TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS

Very Important
Scale of a map: A scale of a map is the ratio between the map distance
to the ground distance.
Example 2 cm= 1km. It means , 2 cm on map is equal to 1 km on ground.

There are three types of scales.

1:Statement or verbal scale. Eg 2 cm = 1km.
2. Representative fraction ( R.F. scale) eg 1:50000 . It means 1 unit on map
is equal to 50000 units on ground.

Linear scale or graphical scale.

Representative fraction ( R.F. scale)
It is the most widely used scale as it does not use units.
It s value is 1:50000.

1 cm = 50,000 cm
1 x 2= 50, 000 x 2
2 cm= 100000 cm
= 100000/100 = 1000 m= 1 km.

Thus, R.F. Scale matches with the Verbal scale.

Topographical maps: These
are the large scale maps.
These are the maps which
represent the natural and
man-made features in
minute details using
conventional signs and
symbols.
Natural features include
mountains, plateaus, plains,
rivers, , forests, ponds etc.
Man made features include
roads, settlements, wells,
embankments, railways etc.
Topographical maps:
These are the maps which
represent the physical
(natural) and manmade (
cultural) features in minute
details.

Eastings are the vertical red

colour lines drawn on
topographic maps.

Northings are the horizontal

red colour lines drawn on
topographic maps.
The number of
eastings increase
from left to right.

The number of
northings from
bottom to top.

Grid Square: The

square formed by
the intersection of
northings and
eastings is termed
as Grid Square.
The number of eastings
increase from left to right.

The number of northings

increase from bottom to top.

Grid Square: The square

formed by the intersection
of northings and eastings is
termed as Grid Square.
We use conventional signs, symbols and colours in
topographical maps..

Conventional signs and symbols are those ones which are

accepted and used all over the world.
 Major Colours Meaning

Yellow Agriculture
Green Forest or Jungle.
In forest or jungle ,occupations are
forestry and animal rearing.
White a. Barren land if it is outside the river.
b. If it is inside a river, it island.
Blue Water body like, river, lakes, ponds,
dams etc.
Red House, settlements.
Brown Contour lines, sand dunes
Black: Streams, dry water bodies, railways
Major Symbol Meaning
Cart track. It is used by the bullock carts/camel carts etc.
Unmetalled road.
Sand dunes.
Temple
Dispensary ( A small clinic)
Post Office
Police Station
Unlined well ( A well without wall around it.
Perennial lined well
Temporary hut( House)
Permanent House
A river with water channel.
A dry river
A dry stream.
Major Symbol Meaning
A national Highway

A state highway

A district road.

Railway line

Power line

Covered Tank
Dry tank
Dry tank with embankment
 Transport
Routes.

1. National
3. District Road 1. National Highway.
Highway.

2. State
Highway

3. District Road
2. State Highway
1. Railway Line
4. Railway line
Barren land is shown by white
colour outside the river
,
White patch inside the river indicates the
Ricer island,
 District National
Road Highway

State Highway
A tank
with
embankment
Power Line
Unmetalled road.
Water channel.
Dry River
Unlined well
Perennial
Lined Well

The water
here is found
throughout
the year.
The well has
wall around it.
Sand dunes
Police
Station
 Permanent hut
Temporary hut
Post Office
Temple.
Occupations:
AGRICULTURE. It is
denoted by yellow
colour shade as in
1723.
Forestry and animal
rearing: It is denoted
by green shade
MINING: seen when
quarry is seen.
Land use refers to the
use of the land for
different purposes
such as
1. 1Agriculture.
2. 2. Animal
Rearing.
3. 3.Making
settlement.
4. 4. Forestry
LAND USE
Land use: Pastures
LAND USE: Forestry
Quarrying of limestone
Limestone in construction
Occupations:
AGRICULTURE. It
is denoted by yellow
colour shade.
Forestry and animal
rearing: It is denoted
by green shade
MINING: seen when
quarry is seen.
Settlement Patterns:
1. 1. Isolated
2. 2. Linear
3. 3. Scattered
4. 4. Nucleated or compact.
5. 5. Linear Settlement pattern.
Drainage Patterns
Isolated
settlement
pattern:
Only one
house is
seen in the
entire grid.
Scattered settlement pattern
Settlement
Patterns:
Houses are
present way
from each
other.
Nucleated/clustered/compact settlement pattern: This is the
most
common
(general)pat
tern of
settlement.
Linear Settlement patter: The houses are seen be in a Linear
line.
settlement
This
pattern is
found
along a
road side
or a river
or a canal.
.
CONTOUR
LINES

The lines
which join
the places
of equal
altitude on
the
topographi
c maps.
CONTOUR LINES are imaginary lines that join
points of equal elevation
More space
between contour
lines indicate
gentle slope.

Less space
between the
contour lines
indicate steep
slope.
Contour lines are
imaginary lines that
join
points of equal
elevation.
Land forms by the contour lines