What Is A Topographic Map And What Is Its Purpose

What is a topographic map and what is its purpose

Topographic maps are a tool that can two dimensionally represent a three dimensional landscape. Topographic maps usually show a geographic graticule and a coordinate grid so you can determine relative and absolute positions of mapped features. Topographic maps are based on topographical surveys.

What Is A Topographic Map

Performed at large scales these surveys are called topographical in the old sense of topography showing a variety of elevations and landforms.

Topographic maps give the user the ability to view a three dimensional landscape on a two dimensional map. Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces the topography of an area could refer to the surface forms and features themselves or a description especially their depiction in maps. The great trigonometric survey of india started by the east.

population map of china

The primary difference is that they show elevation in detail. In order for topographic maps to be relevant and useful the maps must have sufficient information on its size. They are different from other maps in that they show both vertical and horizontal positions of the terrain.

The size of the map is derived.

Apart from contour lines colors labels and symbols are also used to portray the shapes and location of the geographical features.
Like general reference maps topographic maps are a summary of the landscape and show important physical natural and man made features in an area.
Features of the map.
The topographic map and the road map or atlas.

This is in contrast to older cadastral surveys which primarily show property and governmental boundaries the first multi sheet topographic map series of an entire country the carte géométrique de la france was completed in 1789.

One who is able to read a topo map can identify the elevation and location of valleys peaks ridges and other land features. Therefore a map will never be entirely up to date. Elevation contours are imaginary lines connecting points having the same elevation on the surface of the land above or below a reference surface which is usually mean sea level.

Topography is a field of geoscience and planetary science and is concerned with local detail in general including not only relief but also natural and artificial features and even local history and culture this meaning is less common in the united states where topographic maps with.

Topographic maps are two dimensional maps that represent a three dimensional earth surface.
There are two types of general purpose maps.
It is important to note that a map is merely a two or three dimensional representation of the physical environment at a given time.
They show elevation using contour lines.

us map with latitude and longitude lines

Characteristics of topographic maps include. Topographic maps a topographic map is a type of map that shows heights that you can measure. A traditional topographic map will have all the same elements as a non topographical map such as scale.

Topographic Maps