Basic Cartographic Knowledge Basic Cartographic Knowledge

Presentation of field survey data : resultant product - Map

numerical (analog or digital) or graphical

Cartography :
method of representing topographic information -
natural and artificial features
on a suitable scale

in a clear, neat, accurate and conventional form

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Scale of a Map Types of Map Scale

relationship between the distance of any two 1) Statement
points on the map and the actual corresponding 1 cm represents 1 m
distance on the ground
2) Representative Fraction (R.F.)
3 types of Scale: unit ratio, e.g. 1:500 or 1/500
Statement

Representative Fraction (R.F.) map distance

R.F. =
Bar (or line) Scale ground distance

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 Convert a statement into a R.F. Bar Scale
both map and ground distances have to be the cognate to a ruler which allows user to measure
same unit. ground distance directly.
for 1 cm represents 10 m, the R.F. is divided into 2 divisions: primary and secondary ;
located on both sides of the zero mark.
1 cm 1 1 primary division : coarse (round number)
= = measurements
10 m 10 x 100 1 000
secondary division : finer measurements.
100 50 0 1 2 3 4 500 units

Secondary Primary divisions

divisions

Scale 1:500
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Construction of a Bar Scale:

Construction of a Bar Scale
Scale should be long enough for measurement to be
made.
units should be round numbers for easy
measurement, e.g. 10, 20, or 100, 200, etc..
primary divisions numbers increasing to the right;
secondary division increasing to the left.
secondary division should be further subdivided into
5 or 10 parts
Example
Suppose we want to construct a scale bar in metres for
a plan with R.F. of 1:50
1) Decide the length of the bar scale 6m 100mm = 120mm
5m
for 1:50 R.F.
100 mm [map] = 5 m (5 000 mm) [ground]
To allow for sufficient length for measurements
5 primary divisions and 1 secondary division

represents a total of 6 m on the ground

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 Construction of a Bar Scale: Construction of a Bar Scale:
Example Example
2) Construct the Primary The following procedure can
Division be adopted for accurate
C C
r
s
construct a line 120 mm in r
s
measurement:
q q
p
length p construct a line AC (

n divide it into 6 equal parts n AB)and is 30 away from

m m
using an accurate scale line AB.
A B A B
rule with a divider set at any

for illustration, we will convenient length, from A

1 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 units
call this line AB. 1 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 units mark off points m, n, p, q,
Scale 1:50 Scale 1:50
r, s ... on line AC.
join points S and B.

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Construction of a Bar Scale:

Large, Medium & Small Scale Maps
Example
from the other points, i.e. Maps may be classified as follows:
r, q, p etc, drop lines
C small-scale map - 1:50 000 and smaller
r
s
parallel to line SB.
q
these parallel lines cut line
medium-scale map - 1:10 000 to 1:50 000
p
n AB, producing six equal large-scale map - 1:10 000 and larger
m
divisions.
A B very large-scale maps (plans) - 1:1 000 and 1:5 000
3) Construct the Secondary
Division
1 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 units
same method is used to

Scale 1:50 construct the secondary

division.

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 Maps of Various Scales Symbols

natural and artificial features are not generally

represented true to shape or size on a map.
particularly in small-scale maps where it is
difficult to present the true shape of all features.
used to represent features clearly in the limited
space available.
Symbols : points, lines or areas.

Good symbols :
simple to construct and easy to be recognised by
the map user
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Examples of Symbols Generalisation

Trig. station L Lamp Post process of reducing the amount of minor detail
shown on a map.
degree of generalisation depends on the scale of
Tree MH Manhole the map and the information that is to be shown.
Girth 0.58m smaller scale = greater degree of generalisation
Spread 3 m 17.0 and vice versa if the scale becomes larger.
Height 8 m Spot Heigh

Footpath Fence
1:5 000 1:20 000 1:50 000

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 Abbreviations Conventional Signs
used in areas where symbols are not suitable and composed of various symbols for roads, buildings
where written descriptions are too excessive. and topographic, vegetation and water features.
Example decided by the national mapping institutions.
y BM for bench mark; signs and an explanation of their meaning are
y bldg for building; usually printed in the margin of the map.
y conc for concrete. to understand the content of a map, the
dots are not and should not be used between the conventional signs must be known.
letters of abbreviations. In Hong Kong, maps are published by the Lands
Department.

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 Bearings Orientation
an angle measured clockwise from a meridian. by holding the map in such a way that the features
north always appears at the top of a map you see in front of you is also in front of you on
3 types of bearings: the map.
y True
y Magnetic and
y Grid

N
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True North - Existing

True North - Gyroscope
Horizontal Control
all meridians, lines of
longitude, on the globe of
the earth converge
towards the Poles, both
the North and South Poles
direction towards the
North Pole.
true bearing of a point:
y bearing measured
from the true north to
the direction of the
point..
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True North - Satellite True North -
Positioning Polaris Observation

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Central Meridian Grid System

if a cartographer represents
several meridians of a region
a map reference system using a symmetrical
on a map, these lines will be network of parallel lines which cross at right
curved because the globe angles, similar to a sheet of graph paper.
(oblate spheroid) is being
represented as a flat sheet
grid lines
when a region is surveyed a
specific meridian, known as lines that are parallel or perpendicular to the
central meridian,
meridian will be central meridian of the survey region.
chosen.
these lines form a grid system.
meridian is normally shown
as a straight line, drawn
vertically on the map sheets.
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 Grid System Convergence
grid north the difference between the
grid bearing and the true
direction of the vertical lines.
bearing.
grid bearing Central
meridian
Meridian line
on small-scale maps, the
bearing measured from the grid north.
NP
convergence is only a
Grid
North Grid line small angle and it varies
in different parts of the
map.

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Convergence Magnetic North

for a point on the central the direction in which a
meridian, the directions of freely suspended compass
the true north and grid needle points.
Central
meridian
Meridian line north will coincide. magnetic bearing:
NP
for point east of the bearing measured from
Grid
North Grid line central meridian, the grid the magnetic north.
north will be east of the magnetic declination:
true north
angle between the
at any point west of the magnetic north and the
central meridian, the grid true north is called the.
north will be west of the
true north.

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 Magnetic North Magnetic North
varies from place to place
Grid north and also varies from year
True north to year, the position of
the Magnetic Pole
Magnetic 11" fluctuates slightly over
north time.
this information is also
10'
marked on maps

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The Grid System True Origin

Eastings when a region is mapped.
a starting point, usually
straight parallel lines that run east-west North
the central point, is
Northings +
required for the surveying
straight parallel lines that run north-south True origin

Axis
- +
East
this starting point is called
the true origin of the grid
used to determine co-ordinates system.
-
simple and accurate method of describing the
Axis
position of points on a map.

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 True Origin True Origin
at the true origin, the as the surface of the earth is curved, features on
features shown on the the flat sheet of a map which are at a distance from
North
map:
the true origin will be distorted.
+
y same position
such distortions are not evident on maps of small
True origin y same scale
- areas, such as Hong Kong, they must be taken into
Axis
+
East as the corresponding
features on the earth. consideration in accurate surveying for control.
- grid north = true north. not a convenient starting point for the grid
numbering system because places south and west
Axis
of the true origin would have negative grid values.

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False Origin False Origin

another point, which is starting from the false
south and west of the true origin, a grid system of
North

North

origin, is chosen for the squares is drawn to cover

numerical origin of the the region that is to be
grid mapped.
True origin True origin

it is called the false each grid line is numbered

origin. according to its distance,
east or west, from the
Easting Easting
0
False origin
0
False origin
false origin where the co-
ordinates are zero.

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 The Hong Kong Grid System Map Projection
Hong Kong maps have two sets of grid system:
the Hong Kong 1980 Grid, and

the UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) Grid

On 1:20 000 map series HM20C:

Hong Kong Grid : red

UTM Grid : blue

The Hong Kong 1980 Grid

references for any point in Hong Kong, Kowloon
and the New Territories.

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Planar Projection Surface Conical Projection Surface

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 Transverse Cylindrical
What is UTM?
Projection Surface
UTM is transverse cylindrical projection surface
Why is it so important?
Conformality:
preserve shape, size and area.

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The Hong Kong Grid System Hong Kong Maps

True origin:
longitude = 114 10' 42.80" E; latitude = 22 18' 43.68" N
Grid co-ordinates: 836694.05 m E; 819069.80 m N
False origin : south-west corner of the grid system.
are prepared and published by the Lands
Department.
many types of maps and plans are available
some of the most popular maps are introduced
here

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Metric Map Index Metric Map Index (1:20 000)

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Metric Map Index (1:10 000) Metric Map Index (1:2 000)

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Metric Map Index (1:1 000) Large-scale Plans (1:1 000)
detailed maps showing all
the ground features with
very little generalisation.
the largest scale map
published
covers the whole area of
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Island and the New
Territories.
(Source: Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Department)

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Digital Map

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 Derived Plans or Maps
smaller scale maps are produced from the basic
scale plans using a process of photographic
reduction and generalisation of detail.
these maps are called derived plans or maps.

(Source: Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Department)Cartography2002: 57 Cartography2002: 58

Derived Plans or Maps Derived Plans or Maps

M aps S e rie s S c a le R e m a rk s M ap s S e rie s S c a le R e m ark s
B a sic su rv e y H P1 1: 1 000 C o v e r K o w lo o n ,
S p e c ia l m a p s: T M 1 0 0 C L 1 :1 0 0 0 0 F o r to u rists
p la n s H o n g K o n g Isla n d
a n d p a rt o f th e O ffic ia l g u id e
N e w T e rrito rie s m ap
D e riv e d H P 2 .5 C 1 :2 5 0 0 C o v e r u rb a n a re a C o u n try sid e F o r p ic n ic k in g a n d
su rv e y p la n s se rie s: H .K . C M 25C 1 :2 5 0 0 0 o th e r o u td o o r
H P5C 1 :5 0 0 0
Isla n d le isu re ac tiv itie s
SM 7D 1 :7 5 0 0 S tre e t m a p s c o v e r
u rb a n a re a and N .T . - W e st C M 50C 1 :5 0 0 0 0
to w n s in th e N e w L a n tau an d C M 35C 1 :3 5 0 0 0
te rrito rie s isla n d s
T o p o g ra p h ic H M 20C 1 :2 0 0 0 0 M u ltic o lo u re d G e o lo g ica l 1 :5 0 0 0 0 S h o w s th e
m aps m aps
H M 50C L 1 :5 0 0 0 0 M u ltic o lo u re d m ap g e o lo g ic al stru c tu re
m aps of H ong K ong

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 Street Map - 1 : 7500 [SM7D]
cover built-up area in
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Island and NT.
show the names of streets
and roads in both Chinese
and English.
items of interest to the
public ,i.e. bus terminuses
and car parks, are shown.
information on the height
of the ground is not
included
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Derived Plans or Maps
all ground heights refer to the Principal Datum,
which is about 1.19 m below the mean sea level.
maps are printed in both Chinese and English and
in 6 different colours
y black for names;
y grey for built-up areas
y blue for hydrographic features
y red for road filling
y brown for contours, and
y green for vegetation
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Derived Map - 1:20000[HM20C]
topographic maps show
all of the surface features
of the ground, i.e. hills,
valleys, roads, rivers and
buildings.
the shapes of the roads are
simplified and their width
are exaggerated.
covers the whole of HK,
has contours and spot
heights in metric units to
indicate the height of the
ground.
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Special Maps
The Hong Kong Official Guide Map
enables tourists to locate streets, public buildings
and other tourist attractions in the urban area in
Kowloon and Hong Kong
The Countryside series
useful for picnicking and other leisure activities.
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