THE HOME OF NAVAL RESERVISTS IN THE NORTH

MILITARY SCIENCE 1

1
 BASIC MAP READING
LESSON OBJECTIVES:

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS LESSON THE

STUDENT WILL:
IDENTIFY THE MARGINAL INFORMATION OF A MAP.
IDENTIFY CONTOUR LINES IN A MAP
ENUMERATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MAP
. LABEL THE PARTS OF A COMPASS
IDENTIFY MILITARY SYMBOLS
IDENTIFY MAP SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
DEMONSTRATE HOW TO ORIENT THE MAP.
LOCATE GRID SQUARES IN THE MAP.
 Basic MAP READING
I. INTRODUCTION:
- MAPS AND THEIR SUBSTITUTES ARE OF
PARTICULAR VALUE TO THE MILITARY
ESTABLISHMENT. IT IS NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY
RIDGES, VALLEYS ROUTES OF MOVEMENT, AND
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF A SECTION OF
TERRAIN THAT CAN NOT BE RECONNOITERED IN
ADVANCE.
- THIS LESSON IS TO ENABLE YOU TO READ A
MAP. AND APPLY THE THEORIES, PRINCIPLES AND
TECHNIQUES THAT ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL
IN THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL UNIT
LEADERS.
 Basic MAP READING
MAP - IS A GEOGRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF
THE EARTH SURFACE DRAWN TO A SCALE IN A
FLAT PLANE.

 IMPORTANCE OF MAP:
a) USED FOR STRATEGIC, TACTICAL PLANNING
IN ALL COMMAND.
b) USED TO SHOW THE RELATIVE POSITION ON
A CERTAIN GIVEN AREA.
c) USED TO SHOW ACCURATE DISTANCE,
LOCATION, BEST ROUTES AND KEY TERRAIN
FEATURES.
d) TO AVOID LOST AND KEEP ALIVE.
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 CARE OF MAP:
a) PROPER FOLDING BY: ACCORDION FOLD OR
SLIT FOLD
b) CARRY MAPS IN A WATERPROOF POCKET AND
USE ACETATE TO COVER THE MAP.
C) AVOID DRAWING OR IMPROPER MARKING TO
AVOID CONFUSION.
 SECURITY OF MAPS:
a) MAPS MUST NOT FAIL INTO UNAUTHORIZED
HAND.
b) WHEN IN DANGER, DESTROY THE MAP.
c) AVOID INDICATION OF PLANS OR AREA OF
INTEREST IN THE MAP.
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B. CATEGORIES AND USES OF MILITARY MAPS:

THE TERM MILITARY MAP INCLUDES ALL MAPS

DESIGNED FOR USE OF MILITARY AUTHORITIES
EXCEPT AERONAUTICS & HYDROGRAPHIC CHARTS.

SCALE - IS EXPRESSED AS A FRACTION AND GIVES

THE RATIO OF MAP DISTANCE TO GROUND
DISTANCE.
a) SMALL SCALE - SCALE OF 1:600,000 AND
SMALLER (USED FOR GENERAL PANNING FOR
STRATEGIC STUDIES AT THE HIGH ECHELON).
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b) MEDIUM SCALE - LARGER THAN 1:600,000

BUT SMALLER THAN 1:75,000 (FOR PLANNING
OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE MOVEMENT AND
CONCENTRATION OF TROOPS AND SUPPLIES).

c) LARGE SCALE - SCALE OF 1:75,000 AND

LARGER (FOR TACTICAL TECHNICAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS OF FIELD UNITS.)
 Basic MAP READING
 TYPES OF MAPS:
a) PLAINMETRIC MAP - SHOWING ONLY THE
HORIZONTAL (FLAT) POSITION OF FEATURES.
b) TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS - A TWO DIMENSIONAL
MAP WHICH REPRESENTS THE HORIZONTAL (FLAT
AND VERTICAL RELIEF) POSITIONS OF FEATURES
REPRESENTED.
c) PLASTIC RELIEF MAP – A TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
REPRINTED ON PLASTIC MATERIAL AND FORMED BY
HEAT AND VACUUM OVER A REPRODUCTIVE
POSITIVE MOLD THUS GIVING THE SAME
INFORMATION AS CONTAINED ON TOPOGRAPHIC
MAP.
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d) PHOTO MAP - A REPRODUCTION OF
PHOTOGRAPH UPON GRID LINES, MARGINAL DATA,
PLACE, NAMES AND BOUNDARIES MAY BE ADDED.

e) JOINT OPERATION MAP – USED FOR GROUND

AND AIR OPERATIONS. THE MAPS ARE PUBLISHED IN
A GROUND AND AIR EDITION.

f) PICTOMAP – IT IS A MAP ON WHICH THE

PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGINARY OF A STANDARD
PHOTOMAP HAS BEEN CONVERTED INTO
INTERPRETABLE COLORS AND SYMBOLS.
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g) PHOTOMOSAIC - AN ASSEMBLY OF AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPH TO FORM A COMPLETE PICTURE.
h) MILITARY CITY MAP - A LARGE SCALE OF
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP OF A CITY OR TOWN AND THE
STANDARD SCALE IS 1:12,000.
i) SPECIAL MAP - MAPS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES
SUCH AS TRAFICABILITY, TRANSFORMATION AND
BOUNDARY MAPS.
j) TERRAIN MODEL - A THREE DIMENSIONAL
REPRESENTATION OF AN AREA MOLDED ON PLASTIC,
RUBBER OR ANOTHER MATERIAL SYMBOLICALLY.
k) HYDROGRAPHIC MAP – A NAUTICAL MAP USED
AS NAVIGATIONAL AID EITHER ABOVE OR BELOW
SURFACE.
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 MARGINAL INFORMATION – ARE THOSE PRINTED

NOTES OUTSIDE THE PRINTED DIAGRAM OF MAPS
USED AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE IN READING
MAPS.

1. SHEET NAME – FOUND AT THE UPPER CENTER

MARGIN. A MAP IS NAMED AFTER ITS OUTSTANDING
CULTURAL OR GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES.
2. SHEET NUMBER – FOUND IN THE UPPER RIGHT
MARGIN AND USED AS REFERENCE NUMBER
ASSIGNED TO EACH MAP.
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3. SERIES NAME AND SCALE – FOUND ON THE
UPPER LEFT MARGIN. A MAP SERIES USUALLY
COMPRISES A GROUP OF SMALLER MAPS AT SOME
SCALE DESIGNED TO COVER A PARTICULAR
GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

4. SERIES NUMBER – APPEARS IN THE UPPER

RIGHT MARGIN AND LOWER LEFT MARGIN.

5. EDITION NUMBER – IS FOUND IN THE UPPER

MARGIN AND IN THE LOWER MARGIN,
REPRESENTING THE AGE OF THE MAP.
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6. BAR SCALE – LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE
LOWER MARGIN AND IN THE LOWER MARGIN USE
FOR DETERMINATION OF MAP DISTANCE TO THE
CORRESPONDING GROUND DISTANCE WITH THREE
DIFFERENT UNITS OF MEASURES.
7. CREDIT NOTE – IN LOWER LEFT MARGIN,
PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO LIST THE PROCEDURES
AND REFERENCE, THE METHOD OF COMPILATION
FOR USED BY TECHNICIANS.
8. INDEX TO ADJOINING SHEET – IN LOWER MARGIN,
IT IDENTIFIES THE MAP SHEET COVERING AREAS
AROUND THE AREA COVERED BY THE MAP YOU ARE
USING.
 Basic MAP READING
8. INDEX TO ADJOINING SHEET – IN LOWER MARGIN,
IT IDENTIFIES THE MAP SHEET COVERING AREAS
AROUND THE AREA COVERED BY THE MAP YOU ARE
USING.

9. INDEX TO BOUNDARIES DIAGRAMS – IN LOWER

MARGIN, THIS IS A MINIATURE MAP THAT SHOWS
THE BOUNDARIES AND SPECIAL SHOW LINE THAT
OCCURS WITHIN THE MAP AREA.

10.. PROJECTION NOTE – IN LOWER MARGIN, IT

INDICATE THE METHOD USE TO PORTRAY THE MAP
AREA.
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11 GRID NOTE – IN THE CENTER LOWER MARGIN, IT
GIVES INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE GRID
SYSTEM USED, THE INITIAL GUIDELINES AND THE
NUMBER OF DIGIT OMITTED FROM GRID VALUES.

12.. GRID REFERENCE BOX - USUALLY LOCATED AT

THE CENTER OF THE LOWER MARGIN. IT CONTAINS
INFORMATION IDENTIFYING THE GRID ZONE
DESIGNATION AND 100,00 METERS SQUARE
IDENTIFICATION.

13. HORIZONTAL DATUM NOTE - LOCATED AT THE

CENTER OF THE LOWER MARGIN AND DEFINED AS
GEODETIC REFERENCE POINT.
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14. LEGEND - AT THE LOWER LEFT MARGIN,
ILLUSTRATES IDENTIFIES THE TOPOGRAPHIC
SYMBOLS USED TO DEPICT SOME OF THE
PROMINENT FEATURES ON THE MAP.

15. DECLINATION DIAGRAM - LOCATED IN HE

CENTER LOWER MARGIN AND INDICATES THE
RELATIONSHIPS OF TRUE NORTH AND MAGNETIC
NORTH.

16.. PROTRACTOR SCALE – IN UPPER MARGIN, USE

FOR LAYING OUT A MAGNETIC NORTH LINE ON THE
MAP.
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17. USER NOTE – LOCATED IN THE LOWER MARGIN
USE FOR CONNECTIONS AND ERRORS ON THE MAP.

18. UNIT IMPRINT - AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LOWER

MARGIN, IT IDENTIFIES THE AGENCY WHICH
PRINTED THE MAPS WITH ITS RESPECTIVE
SYMBOLS.

19. CONTOUR INTERVAL NOTE - LOCATED IN THE

CENTER OF THE LOWER MARGIN. IT STATES THE
VERTICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN ADJACENT CONTOUR
LINES ON THE MAP. WHEN SUPPLEMENTARY
CONTOURS ARE USED THE INTERVAL IS INDICATED.
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20 COVERAGE DIAGRAM – NORMALLY IN LOWER
MARGIN, IT INDICATES THE METHODS BY WHICH
THE MAP WAS MADE, DATES OF PHOTOGRAPHY
AND OTHER SOURCES MATERIAL.

21. GRAPHIC SCALE - A RULER USED TO CONVERT

MAP DISTANCE TO GROUND DISTANCE WITHOUT
GOING THROUGH MATHEMATICAL COMPUTATIONS.

22. CONTOUR INTERVAL – THE CONTOUR INTERVAL

STATES THE VERTICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN
ADJACENT CONTOUR LINES ON THE MAP. WHEN
SUPPLEMENTARY CONTOUR ARE USED THE
INTERVALS IS INDICATED.
 Basic MAP READING

23. VERTICAL DATUM NOTE – IT DESIGNATES THE

BASIS FOR ALL VERTICAL CONTROL STATIONS,
CONTOURS AND ELEVATION APPEARING IN THE
MAP.
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 MAP SYMBOL –SIGN COMPOSED OF A DIAGRAM
NUMBER, LETTERS, ABBREVIATION, COLOR OR
COMBINATION THEREOF, WHICH IS USED TO IDENTIFY
AND DISTINGUISH A PARTICULAR PLACE OF AREA.
A. PURPOSE:
1. TO VISUALIZE AN AREA OF THE EARTH SURFACE
WITH PERTINENT FEATURE PLANNING.
2. TO REPRESENT THE NATURAL AND MANMADE
FEATURE.
B. CLASSIFICATION:
1. TOPOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS – ARE STANDARD
DRAWING OF MAP FEATURES AND ORGANIZED BY
THEIR COLORS.
 Basic MAP READING

TOPOGRAPHIC COLORS:

BLACK – ALL MANMADE FEATURES, SUCH AS

BUILDINGS, ROADS NOT SHOWN IN RED, ETC.
BLUE – ALL WATER FEATURES, SUCH AS LAKES,
RIVERS, SWAMPS, STREAMS, ETC.
BROWN – ALL LAND FORMS, SUCH CONTOURS,
CUTS, FILLS, ETC.
GREEN – ALL VEGETATION, SUCH AS FOREST,
ORCHID, HIDE GRASS, JUNGLES, ETC.
RED – MAIN ROADS, BUILT-UP AREAS, AND
SPECIAL INFO.
 Basic MAP READING
2. MILITARY SYMBOLS – A SYMBOL USED BY
THE MAP USER WHEN HE WANTS TO SHOW THE
DISPOSITION OF TROOPS AND OVERLAYING OF
MILITARY INSTALLATION.
A. MILITARY COLORS:
1) BLUE – ALL FRIENDLY FORCES,
INSTALLATIONS, ACTIVITIES AND FIREPOWER.
2) RED – ALL ENEMY FORCES, INSTALLATION
AND ACTIVITIES (DOUBLE LINES MEANS ENEMY).
3) YELLOW – SHOWS GRASSED OR
CONTAMINATED AREAS MAYBE THE RESULT OF
EITHER FRIENDLY OR ENEMY ACTIONS.
4) GREEN – INDICATES FRIENDLY OR ENEMY
DEMOLITION, MINEFIELD AND MANMADE OBSTACLES.
 Basic MAP READING

B. TYPES OF MILITARY SYMBOLS:

1) TROOPS UNIT SYMBOLS – ARE SHOWN BY

RECTANGLE. (BASIC SYMBOLS FOR MILITARY UNIT
AND ACTIVITIES).
2) BRANCH ARM OF SERVICE AND TYPE –
ORGANIZATION SYMBOL – USED IN CONJUNCTION
EITHER OTHER SYMBOLS TO SIGNIFY A MILITARY
UNIT ACTIVITY OR INSTALLATION.

3) SIZE OF UNIT – USED TO IDENTIFY THE SIZE

OF A UNIT OR INSTALLATION.
 Basic MAP READING

GRIDS AND COORDINATES:

GRIDS - ARE PARALLEL LINES FROM EAST TO

WEST, NORTH OR SOUTH THAT FORMS A SQUARE
USED AS A REFERENCE SYSTEM TO HELP THE MAP
READER LOCATE AREAS QUICKLY.

COORDINATES - ARE THE NUMBERED GRID

LINES ON THE MAP AND ARE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED
TO SHOW SPECIFIED LOCATION.
 Basic MAP READING

GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES – THE LOCATION

OF ANY POINT OF THE EARTH SURFACE MAYBE
GIVEN BY STATING INTO ITS DISTANCE NORTH OR
SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR (LATITUDE) AND EAST OR
WEST OF PRIME MERIDIAN (LONGTITUDE).

POLAR COORDINATES – ON THE MAP MAYBE

DETERMINED OR PLOTTED FROM A KNOWN POINT
BY GIVING A DISTANCE ALONG THAT DIRECTION.
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GRID COORDINATES - THE MILITARY GRID
SYSTEM DIVIDES THE EARTH SURFACE INTO MANY
100,000 METER SQUARES. EACH OF THESE SQUARES
ARE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO 1,000 METER
SQUARES. THE 1,000 METER SQUARES IS THE BASIS
OF THE MILITARY GRID SYSTEM WHICH IS USED IN
READING MILITARY MAP.

GRID SQUARE - CAN BE LOCATED OR

IDENTIFIED BY COMBINING THE NUMBER OF THE
VERTICAL GRID LINE AND HORIZONTAL GRID LINE
WHICH INTERSECT AT THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF
THE SQUARE.
 Basic MAP READING

CHARACTERISTICS OF GRIDS:
- DOES NOT REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA
- APPLIED TO LARGE AREAS
- DOES NOT REQUIRES LAND MARKS
- APPLIES TO ALL MAP SCALES

LOCATING POINTS WITHIN A GRID SQUARES:

- 4 DIGITS NEAREST TO 1,000 METERS
- 6 DIGITS NEAREST TO 100 METERS
- 8 DIGITS NEAREST TO 10 METERS
- 10 DIGITS NEAREST TO 1 METER
 Basic MAP READING

RULE IN DETERMINING GRID COORDINATE –

“READ RIGHT UP”
GRID COORDINATES (GC) – NEAREST TO 10 MTRS
(8DIGITS)
GC – 17320170 GC – 19140252
GC – 02385578 GC – 89052564

GRID COORDINATES (GC) – NEAREST TO 1 METER

(10 DIGITS)
GC – 1732301702 GC – 1914102520
GC – 0238855780 GC – 8905725642
 Basic MAP READING
GRAPHIC (BAR) SCALE – IS THE MOST ACCURATE
MEANS OF MEASURING DISTANCE ON A MAP. IT IS THE
RULER PRINTED ON THE MAP ON WHICH DISTANCES
ON THE MAP MAY BE MEASURED AS ACTUAL GROUND
DISTANCE.

GRAPHIC SCALE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO (2) PARTS:

1. PRIMARY SCALE – DISTANCE FROM ZERO MARK
TO THE RIGHT.
2. SCALE EXTENSION – FROM THE ZERO MARK TO
THE LEFT. THIS IS DIVIDED INTO TEN (10) EQUAL
PARTS TO ENABLE MORE ACCURATE
MEASUREMENTS.
 Basic MAP READING
DIRECTIONS:

METHODS OF EXPRESSING DIRECTIONS ARE:

DEGREES = 360 DEGREES(1) ONE CIRCLE
MIILS = 6,400 MIILS (1) ONE CIRCLE
GRAD = 400 GRADS (1) ONE CIRCLE
360 DEGREES = 6,400 MILS
1 DEGREE = 17.8 MILS
90 DEGREES = 100 GRADS
1 DEGREE = 60 MINUTES
1 MINUTE = 60 SECONDS
1 CLICK IN COMPASS = 3 DEGREES
 Basic MAP READING
THREE (3) BASIC LINES
1.TRUE NORTH = ALWAYS CONSTANT
2. MAGNETIC NORTH=WHEN WORKING WITH A COMPASS
3. GRID NORTH = WHEN WORKING WITH A MIL MAP

ELEVATION AND RELIEF:

A. DEFINITION:
1. ELEVATION – THE HEIGHT (VERTICAL DISTANCE) OF AN
OBJECT ABOVE OR BELOW A DATUM PLANE.
2. DATUM PLANE – A REFERENCE FROM WHICH
MEASUREMENT MAYBE TAKEN. THIS DATUM PLANE FOR
MOST MAPS IS AVERAGE SEA LEVEL.
3. RELIEF – THE CONFIGURATION (SHAPE) OF THE
GROUND
 Basic MAP READING

TYPES OF CONTOUR:
A INDEX CONTOUR – EVERY FIFTH CONTOUR
LINE IS AN INCHES LINE AND IS INDICATED BY
HEAVIER BROWN LINE.

B. INTERMEDIATE CONTOUR – ARE THE FOUR

LIGHTER CONTOUR LINES DRAWN BETWEEN THE
INDEX CONTOURS.

C. SUPPLEMENTARY CONTOUR – REPRESENTS

HALF INTERVALS BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE
CONTOURS AND IS SHOWN BY BROWN LINES.
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D. DEPRESSION CONTOUR – AN AREA THAT IS

LOWER IN ELEVATION THAT ALL THE
SURROUNDINGS TERRAIN IS INDICATED TICK
MARKS POINTING DOWN SLOPE.

E. APPROXIMATE CONTOUR - ARE BROKEN

LINES OF THE SAME THICKNESS AND TYPE AS THE
CONTOUR REPLAYED.
 Basic MAP READING
 CONTOUR LINES TO IDENTIFY GROUND FORMS:

a.HILLS –SERIES OF CONCENTRIC CONTOUR LINES

WHICH GRADUALLY GROW SMALLER, ENDING WITH A
SMALL CLOSED CONTOUR LINE IN THE CENTER.

b.PEAKS OF HILL TOPS – A SMALL CLOSED,

RELATIVELY CIRCULAR CONTOUR AT THE CENTER OF
THE SERIES OF CONCENTRIC CONTOUR LINE.

c. RIDGES – SERIES OF CONNECTING PEAK OR A

VALLEY FLOOR.
 Basic MAP READING

d.SADDLES – IS A LOW POINT BETWEEN TWO

PEAKS ALONG THE CREST OF A RIDGES.

e.SPUR –THAT FORM A SERIES OF SUCCESSIVE

ROUNDED U SHAPES.

f.CLIFF C – LINES THAT FORM A SERIES OF

SUCCESSIVE V-SHAPE, A STREAM COURSE THAT
NEITHER HAS NOR DEVELOPED A VALLEY FLOOR.
 Basic MAP READING
TWO TYPES OF AZIMUTH
A) FORWARD AZIMUTH
B) BACK AZIMUTH
PROCEDURE ON HOW TO GET THE BACK AZIMUTH
WHEN THE FA IS LESS THAN 180 DEGREES, ADD 180
DEGREES
EX: FA = 75 DEGREES
75 DEGREES + 180 DEG = 255 DEG BA

WHEN THE FA IS MORE THAN 180 DEG, LESS 180 DEG

EX: FA = 245 DEGREES
245 DEGREES - 180 DEG =65 DEG BA

WHEN FA IS 180 DEG EITHER ADD OR LESS 180 DEG.

 Basic MAP READING
BEARING – express a direction as an angle measured
east or west from a north deference. Bearing cannot exceed
90 degrees or one quarter of a circle. One quarter of a circle
is known as quadrant.
THE COMPASS AND ITS USES:
THE MAGNETIC COMPASS IS THE MOST
COMMONLY USED AND SIMPLEST INSTRUMENT FOR
MEASURING DIRECTION AND ANGLES IN THE FIELD.

TWO VARIETIES :
a. LENSATIC COMPASS
b. ARTILLERY COMPASS
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CARE AND USE OF COMPASS:

1. HANDLE THE COMPASS WITH CARE. THE DIAL

IS SET AT A DELICATE BALANCE AND A SHOCK
COULD DAMAGE.
2. CLOSE AND RETURN THE COMPASS TO ITS
SPECIAL CONTAINER WHEN NOT IN USE.
3. WHEN THE COMPASS IS USED IN THE DARK,
AN INITIAL AZIMUTH SHOULD BE SET
4. COMPASS READING SHOULD NEVER BE
TAKEN NEAR VISIBLE MASSES OF IRON OR
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
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PARTS OF LENSATIC COMPASS

1. LUMINOUS DOT 10. EYE PIECE

2. COVER 11. HOLDING RING
3. FRONT SIGHT (HAIR LINE)12. 90 DEGREES DOT
4. DIAL 13. 180 DEGREES DOT
5. STATIONARY INDEX 14. 270 DEGREES DOT
6. MOVABLE BRASS RIM 15. MOVABLE CRYSTAL
7. SCALE 16. RIM HOLDER
a. LONG LUMINOUS LINE
b. 45 DEGREES LUMINOUS LINE
8. REAR SIGHT
9. LENS
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Lensatic Compass
 Basic MAP READING

Proper way of sighting the lensatic compass

 Basic MAP READING

HOW TO ORIENT THE MAP

A. BY THE USE OF THE LENSATIC COMPASS

B. BY INSPECTION
C. BY INTERSECTION
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 Basic MAP READING
A. MAP AND COMPASS:
1. Orient the map using compass.
2. Locate two or three unknown positions on the ground
and mark them on the map.
3. Measure the magnetic azimuth to a known position;
convert to grid azimuth.
4. Change the grid azimuth to a back azimuth and draw a
line on the map from the known position back toward your
unknown position.
5. Repeat (3) and (4) above for a second known position.
6. For a check on your accuracy, repeat (3) and (4) above
for a third known position.
7. The intersection of the lines is your position.
 Basic MAP READING
B. STRAIGHT EDGE METHOD: (no compass is available)
1. Orient the map on a flat surface by the inspection
method.
2. Locate two or three known position on the ground and
mark them on the map.
3. Lay straight edge on the map as a center of the straight
edge at a known position pivot point and rotate the straight
edge until the known position on the map is aligned with the
known position on the ground.
4. Draw a line along the straight edge until the known
position on the ground towards your position.
5. Repeat (3) above using a second known position and as
a check on your accuracy repeat (3) above using a third
known position.
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 Basic MAP READING
 CONTOUR LINE
A CONTOUR LINE - IS A LINE REPRESENTING
AN IMAGINARY LINE ON THE GROUND ALONG
WHICH ALL POINTS ARE AT THE SAME
ELEVATION.
- IT INDICATE A VERTICAL DISTANCE
ABOVE OR BELOW A DATUM PLANE. STARTING
AT SEA LEVEL.
 Basic MAP READING
MAJOR RELIEF INFORMATION
 1. HILL – A POINT OR SMALL AREA OF HIGH
GROUND. WHEN YOU ARE LOCATED ON A HILLTOP,
THE GROUND SLOPES DOWN IN ALL DIRECTION.

2. VALLEY – A STREAM COURSE WHICH HAS AT

LEAST A LIMITED EXTENT OF REASONABLY LEVEL
GROUND BORDERED ON THE SIDES BY HIGHER
GROUND.

3. RIDGE – A LINE ON HIGH GROUNDS, WITH

NORMALLY MINOR VARIATION ALONG IT.
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4. SPUR – A USUALLY SHORT, CONTINUOUSLY

SLOPING LINE OF HIGHER GROUND NORMALLY
JUTTING OUT FROM THE SIDE OF A RIDGE.

5. SADDLE – A DIP OR LOW POINT ALONG THE

CREST OF A RIDGE. A SADDLE IS NOT
NECESSARILY THE LOWER GROUND BETWEEN
TWO HILLTOPS.

6. DEPRESSION – A LOW POINT OR SINKHOLE,

SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY HIGHER
GROUNDS.
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5. Saddle – a dip or low point along the crest of a ridge.
A saddle is not necessarily the lower ground between two
hilltops.

6. Depression – a low point or sinkhole, surrounded on

all sides by higher grounds.

7. Cuts and Fills – man made features by which the bed

of a road or a railroad is graded or leveled.

8. Cliff – a vertical of near vertical slope. When a slope is

so steep that it cannot be shown at the contour interval
The ticks always point towards lower ground.
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7. CUTS AND FILLS – MAN MADE FEATURES BY

WHICH THE BED OF A ROAD OR A RAILROAD IS
GRADED OR LEVELED.

8. CLIFF – A VERTICAL OF NEAR VERTICAL SLOPE.

WHEN A SLOPE IS SO STEEP THAT IT CANNOT BE
SHOWN AT THE CONTOUR INTERVAL THE TICKS
ALWAYS POINT TOWARDS LOWER GROUND.
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Major Relief Information
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END OF PRESENTATION

Have a Nice Day!!!

 END of
CHAPTER 1