figure grid reference of the pottery.
3. Give a six figure grid reference of a campsite.
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[Glossary]
A line which connects places of the same height on a map
A long bridge, often with many arches, which carries a road or
railway over a wide valley
The shape of the land
The government department responsible for mapping Britain
A feature used to raise barges to the next stretch of a canal
Where a road crosses over railway tracks
A way of shortening features on an OS map e.g. CH
(clubhouse), TH (town hall)
A high piece of land with a flat top
When a road or railway is built up above the surrounding
land
The distance between contours on an OS map
A line which runs from west to east on an OS map
Planted by farmers to give protection to crops and animals
from the wind
Type of woodland which loses its leaves in winter
Human activities including forestry, settlement, transport and
industry
An area of heather and bracken, often found on upland farms
A low, small, isolated hill
An area of forestry, often coniferous, planted for commercial
use
A line which runs from north to south on an OS map
A method of showing the height of the land at a specific point
When a railways or road is cut into a hillside to keep it flat
Wordbox:
contour interval
level crossing
rough grazing
triangulation pillar
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plantation
relief
shelter belt
embankment
easting
viaduct
deciduous
knoll
northing
contour
Ordnance Survey Mapping
plateau
abbreviations
cutting
lock
land use
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