BICOL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

TOPOGRAPHIC
MAP SYMBOLS

MARITA R. BOTIN
BSGE 2-A
What is a Topographic Map?
A map is a representation of the Earth, or part of it. The

distinctive characteristic of a topographic map is that the shape of

the Earth’s surface is shown by contour lines. Contours are

imaginary lines that join points of equal elevation on the surface

of the land above or below a reference surface, such as mean sea

level. A topographic map shows more than contours. The map includes

symbols that represent such features as streets, buildings, streams,

and vegetation.

Reading a Topographic Map

Interpreting the colored lines, areas, and other symbols is the

first step in using topographic maps. Features are shown as points,

lines,or areas, depending on their size and extent. For example,

individual houses may be shown as small black squares. For larger

buildings, the actual shapes are mapped. In densely built-up areas,

most individual buildings are omitted and an area tint is shown. On

some maps, post offices, churches, city halls, and other landmark

buildings are shown within the tinted area.

The first features usually noticed on a topographic map are the area

features, such as vegetation (green), water (blue), and densely

built-up areas (gray or red).

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SYMBOLS FOR BODIES OF WATER

PERENIAL STREAM PERENIAL LAKE INTERMITTENT LAKE

FALLS DRY LAKE INTERMITTENT STREAM

RAPIDS MARSH OR SWAMP CHANNEL

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SYMBOLS FOR BODIES OF WATER

GLACIER SMALL WASH INUNDATED AREA

EXPOSED WRECK ROCK OR CORAL REEF FORESHORE FLAT

WATER LINES ROCK BARE OR AWASH MASONRY DAM

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 SYMBOLS FOR BODIES OF WATER

DAM WITH LOCK DAM CARRYING ROAD BREAKWATER, PIER,

JETTY, OR WHARF

AREA EXPOSED AT MEAN SEAWALL OIL OR GAS WELL;

LOW TIDE PLATFORM

SMALL FALSS DEPTH CURVE SPRING

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 SYMBOLS FOR VEGETATION

GRASS ORCAHRD VINEYARD

MANGROVE SCRUB PINE TREES NARROW

LEAF

BROAD LEAF TREES RICE FIELD

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SYMBOLS FOR VARIOUS FEATURES

TAILINGS MINE DUMPS DUNE AREA

GRAVEL BEACH TAILINGS POND BROKEN SURFACE

WASH SAND AREA CUT/FILL ALONG

HIGHWAY

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 SYMBOLS FOR STRUCTURES

BUILDINGS SCHOOL, CHURCH CAMPSITE,

CEMETERY PICNIC AREA

OPEN PIT, POWER TRANSMISSION TELEPHONE LINE

MINE OR QUARRY LINE

WINDMILL TANKS; OIL, WELLS OTHER

WATER, ETC. THAN WATER

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 SYMBOLS FOR BOUNDARIES

NATIONAL STATE COUNTRY, PARISH,

MUNICIPIO

CIVIL TOWNSHIP, TOWN INCORPORATED CITY, RESERVATION,

BARRIO, PRECINCT VILLAGE, TOWN, HAMLET NATIONAL OR STATE

LAND GRANT TOWNSHIP OR TOWNSHIP OR RANGE LINE

RANGE LINE APPROXIMATE LOCATION

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 SYMBOLS FOR BOUNDARIES

SMALL PARK, AIRPORT FENCE LINE OR FOUND SECTION CORNER

CEMETERY, ETC FIELD LINE

FOUND CLOSING CORNER WITNESS CORNER MEANDER CORNER

WEAK CORNER SECTION LINE

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SYMBOLS FOR ROADS & RAILROADS

HARD SURFACE, HARD SURFACE, IMPROVED LIGHT

HEAVY DUTY ROAD MEDIUM DUTY ROAD DUTY ROAD

UNIMPROVED DIRT ROAD TRAIL GATE ON ROAD

BRIDGE RAILROAD, RAILROAD,

SINGLE TRACK MULTIPLE TRACK

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SYMBOLS FOR ROADS & RAILROADS

HIGHWAY OR ROAD HIGHWAY OR ROAD RAILROAD

UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDERPASS; OVERPASS UNDERPASS; OVERPASS

DRAW BRIDGE TUNNEL FOOTBRIDGE

RAILROAD SIDING RAILROAD YARD ROAD BLOCK, BERM,

OR BARRIER

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