TOPIC Topographic

4.10 map Drawing a sketch map

interpretation: A sketch map, or précis map (‘précis’ means

sketch maps summary), summarises the large amount of

information on a topographic map. It doesn’t try to
show everything; it summarises the most important
features. It looks like a plan, showing the location
Interpretation is the process of understanding, and relative size of features.
comprehending and analysing 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
to e s
information. When we interpret 70 70

120
reservoirs

Creek

20
gravel pit 2 0
a topographic map, we: Nindaroo

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gua
ans THE

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towers
• find out about the land 69
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surface Cr
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• understand the geographic

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information and spatial rst 80

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patterns on the land surface 67 67
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• find explanations and guag golf

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067m
reasons for what the

610
OA S T m
LINE 66 66

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Farleigh 34
map shows.
Ja n

20

MACKAY
gua
e
Farleigh
sugar cane
In Topic 4.1 we said Mill
plantations An
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40 caravan 65
topographic maps summarise
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guage park
Farleigh 4 0 10 67 m m
the geographic information HIG Wiri Mount
(abandoned) 64
HW 64
about the land surface in the 154
AY 1 Glenella
Pleasant MT
map area. Chapter 4 has been 6 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
shopping centre 25 OSCAR
70
2
tower (46m)
63
12

helping us understand geographic 63

0

Magpie
Sportsground 26 North
information and the spatial Goos
epon Creek
80 d Macka
patterns on the land surface. gravel pit 62 Erakala
(abandoned) causew 62
20

610mm

Now we have to put it 60

Ron Cam
Bridge
Creek
all together and look for Caneland

4.26 An extract from the Mackay 1:100 000 topographic map. The contour interval
explanations and reasons.
is 40 metres. Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia, Geoscience Australia, 2008
Remember: an important
interpretation skill is the ability A single-feature sketch map summarises one main
to select only the important or relevant features. feature. A single-feature sketch map of vegetation, for
example, would show the outline of the landforms
and rivers and the broad pattern of vegetation. It
Step by step
would not show farms, transport or built-up areas.
STEPS IN MAP INTERPRETATION The topographic map extract in Figure 4.26
1 Ask ‘What are the most important features shows farming and mountain country north of the
shown on the map?’ Make a list of the main Pioneer River and west of the city of Mackay, in
natural features (such as landforms, vegetation coastal Queensland.
and drainage) and human or cultural features
(such as land use, transport and settlement).
Figure 4.27 is a sketch map of the same area. It
uses a checklist of features to help find and describe
2 Using these features as main headings,
features on a sketch map, with labels around the
brainstorm a list of important things the map
shows about each feature.
map to explain and give reasons for the main
features of the map.
3 Make notes about these features, such as
what they are like; where they are located; how
many, how often, or how much; and what is
nearby or in the general area. Now compile a sketch map of Figure 4.1, the
4 Make notes about why features are where they Quirindi 1:25 000 topographic map extract, using
are, why something has happened, and about Figure 4.27 as a guide.
links and relationships between similar or
different features.
1 Ask yourself, ‘What are the most important
features on the Quirindi map?’
2 Draw a rectangle in proportion to the size of the
map extract—for example, 11 by 14 centimetres.

62 KEY SKILLS IN GEOGRAPHY

 Relief (landforms) Drainage
• mountains • rivers
• cliffs • creeks Settlement
• hills • lakes • farmhouses
• plateaus • swamps • villages
• plains • dams • towns
• steep • cities
• sloping • built-up areas
• flat

Location
• coastal
• inland
• mountains
• plains
• on rivers

Land use
• crop growing Key
• grazing animals Urban area
• orchards Dense forest
• industrial
Medium to light forest
• built-up areas
• residential Mangroves
• commercial Sugar cane farms
• recreational Main roads
• parks Vegetation
Transport Railways
• forest–dense/light
• main roads Labels on map
• scrub
• minor roads Explanatory notes
• grassland
• railways
• mangroves Transport Checklist of features to
• airports
• cleared • roads look for and note

4.27 Sketch map of the extract from the Mackay 1:100 000 topographic map

3 Draw light lines to divide your rectangle into
quadrants—this helps keep features in roughly
the right position.
4 Give the sketch map a title.
5 Make a list of all the important features you need
to show on the sketch map, under the headings:
a location e transport
b relief f land use
c drainage g settlement
d vegetation
6 Using the quadrants as your guide, and using
symbols and colour shading to show features,
draw, label and make explanatory notes about:
a the main hill area and Quirindi Creek
b areas of vegetation
c transport links
d the urban area of Quirindi
e the area used for farming and evidence of
farming, such as farms (look for names such as
‘Sunnybank’), tanks, haysheds, bores and silos
f other significant natural and human features
such as the lookout, racecourse, etc.
7 Check the list you made in Question 5 above
to make certain you have included all the
important features.
8 For each of the features shown, add a label that
describes the feature and/or explains why it is
there, why it is the way it is, and its impact on
other features.
9 Make certain you have added notes about:
a the route followed by the railway line
b the impact of Who’da Thought It Hill on
the clearing of vegetation, land use and
settlement
c why the town of Quirindi is located where
it is rather than anywhere else in the area
10 Compile a key to explain all the symbols and
colours used.
11 Check the sketch map for the last time. Add
final notes and explanations.
12 Well done! You have now completed your
sketch map. Show it to your class mates. Spot
the differences between sketch maps! ick Quiz
Qu
13 Imagine that you are visiting Quirindi on
student exchange from your school in the
USA. Your host family has just arranged for
you to take a flight over the area in a light
plane.
Write a postcard home to a friend to describe
the experience and the scene from the air.

Chapter 4 WORKING WITH TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS 63