Topographic Mapping Flashcards
1
Q
What is the definition of a topographic map?
A
- A Topographic map is a detailed and accurate graphic representation of cultural and natural features on the ground
2
Q
What is a map, as defined by Carl O. Sauer?
A
Maps break down our inhibitions, stimulate our glands, stir our imagination, loose our tongues.
The map speaks across the barrier of language; it is sometimes claimed as the language of geography.
3
Q
What are some criteria for a topographic map?
A
- Locational
- Detailed and accurate representing ground ‘truths’
- Cultural and natural features
4
Q
Why are features on a topographic map ‘truths’?
A
- Coastline and hills may be accurately ground truthed for location but other features are a cultural choice
- Cultural features are a ‘truth’ and based on the gov’t at the time and who made the maps
5
Q
What is the significance of cultural features on a map?
A
- Decided by who made the map (hence ‘truths’)
- Based on gov’t at the time
- Can track history of an area through how a map of an area is done and places named
- ex. Victoria has many colonial english names but also anglicized First Nations names
6
Q
How has access to topographic maps changed recently?
A
- Used to be expensive to purchase copyright access
- Now digital copies are available for free
7
Q
What and where is the 1st documented evidence of a topographic map?
What is the scale?
A
- China
- Map of Yu Ji Tu (Map of the Tracks of Yu)
- Carved in stone in 1136
- Contains gridlines, rivers, coasts, settlements, scale
- Put ink on top of carving and roll paper over to print map
- 1:5000000
8
Q
What is the significance of a carved rock map?
A
- Takes considerable effort to make
- Signifies permanence and importance
9
Q
What was the 1st multi-sheet topographic map series?
Wapping the entire country?
A
- The Carte Geometrique de la France
- 1789
10
Q
What was the purpose of mapping an entire country?
A
- Power and control over land and people
- Must know where borders are to protect them
- Signifies building up of nation states from fiefdoms
11
Q
What is the key to the development of maps?
A
Power and Control
12
Q
What does the word ‘Ordnance’ signify about maps?
A
- Military basis, power and control
- Ordnance refers to bombs and bullets
13
Q
Why is mapping important for the military?
A
- Know where to fight from
- Build bases
- Rivers and crossings
- Find where enemies will likely be
14
Q
What is it and what is the significance of the UK Ordnance Survey?
A
- Mapping at a scale of 1 1/4 inch to the mile
- Started in 1747
- Ordnance belies military roots
15
Q
Who did most of the work mapping until WWI?
A
Surveyors
- Still involved after the war, just less so
16
Q
What was the next methodology employed in topographic mapping after land surveys?
A
- Aerial photography
- Photogrammetry and stereopairs to get elevations and land (military 1st employed)
17
Q
What is the difference between topographic maps and google maps?
A
- Topographic have gov’t and ISO standards for quality (will say when last surveyed)
- Google has no standards or listings of accuracy
18
Q
What is a common digital map service that is used almost daily by the average person and is it a topographic map?
A
- Google maps entire world at great resolution, also the sky, oceans, and the moon
- Doesn’t have international standards or listings of accuracy
- Questionable quality
19
Q
Why are some topographic maps using data from 100 years ago or more?
A
- Because it is very expensive to survey
- Maps will say when last surveyed (1920’s) to give an idea of accuracy
20
Q
What are 5 key elements of a topographic map?
A
- Culture (roads, buildings)
- Water (lakes, rivers)
- Relief (mnts, valleys)
- Vegetation (wooded or cleared areas)
- Toponymy (place names)
21
Q
What are Cultural features on a topographic map?
A
- Roads
- Buildings
- Urban Development
- Boundaries
- Railways
- Power Transmission Lines
22
Q
What are Water features on a topographic map?
A
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Streams
- Swamps
- Rapids
23
Q
What are Relief features on a topographic map?
A
- Mountains
- Valleys
- Slopes
- Depressions
24
Q
What are Vegetation features on a topographic map?
A
- Wooded areas
- Cleared areas
- Orchards
- Vineyards
25
What are Toponymy features on a topographic map?
- Place names
- Water feature names
- Highway names
- - Relates to culture and who makes the maps
26
What are the Primary Quadrangles of the National Topographic System?
4 degrees latitude by 8 degrees longitude
| - Numbered from S to N and then E to W (001 in NL, 92 in BC, 117 in Yukon)
27
NTS
National Topographic Survey
28
What are toponyms and what are the 2 reasons for them?
Naming the landscape
1) to understand and give meaning
2) Psychological - to know and control
29
What is the 1:500,000 NTS?
- Each primary quadrangle is quartered to yield 1:500,000 scale
- Primaries are quartered and named by number of quadrangle and directional placement of the quarter
- Ex. 93 NE or 102 SW
- Rare and not often used
30
What NTS map sheets are not often used?
1: 500,000 and 1:125,000
| - the ones that have a direction (NE, SE, SW, NW) in the name
31
What NTS map sheets are the most common used?
1:250,000 and 1:50,000
32
What is the largest scale federal map?
1:50,000
33
What does the letter in an NTS map sheet tell?
- Letters tell the location of the 1/16th tile in the primary quadrangle
- Signifies location of the 1:250,000 tile
34
What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number and a letter?
1: 250,000
- ex. 93 A
- 1 degree of lat by 2 degree of long
- 1/16th of a primary quadrangle
- 914 sheets for Canada
35
What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number, a letter, and a number?
1: 50,000
| - ex. 93 A 03
36
What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number and a direction?
1: 500,000
| - ex. 93 NE
37
What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number, a letter, and a direction?
1: 125,000
| - ex. 93A/SW
38
What scale of map is yielded when a primary quadrangle is quartered?
1:500,000
39
What scale of map is yielded when a primary quadrangle is 1/16th and how are they identified?
1: 250,000
- Yields 16 maps per quadrangle
- Lettered A to P from bottom right
40
What scale of map is yielded when a 1:250,000 is 1/16th and how are they identified?
1: 50,000
| - Numbered from bottom right
41
How much lat and long is covered by a 1:250,000 map sheet? How many in Canada?
1 degree of lat by 2 degree of long
| - 914 sheets in Canada
42
How much lat and long is covered by a 1:50,000 map sheet? How many in Canada?
7. 5 minutes of lat by 15 minutes of long
| - 13,150 sheets for Canada
43
What scale of map is yielded when a primary quadrangle is quartered and how are they identified?
1: 500,000
| - Identified by number of quadrangle and direction of quarter (NE, SW, etc)
44
What scale of map is yielded when a 1:250,000 is quartered and how are they identified?
1: 125,000
| - Identified by number of quadrangle, letter of 1:250,00 and direction of quarter (NE, SW, etc)
45
Toponomy: How do names get picked in Canada?
- Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographic Names (CPCGN)
46
CPCGN
Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographic Names
| - Pick place names in Canada
47
Are the Provinces responsible for picking place names?
Yes, provinces are responsible for names in its own territory
48
Why do names on a map change (ex. when updated)? What must we do with old maps/names?
- Gets political
- Some older names are considered racist in a modern setting
- Must remember historical names of places and archive
- Remember lest we be doomed to repeat history
49
What can map names reflect?
- Cultural heritage of a region
- Shows power and dominance
- Ex. Westerners anglicized many place names (Wsanec to Stanch)
- Can show change in dominance of a region through time
50
What is an issue that arises with dual languages and historical place names?
- Can be confusing for people trying to navigate, especially tourists
- Ex. Dingle vs An Daingean. Ireland uses only english on some signs but it doesn't respect heritage. Some signs only in Irish and can be difficult for tourists
51
NRCan description of Toponym
- used to describe surroundings
- tell others where we have been or plan to go
- used to identify features of the landscape
- throw light on local history of an area
52
List 4 key problems and challenges with topographic maps
- Keeping maps up-to-date
- Managing the digital revolution
- Changing standards
- Changing expectations
53
Why is it difficult to keep maps up to date?
- Modern world develops so fast
| - Surveys are expensive
54
Why is it difficult to manage the digital revolution?
- scanning paper maps for a digital environment
| - Open source like Open Street Maps and sharing of data (who owns?)
55
Why is it difficult to manage maps with changing expectations?
- People want straightforward
| - People want to interact with the map (on screen, digital revolution)
56
Why are standards an issue with topographic mapping?
- Open source isn't done to standards that can be used to build infrastructure
- Canada only produces topo maps on demand now
- What should be shown, and what should be omitted?
- Science vs. Market driven
57
What is science driven topographic mapping? What is a downfall?
- Show what is on the ground even in there exists no market demand for it today because demand may exist later
- Drives international standards
- Data rich
- Gathers everything because it its part of geography
- Downfall: Expensive
58
What is market driven topographic mapping? What is the risk?
- Conduct market research to show what market wants
- Make maps based on market desires
- Risk: fails to capture everyones needs, tomorrow's needs, and can omit geography
59
What are some potential modern market desires for topo maps?
- Wifi hotspots
60
Future: Is the paper map dead?
- No
- Doesn't need a battery
- Can work in remote areas w/o technology
- Doesn't break when dropped in a puddle (like electronics can)
- Doesn't require technology to access data as data types may change in the future
61
Why is producing paper maps still important for the future?
- Easy to access
- Doesn't require specific technology to read (like digital UK archives that can only be read with an obsolete technology)
