Maps are diagrammatic representations of the world, showing physical features like roads, rivers, mountains, and more. People who create maps are cartographers, and they help us navigate the world.
Map skills help us read maps and ascertain information from their symbols and scales. They’re essential for directions, recognizing the different features of a landscape, and more.
What are some different types of maps?
There are different types of maps that serve other purposes. For example:
- Road maps display roads and transport links to help drivers get from one place to another.
- Topographic maps show the shape of the Earth’s surface using contour lines, color gradients and shaded relief. They’re used for hunters, hikers, geologists, and surveyors.
- Geologic maps show the rocks and sediment below the surface of a geographic area and are used to plan construction projects.
- Weather maps show the forecasted temperatures, precipitation, and so on. They frequently appear in newspapers and on television and can help people plan.
- Maps in a geographical atlas show how land is used and things like population density and political boundaries between states and nations.
Map skills require familiarity with the following:
- Scale
- Compass directions
- Grid references
- Map’s essential
- Title
Scale
Scales help users calculate the distance, height, size, and dimensions of features on a map. Scales are often written as a ratio between the size of phenomena in real life and their relative representation on a map. For example, on a 1:100,000 map, one cm on the map represents 100,000 cm (or 1 km) in real life.
The most common maps in the UK are Ordnance Survey maps. These come in several scales:
- Travel maps have a scale of 1:125,000 and are used by drivers traveling long distances.
- Landranger maps are 1:50,000 and are helpful to drivers going shorter distances.
- Explorer maps are 1:25,000 and are generally used by walkers.
- Landplan maps are 1:10,000. They show individual streets clearly and might be used by town planners.
Types of scales
As well as ratio scales, there are also line scales and word scales.
Line Scale
Word scales
Word scales are shown like this:
Let’s say we measure the distance on a map between two cities, and the measurement is 4 cm. We then multiply that measurement by 3 to calculate the accurate distance between the two places. So 12 km would be the distance if you walked between the two cities.
Compass directions
Compasses have been used for over 2000 years, and understanding compass directions is an essential map skill.
The compass has four main points: north, east, south, and west. These are called compass points. It’s helpful to use phrases to remember the order, for example: Never Eat Silly Worms or Naughty Elephants Squirt Water.
For a more accurate reading, we can add another four points to the compass between the four we have already outlined; this gives us north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west. The compass in the image below is oriented towards the northeast.
Grid references
Ordnance Survey maps are covered in a series of blue grid lines. These numbered squares help users identify a specific point on a map with a four or six-figure grid reference.
The vertical lines are called eastings, as they increase in value the further you travel east.
The horizontal lines are called northings, as their value increases the further north you move.
Four-figure grid references
Using the two digits of the easting and the two digits of the northing creates a four-figure grid reference.
It is the reference for the bottom left corner of a map square, making it easier to search for features.
Remember: Always start with the eastings first (use the phrase ‘along the corridor and up the stairs to get the correct order).
Six-figure grid references
We can make references even more precise by adding an extra number to the easting and northing; this helps pinpoint a more accurate location for the feature you’re looking for.
Imagine each square is a 10×10 grid. If the feature is halfway along the easting or northing, the extra number will be 5.
This extra number helps to pinpoint a feature to a place within 100 m on the map.
Essential/Legend
How do we define legend in geographical terms? A map essential or legend helps us understand the information on the map. It describes what different symbols represent to identify things like roads, buildings, and landscape features. To define legend in geography further, we can look at an example. Below is an example of a map essential for roads.
Title
The title for a map will give you an insight into what information it stores. In addition, it can include information on location, demographics, and other areas of interest that’ll make the map easier to read.
Putting your Map Reading Skills into Practice
Now that you’re familiar with some essential map reading skills let’s look into how effectively to read and use a map. If you’re going out on an adventure, here are some steps that you can take to maximize your map reading skills:
Step 1: Choosing the correct map
Before you start on your journey, you must select the correct map. There are tons of different styles of maps, including paper ones and digital ones. Of course, there are pros and cons to each type of map, but some will be more suited to your specific journey than others.
Let’s dive into the two main categories of maps: paper and digital.
- Paper Maps
One of the main benefits of paper maps is that, unlike their digital counterparts, they will never run out of battery. Therefore, if you are setting off on a long journey, it may be better to select a paper map, as you won’t have to worry about it dying when it eventually runs out of charge. Instead, you’ll be able to walk confidently along your journey, trusting that your paper map will always be there.
Even though they are more reliable, paper maps are sometimes less convenient than digital ones. An excellent option would be to carry both maps with you on your journey. Then, you can navigate along your journey using a digital map, keeping your paper map on hand as a backup.
Another massive benefit of using a paper map is that they tend to provide better spatial awareness. Thanks to technology, many people have lost their spatial awareness; this can negatively affect driving, parking, walking, orienteering, and more. Using a paper map when trying to navigate your journey, then, is an excellent way to increase your spatial awareness.
When you rely too heavily on a digital map, your eyes are glued to a screen instead of focusing on your surroundings; this disconnects you from the world around you and makes you unable to navigate your journey successfully. When using paper maps, on the other hand, you get to see things on a broader scale, with excellent detail about your surroundings, which is much better for navigation.
- Digital Maps
Technology has revolutionized how we navigate the world around us. But, compared to traditional paper maps, they have many advantages regarding orienteering.
Here are some quick-fire benefits of using digital maps:
- They are versatile and customizable, meaning that you can change the topography (the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area) and the location of objects on your map.
- They are often more accurate than paper maps.
- They offer automatic routing and allow you to control any deviations you wish to take from the decided course.
- They will not wear away over time as paper maps will.
In addition to the advantages above, there are lots of cool things that digital maps allow you to do:
- They allow you to plan out and program your walking, running clearly, and cycling routes.
- They provide handy information about your journey, such as how long it will take, how far you will travel, how high you climb, and more.
- They sometimes suggest different routes to you, allowing you to see routes others have suggested (if you are using an app).
- Some digital mapping apps allow you to share your route with others; this is a helpful safety feature, as you can let loved ones know exactly where you’re going when you get lost or off course.
Step 2: Orientate your map
Before you embark on your journey, you must get your map orientated; this is pretty simple; remember that the top of the map is north, and you should hold the map in a way that allows you to read all the writing on it.
If you are struggling with orienting your map, a good tip is to hold the map close to the ground, as this can make your route much easier to visualize and follow. You can also fold the map to see the area where you are. Then, turn the map, so it lines up correctly with the ground.
It’s essential to remember to keep turning your map as you move; this ensures that you are always traveling in the right direction.
You can also orientate your map using a compass. To do this, line up the north lines on the map with the north tip of the compass needle. Then, change your hold on the compass when you change direction to ensure your map stays orientated to the north.
Step 3: Thumb the map!
This step may sound a bit weird, but it’s super essential. Thumbing the map is where you slide your thumb along the route on your map; this is an excellent way to help you stay on track and monitor your journey.
If you travel with other people, such as a group of friends or classmates, there will typically be quite a few distractions around you as you try to navigate your journey. In this instance, thumbing the map helps you stay on track with your route.
Step 4: Think ahead and anticipate the next step in your journey
When you are out on an adventure, it is essential to look at the big picture of your route; this means thinking a few steps ahead and anticipating what the next steps of your journey will look like.
Having to check in with your map constantly can be annoying or inconvenient, especially if you carry lots of things with you or run along your route; this is why memorizing your map is such an excellent idea. You may not be able to remember your map fully, but you can always memorize the essential landmarks and different stages you will come across in your journey.
Memorizing some of your journeys will also help you increase the speed of your orienteering. While this isn’t overly essential if you travel for fun, speed is crucial to orienteering if you participate in a competition or race.
You can also use trail signs if they are available to keep you right, in addition to regularly checking back in with your map.
Step 5: Ensure to use of handrails
When you are out orienteering, you will find linear features, known commonly as handrails, that can keep you along your journey. These handrails include rivers, streams, walls, fences, and more. They are called handrails because you can cling to them, and they will keep you on track with your route.
As you travel along your journey, it is essential to keep an eye on these handrails, as they will give you a good indication of where you are. For instance, you can spot a big bend in a river or fence on your map and line it up with your surroundings.
Step 6: Notice both artificial and natural features
When navigating along your route, it is essential to pay attention to both synthetic and natural elements around you; this will give you a more solid understanding of your whereabouts and is a more reliable navigation method.
You may encounter issues if you only use artificial features to get your bearings. For instance, artificial structures, such as fences, walls, and hedges, may have changed since your map was made. For this reason, natural features can often be more reliable, as things like cliffs and streams don’t change too quickly.
Trail signs are some of the best artificial features to keep you on track with your journey. These will tell you exactly where you are, which you can cross-reference with your map to ensure you are on the right path.
Another reason it is essential to pay attention to trail signs is that they will signal unsafe or restricted areas. Depending on where you are, signs will likely tell you when a specific place is dangerous to travel in or part of someone’s private property. There may also be helpful signs in areas where you are allowed to walk that tell you what is and isn’t allowed there. For instance, there may be no dogs allowed signs, which are essential to look at if you’re traveling with your pet.
If you follow these few simple steps, you’ll be able to put your map-reading skills into practice and successfully navigate your route!
