Laboratory 1

Topographic Maps
CE 342 Geology

Dr. John Schuring Spring 2015

Lab Manual Questions: Chap. 7: Pg. 95-100; Problems 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9.

Supplementary Problem: Quad Sheet Interpretation. The following questions refer to the USGS
Hackettstown, NJ Quad Sheet. Helpful hints for reading topographic maps are provided in the
following document: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/TopographicMapSymbols/topomapsymbols.pdf
1.

a)

When was the Hackettstown, NJ quadrangle first produced?

__________________________________________________________

b)

Has it been photorevised? If so, when?______________________

c)

What are the names of the quadrangles adjacent to this map?

North__________________South__________________________
Northeast_______________Southwest_______________________
East___________________West____________________________
Southeast_______________Northwest_______________________

d)

Why is this called a 7.5 minute series map?_________________

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

2.

What is the contour interval of the map?___________________________________

3.

a)

Using the fractional scale of 1:24,000, compute how many feet on the
ground are covered by one inch on the map.
1 inch =______feet

b)

Using the bar scale and a ruler, determine the distance between Pleasant
Grove and the confluence of the Musconetcong River and Hances Brook.
Distance =_________________

c)

If you had a map covering the same area but at a scale of 1:62,500, how
many miles would one inch equal?
1 inch =___________________

d)

If maps of each scale are printed on the same size paper, which would cover
more area? _______________________________________________

e)

Which of these is of larger scale?___________________________

4.

a)

What is the declination of the Hackettstown quadrangle? Define declination.

_______degrees. Declination is _____________________________________

b)

If you started at St. Josephs Church, what direction would you have to walk to
get to Drakestown?
____________________________

c)

What physiographic barriers would you encounter on the way?

_______________________________________________________________

5.

What is the approximate latitude and longitude of Springtown?

Latitude_____________________________Longitude__________________

6.

Sketch the symbol used for the following features:

a) house
b) school
c) medium duty road

7.

d) railroad
e) woods
f) stream

Determine the elevation of the following points:

a)
b)
c)

Centenary College:___________________________________
Schooleys Mountain Summit:__________________________
Confluence of the south branch of Raritan River and Electric Brook:__________

8.

What is the relief on the map area?_____________________ft.

9.

Determine the summit elevations of:

Fox Hill Range______________________ft.
Schooleys Mountain__________________ft.
Upper Pohatcong Mountain______________ft.
Compare these elevations and speculate on why they are so similar:

10.

Estimate the width of the flood plain of the Musconetcong River in the vicinity of
Stephensburg.
__________________ft.