PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
USING THE
MILITARY
LENSATIC
COMPASS
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
WARNING
This presentation is intended as a
quick summary, and not a
comprehensive resource. If you
want to learn Land Navigation in
detail, either buy a book; or get
someone, who has the knowledge
and skills, to teach you in person.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
NOTE
To get the ideas across presented on
these slides, many figures, pictures,
and calculations may not be to scale
and may be exaggerated for clarity.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
Note:
Prior to being issued any training *equipment, you will
be required to sign a “statement of liability” agreeing
to pay for anything you damage or lose.
All items will be inspected and inventoried prior to
your signature and at the end of the training day too.
If you do not intend to sign this statement, then you
may be denied training.
* You may use your own equipment.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
LAND NAVIGATION
PRESENTATION
PART 2
Module 12
Measure Route Distance
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
. . . and now on with the . . .
PRESENTATION
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
LAND NAVIGATION WITH MAP
AND LENSATIC COMPASS
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
LAND NAVIGATION
Why Learn Land Navigation? Training and practicing land navigation on foot
provides the following everyday navigation (how not to get lost) benefits;
- Tracking present location (Where am I ?)
- Determining Distance (How far is it and am I there yet ?)
- Sense of direction (Where do I want to go and where am I actually going ?)
- How to read a topographic map (Do I understand the map ?)
-Terrain and map association (What hill or river am I looking at ?)
- Spatial skills (Can I mentally visualize the landscape in 3D ?)
- Planning safe, practical routes (Take a long safe route or a short risky route ?)
- And more Navigational skills
The best way to learn LAND NAVIGATION is to get "dirt time", that is, get out there with a map and compass!
Navigation is not about finding yourself after you are lost (although that’s what happens sometimes); it’s about
keeping track of your position as you move away from a known point. As you move you have to remain
cognizant of the terrain you are leaving, of the terrain you are passing, and of the terrain that is ahead.
Navigation in the wilderness means knowing your starting point, your destination, and your route to get there.
These skills will allow you to venture farther off the beaten path than you ever thought before.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
THIS PRESENTATION IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR PARTS
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________
PART 1 Basic Land Navigation
The Lensatic Compass module 1
The Topographic Map modules 2, 3, 4,
The Land and Map Association modules 5, 6
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation
Making Sense of Direction module 7
Tracking Present Location modules 8, 9, 10, 11
Determining Travel Distance modules 12, 13, 14
PART 3 Advance Land Navigation
Navigation Methods to Stay On Course module 15
Additional Skills of Land Navigation module 16
Planning to Navigate module 17
PART 4 Expert Land Navigation
Navigation in different types of Terrain module 18
Night Navigation module 19
Sustainment module 20
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
THESE ARE THE TRAINING MODULES
Module 1 Lensatic Compass – parts and features, and how to sight the compass by two different methods.
Module 2 Topo Map Margin – what map margin data represents, map care, and how to properly fold a map.
Module 3 Topo Map Scale – map sizes and how it affects amount of detail that will be shown.
Module 4 Topo Map Symbols – you must understand them; to read and speak map language to others.
Module 5 Terrain Relief – shows elevation, indicates terrain features and heights of natural features.
Module 6 Map Information – what a protractor is for and how a map provides four kinds of information.
Module 7 Sense of Direction – lateral drift, current bearing, obstacles, back azimuth, deliberate offset.
Module 8 Resection – locate position with map only. Modified resection is with a map or compass.
Module 9 Intersection & Triangulation – two methods to locate position by compass.
Module 10 Map Speaks Compass Language - there is no need to orient the map to find your position.
Module 11 Plotting Position Coordinates – exact positioning, used to communicate to others with a map.
Module 12 Route Measure – mapping straight-line distance, curvature distance, and slope distance.
Module 13 Pace Count – using ranger pacing beads and estimating hiking speed.
Module 14 Travel Distance Estimation – estimating by 100 meter rule, rule-of-thumb, and by time.
Module 15 Plan to Navigate – in a group or alone, equipment, safety, responsibilities, route selection.
Module 16 Stay on Course – advance reference points and advance baselines.
Module 17 Additional Land Navigation Skills – estimate daylight, conserve energy, blisters, weather insight.
Module 18 Navigating Different Terrain – special environments, featureless terrain, visibility, dense foilage.
Module 19 Night Navigation – night adaptation, protecting night vision, navigate with lensatic compass.
Module 20 Sustainment – maintaining skills, training others, setting up a land navigation course.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
PART 2
INTERMEDIATE LAND NAVIGATION
MODULE 12
• Determine Travel Distance
– Measuring Route Distance
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
DESCRIPTION
Determining travel distance is the most common error encountered
while moving. There may be circumstances where you are unable to
determine travel distance using your map. It is therefore essential
to learn methods by which you can accurately measure, pace, or
estimate distances on the ground.
How far is that mountain? An ability to judge distances accurately
is not a natural gift, but it is a skill worth developing. Judging
distances accurately can help to identify features and avoid wrong
assumptions that could lead to trouble; (“We should have reached
camp by now… that’s got to be Eagle Mountain, I think?”)
• There are several techniques to measure distance on a map.
– STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE – measuring from point A to point B on a map (horizontal distance).
– CURVATURE DISTANCE – measuring a trail or other curved line on a map (horizontal distance).
– SLOPE DISTANCE – measuring the planned route terrain slope on a map (vertical distance).
• There are several techniques to determine distance on the ground.
– SPEED – estimating your travel speed, how many miles per hour.
– PACE COUNT – count the number of steps you have taken and translate to ground distance.
– ESTIMATION – visualizing a set ground distance.
– TIME – Make it a habit of keeping your map and compass handy and refer to them every hour or so
to locate your position (more often in low visibility). Keep track of your starting time, rest breaks and
hiking pace. This will also give you an idea of how far you have traveled over a period of time.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
MEASURE STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE
1. To determine straight-line distance between two points on a map, lay a straight-edged piece of paper on
the map so that the edge of the paper touches both points and extends past them. Make a tick mark on the
edge of the paper at each point.
2. To convert the map distance to ground distance,
move the paper down to the graphic bar scale, and
align the right tick mark with a printed number in the
primary scale so that the left tick mark is in the B
extension scale.
3. Measure (add) the bar scale miles or kilometers.
1 ½ 0 1
MILE
1½ MILES
1 ½ 0 1 KILOMETER
A
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
MEASURE CURVATURE DISTANCE
Measuring distance along map features that are not straight is a little more difficult. One technique that can
be employed for this task is to use a number of straight-line segments. The accuracy of this method is
dependent on the number of straight-line segments used.
Another method for measuring
curvature map distances is to use a
device called a map wheel. This
device uses a small rotating wheel that
records the distance traveled. The A
distance is measured by placing the
device wheel directly on the map and
tracing the trail or planned route with
the wheel, it measures either in
centimeters or inches.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
MEASURE CURVATURE DISTANCE
To measure distance along a road, stream, or other curved line, the straight edge of a piece of paper is used.
Place a tick mark on the paper and map at the beginning point from which the curved line is to be measured.
Align the edge of the paper along a straight portion and make a tick mark on both map and paper where the
edge of the paper leaves the straight portion of the line being measured. Repeat for each straight segment of
the road, stream, or other curved line. When completed, measure distance from first tick mark to last tick
mark on map scale.
NOTE – you can also use a string laid out on the planned route to measure distance.
B
2 1½ 1 ½ 0 1 2
MILE
3 ½ MILES A
STRING
STRING
2 1½ 1 ½ 0 1 2
KILOMETER A
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
MEASURE SLOPE DISTANCE (percentage or degree)
1. Determine elevation of point (A) (3240 feet) and (B) (2800 feet).
2. Vertical Distance (VD) is subtracting the lowest slope point (B) from the highest point (A), (440 feet) is VD.
3. Measure Horizontal Distance (HD) between points (A) and (B).
4. Compute the slope percentage by using the formula below. (HD) + (Slope%) = total distance
Example 5280ft (1mile) + 25% slope = 5280ft + 1320ft (25% of 5280) = 6600ft (1¼ mile )
* * 25% slope (14º )= every 100ft traveled forward is 25ft traveled up (4ft forward is 1ft up) * *
NOTE: the higher the percentage % or degreeº, the steeper the slope and the longer the distance.
Slope % percent = V D x 100 = % percent
HD
Slope degreeº = V D x 57.3 = slope degreeº
HD B
Slopes above 12% is a concern for a hiker.
Slopes above 25% and a hiker is climbing.
CURVATURE DISTANCE IS 3½ MILES = 18480 FEET
Slope % = 440 ft x 100 = 2 % ( + 370 ft ) [1º slope]
18480
Total distance 18480 + 370 =18850 feet
A
STRAIGHT LINE DISTANCE IS ¾ MILE = 3960 FEET
Slope%= 440 ft x 100 = 12 % ( + 443 ft ) [6º slope]
3960 Total distance 3960 + 443 = 4403 feet CONTOUR INTERVAL = 40 feet
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
MEASURE SLOPE DISTANCE ( slope profile)
Curvature Trail route vs. Straight Line route.
The (long distance) The straight (short distance)
trail slope profile is line slope is very steep,
B gentle and easy to up and down hill,
walk. difficult to walk.
A
3240 3240
3200 3200
3160 3160
3120 3120
3080 3080
3040 3040
3000 3000
2960 2960
2920 2920
2880 2880
2840 2840
2800 2800
2760 B 2760
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
DETERMINING TRAVEL DISTANCE
SLOPE DISTANCE ( slope profile)
Curvature Trail A
route and B
slope steepness.
Even though this
route is longer, it
is obvious that
this is a gentle
and easy route to
walk.
A
B
3240 A 3240
3200 3200
3160 3160
3120 3120
3080 3080
3040 3040
3000 3000
2960 2960
2920 2920
2880 2880
2840 2840
2800 2800
2760 2760 B
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
Any Questions?
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
Note:
Prior to being issued any training *equipment, you will
be required to sign a “statement of liability” agreeing
to pay for anything you damage or lose.
All items will be inspected and inventoried prior to
your signature and at the end of the training day too.
If you do not intend to sign this statement, then you
may be denied training.
* You may use your own equipment.
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
TESTING
Now it is time for the following . . .
• Written exam
• Hands-on / Outdoors exam
PART 2 Intermediate Land Navigation Module 12 Route Measure
THE END OF
LAND NAVIGATION
PRESENTATION
PART 2
Module 12
Measure Route Distance
