1.

Grid: A network of evenly spaced horizontal and vertical lines

used to identify locations on a map.

2. Graticules: A network of parallels of latitude and meridians of

longitude on a map projection.
3. Grid reference: It helps in finding the exact location of a place
on an ordnance map through a set of lines called the eastings
and northings.

4. Eastings: These are vertical grid lines drawn on the

topographical map from the NGR (national grid reference) which
are numbered from west to east and lie east of the point of
origin.
Their No. increase from left to right

5. Northings: These are horizontal grid lines drawn on the

topographical map from NGR which are numbered from south
to north and lie north of the point of origin.
Their number increase from bottom to top.
6. Four-figure grid reference: It gives location of large areas eg.
Lakes, relief features.

Here 7 r is in 7157.

7. Six-figure grid reference: It helps to locate the exact position of

a particular place or feature like police station, spot heights etc.
8. Map projection: It is a means of representing the lines of
latitudes and longitudes of the globe on a flat sheet of paper.
These help to locate a place on a map.

9. Coordinates: The points at which the vertical and the horizontal

lines of the grids on a map crosses.

10. One-million map: Maps prepared on a scale of 1:10, 00,000

thus gives a bird’s eye view of the area.
11. Index number map: It is the maximum degree extent map
which has 4˚ x 4 ˚ latitude and longitude extent. They are
drawn on a scale of 1:100, 0000.

12. Quarter-degree map: It is a map that depicts an area

comprised of 15 minutes of latitude by 15 minutes of longitude.
They are drawn on a scale of 1:50,000.

13. Large scale maps: They show a smaller area on the ground
with more details. Eg. Topographical and cadastral maps.

14. Small scale maps: They show a larger area on the ground
with lesser details. Eg. Atlas maps and wall maps.
Methods used to represent relief features on a topographical map
1. Hachuring:
 Hachures are short disconnected lines.
 They represent direction of a slope/flow of water.
 For steep slopes, they are drawn close together.
 For gentle slopes, they are drawn far apart.
 It is not popular because they are difficult to draw and
interpret.
 It gives no indication of actual height.
 Both high plateau region and low plains are unshaded.
 Close hachuring of high mountain regions hide other
details of the map.

2. Hill shading
 It shows relief by light and shade.
 It does not give an idea of actual height.
 It is difficult to know whether a piece of land is sloping
uphill or downhill.
3. Layer coloring/Tinting
 It is a method of showing relief on maps by colours.
 Each shade of colours represent a definite elevation
range.
 The colour scheme adopted in showing relief is almost
uniformly followed everywhere.
 It does not allow the map user to determine the exact
elevation of a specific point.
 It shows only the range.
 It does not show the detailed shape of the land.

4. Form lines/undefined contours

They are contour lines.
 They show only approximate height above sea level.
They indicate the height of an area which is not accessible for
proper survey.

5. Spot height (very accurate): It is the actual height of a particular

point on the ground in metres above the mean sea level. It is

shown as a dot with a number on a map (eg. .204).

If the spot height no. is written slanting in the topo map (.195)
then it is known as (approximate spot height).

6. Triangulated height (it is less accurate because it is calculated

not measured): It is the height of a point fixed by the
triangulation method using theodolite.
It is indicated by a small triangle beside a number showing the
height (eg. ∆ 264) calculated using trigonometry.

7. Bench Mark:
 It is a permanent survey point.
 These are marks etched on a stone or shown on a building.
 It indicates the height of the point above sea level through
accurate survey.
 It serves as a reference for surveyors.
 It is denoted by the letters BM with a number eg. (BM 225.3 and
224.6 )
8. Contour:
They are imaginary lines shown in brown on a map joining
places of equal height above sea level drawn at constant
interval.
They do not cut each other but they may join at one place in
case of waterfall or cliff.

9. Contour interval:
The difference in elevation between two
successive/consecutive contours.
It is called vertical interval (VI)
The survey maps of 1:50,000 scale have contour interval of 20m.

10. Index contour

 Contour lines in a topo sheet are thickened at regular
intervals.
 To make it easier to read and to make the contour maps
distinct, every 5th line in multiple of 20m is made darker.
 The darker line is called index contour.
Here 200, 400 are index contours.
 11. Contour height: It is the height of the contour line. (eg.
200m)
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1. Scale: The ratio between the distances measured on a map and
the corresponding distance on the surface connecting two given
points, represented by the same unit.

2. Linear Scale/graphical scale: It represents the relationship

between the distance on the map and the distance on the
ground visually. It is very popular as it is the most accurate
method of measuring distance on a map.

3. Verbal scale: It expresses the relationship between the distance

on the map and the distance on the ground in words. Eg. 1 cm
on the map represents 50 km on the ground. It is not very
popular as it does not give the accurate measurement.
4. RF: It is the abbreviation for representative fraction. This
method of measuring distance shows the ratio between the
distances on the map to the distance on the ground. (Eg. R.F of
the given map is 1:50,000.)

Meanings of Terms
1. Relative height: Relative height of a feature is with reference
to the height of the surrounding land and not above sea level.
It is represented by the letter “r” of the English alphabet. It is
always marked in black colour.

Here Relative height of sand dune is 15 m

Relative height of river bank is 7 m.

Relative depth: Relative depth of a feature is with reference to

the height of the surrounding land and not above sea level. It
is represented by the letter “r” of the English alphabet. It is
always marked in BLUE COLOUR.
 Here relative depth of the well is 14 m.

2. Broken ground:
 It is a badland or an uncultivable land.
 It is common along the banks of a seasonal stream or
river where the soil is soft, also in areas of gully erosion
and in desert or arid regions.

 It is formed due to alternate wet and dry seasons due to

which the topsoil is washed away and loose soil is left
behind which makes the land uncultivable.
 Its presence indicates the region receives seasonal
rainfall.

3. Causeway:
 It is a raised metalled road across a minor stream or low-
lying marshy area at a shallow point.
 A stream having a number of causeways is motarable
during the dry season.
 Presence of causeway indicates scanty or seasonal
rainfall.
4. Sluice: It’s a sliding gate that controls or regulates the flow of
water in a canal or an aqueduct. The word is printed on the
survey sheet.

5. Aqueduct: It is an artificial water channel, usually elevated

and built of masonry for conveying water from a canal into
the farmland across a valley. Its symbol is either blue or black
bridge along with the name aqueduct.

6. Diggi: A small tank constructed near a farm, by a farmer to

store water from a canal which he uses.
7. Depression: It is a hollow formed in a sandy region by the
winds which blow away the surface sand leaving behind a
depression. It is denoted by the letters “dep” on a map.

8. Fire line: Fire line means a clearing or a gap or an empty

space that runs through a forest area. Here trees are
purposely cut to avoid the spread of forest fire. It is often
also a trench which is filled with water or sand. This is done
to stop the spread of fire in the forest and protect it. It may
be 5 to 15 m width.

9. Siphon: A bent pipe taken from a canal or an aqueduct for

supplying water.

10. Surveyed tree: It is a tree that has been surveyed and its
altitude above the sea level is marked. Such trees are shown
with a symbol and a number written beside it that indicates
its altitude. Here the surveyed tree is at the altitude of 158
m.
11. Stony waste: It is a large area usually in an arid or semi-
arid region where the finer sand or soil has been blown away
leaving a surface covered with boulders, stones and pebbles.
It is shown as a white patch in the survey sheet. The word is
printed on the survey sheet.

12. Open scrub: It is a type of vegetation. Sheep rearing is an

occupation in such places. It also indicates hot and dry
climate with scanty rainfall in a region.

13. Rock outcrop: It is a group of large-sized to medium-sized

rocks that stand exposed from the soil due to weathering in
areas of extreme hot conditions.

14. Rocky knob: A protruding part of a rock overlooking a

valley. It may be also a rounded lump of rock
15. Brackish: It means salty. The word is usually written
beside a perennial lined well. It indicates that the water in the
well is salty. It is formed due to high rate of evaporation. It is
generally not fit for drinking purposes.