1.2 Map Reading and Interpretation

• Topographical maps: purpose, scale and marginal information
• Conventional signs and symbols
• Grid references and locating features
• Representation of relief: contours, spot heights, trigonometrical stations
• Interpretation of relief, drainage and vegetation
• Drawing cross sections and sketch sections
• Calculating distance, area, gradient and vertical exaggeration

• identify the marginal information and conventional signs on a topographical map
• locate features using grid references
• interpret relief, drainage and vegetation from a topographical map
• draw cross sections and sketch sections from topographical maps
• calculate distance, area and gradient from a topographical map
• appreciate the use of topographical maps in resource mapping and planning

“How can a flat sheet of paper show the shape of a hill?”

“What can you tell about a place you have never visited from its map alone?”

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1. Reading a topographical map
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Marginal information, conventional signs, grid references, and measuring distance and area.
2. Relief, drainage, vegetation and drawing sections
   40 min · 2 practice tasks · quiz
   Reading the shape of the land from contours, working out gradient, and drawing a cross section.
3. Map scale in three forms
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Representative fraction, statement scale and linear scale bar, and why a larger scale shows a smaller area.
4. Compass directions, bearings and the three norths
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Eight-point compass, three-figure bearings, and the difference between true, grid and magnetic north on a Kenyan sheet.
5. Conventional signs on Kenyan maps
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Survey of Kenya 1:50,000 symbols grouped by colour, and how to read a feature you have never seen before.
6. Locating features with grid references
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Four-figure and six-figure references on Kenyan 1 km grid squares, with the eastings-first rule drilled until it is automatic.
7. Spot heights, trig stations and contour interval
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   How a Kenyan 1:50,000 sheet records height: contour interval, index contours, spot heights and trigonometrical stations.
8. Landforms from contour patterns
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Escarpment, plateau, col, depression, convex and concave slopes, and the spur-versus-valley trap.
9. Measuring distance on a topographical map
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Straight-line and winding distances on Kenyan 1:50,000 sheets using ruler, paper strip, string and the scale bar.
10. Calculating area from a topographical map
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Regular shapes by length times width, irregular features by counting 1 km² grid squares on a Kenyan 1:50,000 sheet.
11. Gradient and intervisibility
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Calculating gradient in the same units, reading the ratio the right way round, and deciding whether two points can see each other.
12. Drawing cross sections and sketch sections
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Plotting a cross section from contour crossings, labelling features, and stating vertical exaggeration.
13. Interpreting a Kenyan topographical map
    40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
    Reading relief, drainage, vegetation, settlement and communications together, and using the map for resource mapping and planning.