Understanding Maps

The subject of geography is incomplete without understanding maps. Maps are not only really important for geography, but also very important and useful in our daily lives. Maps help us find our way if we are lost, they help us in selecting particular routes and are really important for navigation of any kind. 

For example: 

You are currently in Mumbai and have to drive to Delhi. Your friend says he knows the way, but, he makes a mistake or a wrong turn and you are lost. At this point of time, a map would be really useful, as it can help you figure out where you are and how to get to your desired destination. 

Maps, are thus really useful and an indispensable component of geography and our lives. 

Evolution of Maps:

In the earlier days, there were no views of earth as an entire planet, and barely any technology that we have today, so maps would be drawn by hand on the basis of memory and individual experiences of the land. Thus, maps of a same region could have been different. 

Today, however, with amazing technology and insights, maps are amazingly accurate and precise and can give exact distances, numbers and figures. 

Understanding Maps

Let us begin, on how to start understanding maps and its components:

1) The Key

Maps are drawn to represent varieties of information such as parks, rail roads, gas stations, camping grounds etc. The objects on the map are not written, but are represented as symbols. Understanding these symbols are important in understanding maps. To show what the symbols portray, we have a key or a legend which states what each symbol depicts. 

2) Scale

You've usually seen a drawn to scale statement in maps near the key or legend. You should always remember that maps are a visual representation of a much larger area of land. Maps are scaled down so it is possible to fit on to the screen or paper, and every part of the map is scaled down by the same amount. 

There are three kinds of scales used in maps:

a) Graphic or Bar scale:

A Graphic Scale depicts scale using a line, with separations marked by smaller intersecting lines, similar to a ruler. One side of the scale represents the distance on the map, while the other side represents the true distances of objects in real life. By measuring the distance between two objects on a map and then referring to the graphic scale, it is easy to calculate the actual distance between those same items.

b) Verbal Method:

The verbal method of depicting scale simply uses words to describe the ratio between the map's scale and the real world. For example, a map might say something like, “one inch equals one hundred and fifty miles.” Calculating scale on a map using the verbal method is easy. Simply measure the distance on the map and then follow the verbal directions to calculate the actual distance.

c) Fractional or ratio method:

The fractional method for portraying the scale of a map uses a representative fraction to describe the ratio between the map and the real world. This can be shown as 1:50,000 or 1/50,000. In this example, 1 unit of distance on the map represents 50,000 of the same units of distance in the real world. This means that 1 inch on the map represents 50,000 inches in the real world, 1 foot on the map represents 50,000 feet on the map, and so forth.

The key and the legend should help you in understanding the basic layout of the map. 

3) Calculating Distances:

Find the scale for the map you're going to use - it might be a ruler-looking bar scale or a written scale, in words or numbers.

Use a ruler to measure the distance between the two places. If the line is quite curved, use a string to determine the distance and then measure the string.

If the scale is a representative fraction (and looks like 1/100,000 or 1:100,000), multiply the distance of the ruler by the denominator, giving distance in the ruler units.

If the scale is a word statement (i.e. "One centimeter equals one kilometer") then determine the distance.

For a graphic scale, you'll need to measure the graphic and divide the scale into the measured units on the ruler.

Convert your units of measurement into the most convenient units for you (i.e. convert 63,360 inches to one mile)

This should help you with the basics about understanding maps. Come back tomorrow, for help in topographic maps. 

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Come back again tomorrow!

 

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