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Flashcards in Topographic Mapping Deck (61)
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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
Q

What are Toponymy features on a topographic map?

A
  • Place names
  • Water feature names
  • Highway names
    • Relates to culture and who makes the maps
26
Q

What are the Primary Quadrangles of the National Topographic System?

A

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
Q

NTS

A

National Topographic Survey

28
Q

What are toponyms and what are the 2 reasons for them?

A

Naming the landscape

1) to understand and give meaning
2) Psychological - to know and control

29
Q

What is the 1:500,000 NTS?

A
  • 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
Q

What NTS map sheets are not often used?

A

1: 500,000 and 1:125,000

- the ones that have a direction (NE, SE, SW, NW) in the name

31
Q

What NTS map sheets are the most common used?

A

1:250,000 and 1:50,000

32
Q

What is the largest scale federal map?

A

1:50,000

33
Q

What does the letter in an NTS map sheet tell?

A
  • Letters tell the location of the 1/16th tile in the primary quadrangle
  • Signifies location of the 1:250,000 tile
34
Q

What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number and a letter?

A

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
Q

What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number, a letter, and a number?

A

1: 50,000

- ex. 93 A 03

36
Q

What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number and a direction?

A

1: 500,000

- ex. 93 NE

37
Q

What scale is an NTS map sheet with a primary quadrangle number, a letter, and a direction?

A

1: 125,000

- ex. 93A/SW

38
Q

What scale of map is yielded when a primary quadrangle is quartered?

A

1:500,000

39
Q

What scale of map is yielded when a primary quadrangle is 1/16th and how are they identified?

A

1: 250,000
- Yields 16 maps per quadrangle
- Lettered A to P from bottom right

40
Q

What scale of map is yielded when a 1:250,000 is 1/16th and how are they identified?

A

1: 50,000

- Numbered from bottom right

41
Q

How much lat and long is covered by a 1:250,000 map sheet? How many in Canada?

A

1 degree of lat by 2 degree of long

- 914 sheets in Canada

42
Q

How much lat and long is covered by a 1:50,000 map sheet? How many in Canada?

A
  1. 5 minutes of lat by 15 minutes of long

- 13,150 sheets for Canada

43
Q

What scale of map is yielded when a primary quadrangle is quartered and how are they identified?

A

1: 500,000

- Identified by number of quadrangle and direction of quarter (NE, SW, etc)

44
Q

What scale of map is yielded when a 1:250,000 is quartered and how are they identified?

A

1: 125,000

- Identified by number of quadrangle, letter of 1:250,00 and direction of quarter (NE, SW, etc)

45
Q

Toponomy: How do names get picked in Canada?

A
  • Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographic Names (CPCGN)
46
Q

CPCGN

A

Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographic Names

- Pick place names in Canada

47
Q

Are the Provinces responsible for picking place names?

A

Yes, provinces are responsible for names in its own territory

48
Q

Why do names on a map change (ex. when updated)? What must we do with old maps/names?

A
  • 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
Q

What can map names reflect?

A
  • 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
Q

What is an issue that arises with dual languages and historical place names?

A
  • 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
Q

NRCan description of Toponym

A
  • 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
Q

List 4 key problems and challenges with topographic maps

A
  • Keeping maps up-to-date
  • Managing the digital revolution
  • Changing standards
  • Changing expectations
53
Q

Why is it difficult to keep maps up to date?

A
  • Modern world develops so fast

- Surveys are expensive

54
Q

Why is it difficult to manage the digital revolution?

A
  • scanning paper maps for a digital environment

- Open source like Open Street Maps and sharing of data (who owns?)

55
Q

Why is it difficult to manage maps with changing expectations?

A
  • People want straightforward

- People want to interact with the map (on screen, digital revolution)

56
Q

Why are standards an issue with topographic mapping?

A
  • 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
Q

What is science driven topographic mapping? What is a downfall?

A
  • 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
Q

What is market driven topographic mapping? What is the risk?

A
  • 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
Q

What are some potential modern market desires for topo maps?

A
  • Wifi hotspots
60
Q

Future: Is the paper map dead?

A
  • 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
Q

Why is producing paper maps still important for the future?

A
  • Easy to access
  • Doesn’t require specific technology to read (like digital UK archives that can only be read with an obsolete technology)