MAP READING

WHAT IS A MAP
A map is a graphical
representation of the
earth’s surface or part of
it, drawn or formed to
scale on a plane as seen
from above.
 IMPORTANCE
When used correctly a map can give
accurate information on such factors
as:
a.Distance
b.Heights or Elevation
c.Key Terrain Features
d.Locations
e.Best Routes
f.Cover and Concealment
 CARE OF MAP
A. One of the first considerations in the
care of maps is the proper folding of
the map itself.
B. Most maps are printed on paper and
require protection from water, mud,
and tearing.
C. Care must be exercised when using
maps, as it may have to last for a long
time. If it becomes necessary to mark
a map, apply light lines only.
 SECURITY OF MAPS
A. Although not usually classified, a
map may at times require special
handling. Should it fall into
unauthorized hands, it could give
an indication of future plans or
areas of interest to the enemy.
B. Should a map be in danger or
capture or no longer needed, it
must be destroyed or turned-in.
CATEGORIES AND USES OF
MILITARY MAPS
ACCORDING TO SCALE
Small Scale Map – maps at scales of
1:600,000 and smaller are used for
general planning and strategical
studies at higher echelon. The
standard small scale map is
1:1,000,000.
Medium Scale Map – maps at scales
larger that 1:600,000 but smaller
that 1:75,000 are used for planning
large scale operations and large
movement and concentration of
troops and supplies. The standard
medium scale map is 1:250,000.
Large Scale Map – maps at scales of
1:75,000 and larger are used to
meet the tactical requirement of
field units. The standard large scale
map is 1:50,000.
ACCORDING TO TYPE

Planimetric Map – a map showing only the

horizontal (flat) position of features.
Topographic Map – a two-dimensional map
which presents the horizontal (flat) and the
vertical (relief) positions of the features
represented.
Plastic Relief Map – a topographic map
printed on plastic and molded into a three-
dimensional form.
Photo Map – a reproduction of a
photograph or photomosaic upon
which grid lines, marginal data,
place names and boundaries may be
added.
Terrain Model – A three-dimensional
representation of an area, modeled
in plastic, rubber, or other materials.
It is distinguished from other maps
showing some cultural and terrain
features realistically instead of
symbolically.
 OTHER TYPES OF MAP
•Joint Operations Graphics
•Photomosaic Map
•Military City Map
•Special Maps
 MARGINAL INFORMATION
1. Sheet Name – located at the center of
the upper margin. Generally, a map is
named after its outstanding cultural or
geographic feature. Whenever
possible, name of the largest city on
the map is use. Also can be found on
lower left area of the map margin.
2. Sheet Number – found in the upper
right and lower left areas of the
margin and is used as a reference
number assigned to each map.
3. Series Name and Scale – the map
series name is found in the upper
left margin. A map series is usually
comprises a group of similar maps
at the same scale and on the same
sheet lines or format, designed to
cover a particular geographic area.
4. Bar Scales – the bar scales are
located in the center of the lower
margin. They are rulers used for
the determination of ground
distance.
5. Index to Adjoining Sheets – the
index to adjoining sheets appear in
the lower margin. It identifies the
map sheets surrounding the map.
6. Index to Boundaries – appears in
the lower right margin. This
diagram, which is a miniature of
the map, shows the boundaries that
occur within the map area such as
provincial and city boundaries.
7. Legend – located in the lower left
margin. It illustrates and identifies
the topographic symbols used to
depict the more prominent features
on the map.
8. Declination Diagram – located in
the lower margin and indicates the
angular relationship of true north,
grid north, and the magnetic north.
9. Contour Interval – appears in the
center of the lower margin. It states
the vertical distance between
adjacent contour lines on the map.
10.Protractor Scale – a protractor
scale may appear in the upper
margin on some maps. It is used for
laying out a magnetic north line on
the map.
11. Elevation Guide – found in the lower
right margin. It is represented by
bands of elevation, spot elevations,
and major drainage features that
provides the map reader with a
means of rapid recognition of major
landforms.
12. Grid Reference Box – normally
located in the center of the lower
margin. It contains instructions for
composing a grid reference.
13.Unit Imprint and Symbol – located
on the left side of the lower margin.
It identifies the agency that
prepared and printed the map with
its respective symbol.
14.Conversion Graph – normally
found in the right margin and
indicates the conversion of
different units of measure.
15. Edition Number – found in the
upper right area of the top margin and
the lower left area of the bottom
margin. Edition are numbered
consecutively; therefore if you have
more than one edition, the highest
numbered sheet is the most recent.
TOPOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS
Building Bridge
Church
Heliport
School

Hospital
Elevated Tank
 TOPOGRAPHIC COLORS
•BLACK- INDICATES CULTURAL
(MAN-MADE) FEATURES SUCH AS
BUILDINGS & ROADS, SURVEYED
SPOT ELEVATIONS AND ALL
LABELS.
•RED-BROWN - THE COLORS
RED & BROWN ARE COMBINED TO
IDENTIFY CULTURAL FEATURES,
ALL RELIEF FEATURES, NON-
SURVEYED SPOT ELEVATIONS,
AND ELEVATION, SUCH AS
CONTOUR LINES ON REDLIGHT
READABLE MAP.
•BLUE - IDENTIFIES HYDROGRAPHY
OR WATER FEATURES SUCH AS
LAKES, SWAMPS, RIVERS, AND
DRAINAGE. FEATURES THAT
CONSTITUTE OBSTACLES ARE
INCLUDED IN THIS GROUP.
•GREEN- IDENTIFIES VEGETATION
WITH MILITARY SIGNIFICANCE,
SUCH AS WOODS, ORCHARDS, AND
VINEYARDS.
•BROWN – IDENTIFIES ALL RELIEF
FEATURES AND ELEVATION, SUCH
AS CONTOURS ON OLDER EDITION
MAPS, AND CULTIVATED LAND ON
RED-LIGHT READABLE MAP.
•RED – CLASSIFIES CULTURAL
FEATURES, SUCH AS POPULATED
AREAS, MAIN ROADS, AND
BOUNDARIES, ON OLDER MAP.
•PURPLE – INDICATES NEW
INFORMATION SUPERIMPOSED ON
AN EXISTING MAP. SOMETIMES,
MAPS WITH THIS COLOR ARE
REFERRED TO AS MAGENTA MAP.
•OTHERS – OCCASIONALLY OTHER
COLORS MAY BE USED TO SHOW
SPECIAL INFORMATION.
 MILITARY SYMBOLS
• ACCORDING TO SIZE
SQUAD X
SECTION BRIGADE
XX DIVISION
PLATOON XXX CORPS
COMPANY XXXX ARMY
BATTALION
GROUP/REG
ACCORDING TO UNIT

UNIT ARTILLERY

CP ARMOR

INF ENGINEER

MECH INF QUARTER

MASTER
SIGNAL OP

AIRBORNE RECON

ORDNANCE SUPPLY
TRAIN

MEDICAL AIR ASSAULT

INFANTRY
AVIATION
MILITARY GRID SYSTEM
•THE GRID MILITARY SYSTEM IS
DESIGNATED FOR USE OF
UNIVERSAL TRANSVERSE
MERCATOR (UTM).
•REDUCES THE LENGTH OF
WRITTEN COORDINATES BY
SUBSTITUTING SINGLE LETTERS
FOR SEVERAL NUMBERS.
•THE WORLD IS DIVIDED INTO 60
GRID ZONES, WHICH ARE LARGE,
REGULARLY SHAPED
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, EACH OF
WHICH IS GIVEN A UNIQUE
IDENTIFICATION CALLED “GRID
ZONE DESIGNATION”.
•BARAS LIES IN ZONE 51 AND P, OR
GRID ZONE DESIGNATION 51P.
•EACH ZONE IS COVERED BY
100,000-METER SQUARES THAT
ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE
COMBINATION OF TWO
ALPHABETICAL LETTERS.
•THE 100,000-METER SQUARE
IDENTIFICATION OF BARAS IS
“US” LOCATED IN THE GRID
REFERENCE BOX.
 GRID LINES
•THESE ARE VERTICAL LINES
AND HORIZONTAL LINES THAT
MAKE THE UTM GRID ON ANY
LARGE SCALE MAP.
•DIVISION OF THE 100,000 METER
SQUARE INTO 10,000 OR 1,000
REGULARLY SPACED LINES.
VERTICAL
GRID LINE

HORIZONTAL
GRID LINE
 GRID SQUARE
•THE NORTH-SOUTH AND
EAST-WEST GRIDLINES
INTERSECT AT 90 DEGRESS,
FORMING GRID SQUARE.
•NORMALLY, THE SIZE OF ONE
OF THESE GRID SQUARES ON
LARGE SCALE MAPS IS 1,000
METERS BY 1,000 METERS.
 1182

1081 1281

1180
CARDINAL RULE IN
READING THE MAP

READ RIGHT THEN UP

6-DIGIT GRID COORDINATES
• TO DETERMINE LOCATION IN
NEAREST 100 METERS.
• NEED TO ADD 2 MORE
NUMBERS, ONE TO THE FIRST
HALF (EASTERLY READING)
AND THE OTHER ONE TO THE
SECOND HALF (NORTHERNLY
READING.
• BREAKS DOWN THE GRID
SQUARE INTO 100 SMALLER
SQUARES.
 SCALE & DISTANCE

THE SCALE OF THE MAP

PERMITS THE USER TO
CONVERT DISTANCE ON
THE MAP TO DISTANCE
ON THE GROUND OR VICE
VERSA.
THE SCALE OF A MAP
EXPRESSES THE RATIO OF
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE ON
THE MAP TO THE
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE ON
THE GROUND.
USUALLY WRITTEN AS
FRACTION CALLED THE
“REPRESENTATIVE
FRACTION”.

MAP DISTANCE (MD)

RF =
GROUND DISTANCE (GD)
 PROBLEMS
FIND THE MAP DISTANCE:
1) RF = 1:75,000
2) GD= 4KM
3) MD= ?
 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 1
MD = GD/RF
= 4KM
75,000
= 4KM X 100,000 CM
1KM
75,000
= 4KM X 100,000 CM
1KM
= 400,000 CM
75,000
= 5.33 CM
 PROBLEM 2

FIND THE GROUND DISTANCE:

1) RF = 1:250,000
2) MD = 3CM
3) GD = ?
 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 2

GD = MD X RF
= 3CM X 250,000
= 750,000 CM
CONVERT TO KM
= 750,000 CM X 1KM
100,000 CM
= 750,000 CM X 1KM
100,000 CM
= 750,000 KM
100,000
= 75 KM
10
= 7.5 KM
 PROBLEM 3
FIND THE RF:
1) RF = ?
2) MD = 3CM
3) GD = 1.5 KM
 SOLUTION TO PROBLEM 3
RF = MD/GD
= 3 CM
1.5 KM
= 3 CM
1.5 KM X 100,000 CM
1KM
= 3 CM
1.5 KM X 100,000 CM
1KM
= 3 CM
150,000 CM
= 3 CM / 3 CM = 1
150,000 CM / 3 CM 50,000
= 1: 50,000
 DIRECTION
METHODS OF EXPRESSING DIRECTION
1. DEGREE
1 DEGREE = 60 MINUTES
1 MINUTE = 60 SECONDS
2. MILS
1 CIRCLE = 6400 MILS
17.78 MILS = 1 DEGREE
3. GRAD
1 CIRCLE = 400 GRAD
 BASE LINE
- It is the starting point or zero measurement.
THREE (3) BASE LINES:
1. True North – a line from any point on
the earth’s surface to the north pole.
2. Magnetic North – Obtained thru the
use of compasses.
3. Grid North – The north that is
established by using the vertical grid lines
on the map.
 AZIMUTH
• It is the most common military method to
express direction.
• It is a horizontal angle measured clockwise
from a north base line.
AZIMUTH CIRCLE
 COORDINATE SCALE
AND PROTRACTOR
 BEARING
• Another way to express direction.
• It is a horizontal angle measured
clockwise or counter-clockwise from
a north or south reference line.
 G-M
ANGLE
GN
GRID CONVERGENCE
G-M ANGLE
O DEGREES 5 MINUTES
22 degrees (388 mills)
FOR CENTER OF SHEET

TO CONVERT A TO CONVERT A
GRID AZIMUTH TO MAGNETIC AZIMUTH
MAGNETIC AZIMUTH TO GRID AZIMUTH
SUBTRACT G-M AGLE ADD G-M AGLE
 EASTERLY
GN
3o

REQUIREMENTS:
Any
Convert these Grid Az to Azimuth
Mag Az and Mag Az Line
M G SOLUTIONS:
to Grid Az
1. Grid AZ 146o 1. Mag AZ 143o
2. Grid AZ 83o 2. Mag AZ 80o
3. Mag AZ 271o 3. Grid AZ 274o
 WESTERLY
GN
10o

Any
Azimuth
Line
REQUIREMENTS:
Convert these Grid Az to
Mag Az and Mag Az SOLUTIONS:
to Grid Az
1. Grid AZ 44o
1. Mag AZ 54 o
2. Mag AZ 193o
2. Grid AZ 183o 3. Grid AZ 206o
3. Mag AZ 216o
 GRID AZIMUTH
SMALLER THAN G-M ANGLE
GN
14o

10
o
REQUIREMENT: SOLUTION: Grid Az 10o
+360
Determine the Mag Az
Total 370o
of this Grid Az:
Minus G-M angle 14o
Grid AZ 10o Mag AZ 356o
ELEVATION
CONTOUR LINES
GENTLE SLOPE
STEEP SLOPE
CONCAVE SLOPE
CONVEX SLOPE
 SLOPE

•SLOPE IS THE RATE OF RISE AND

FALL OF A GROUND, MAYBE
DESCRIBED AS BEING GENTLE OF
STEEP.
•EXPRESSED IN GRADIENT OR
PERCENT.
VERTICAL DISTANCE (VD) – IS
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE
HIGHEST AND LOWEST
ELEVATIONS OF THE SLOPES AND
IS DETERMINED FROM CONTOUR
LINES.
HORIZONTAL DISTANCE (HD) – IS
THE HORIZONTAL GROUND
BETWEEN TWO POINTS.
 SLOPE
VD

HD
 GRADIENT

•RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE HORIZONTAL AND
VERTICAL DISTANCE IS
EXPRESSED AS A FRACTION
WITH A NUMERATOR OF 1.
FORMULA:
GRADIENT = VD
HD
CARE OF THE COMPASS
•AS SOON AS YOU GET YOUR
COMPASS, INSPECT IT.
• MAKE SURE THE DIAL FLOATS
FREELY AND DOES NOT STICK.
•MAKE SURE THE SIGHTING
WIRE IS STRAIGHT.
• GLASS AND CRYSTAL PART ARE
NOT BROKEN.
• CAN READ ALL THE THE
NUMBERS IN THE DIAL.
SEPARATION DISTANCES
FROM METAL OBJECTS
OR ELECTRICAL SOURCE

HIGH TENSION POWER

LINES - - - - 55 METERS
FIELD GUN, TRUCK OR
TANK - - - - - 18 METERS
TELEGRAPH, TELEPHONE WIRE
& BARBED WIRE - - - 10 METERS
MACHINE GUN - - - - 2 METERS
STEEL HELMET OR RIFLE – ½
METER
Compass Holding Methods

There are two methods to

holding and reading a compass.

A. Compass-to-Cheek Method:

1. Open the cover to a 90-

degree angle to the base. Position
the eyepiece at a 45-degree angle
to the base.
 2. Place your thumb through
the thumb loop, form a steady
base with your third and fourth
fingers, and extend your index
finger along the side of the
Compass base.

3. Place the hand holding the

compass into the palm of the other
hand.
 4. Bring both hands up to your
face and position the thumb that is
through the loop against your
cheekbone.

5. Look through the lens of the

eyepiece. If the dial is not in focus,
move the eyepiece up or down until
the dial is in focus. Don't forget that the
lens/rear sight must be at a 45o angle
to ensure the dial floats freely.
6. Align the sighting slot of the
eyepiece with the sighting wire in
the cover on the point for which
your are trying to determine the
azimuth.
 B. Centerhold Method

Note: Use this method only when

you don't need a precise direction.
1. Open the compass so that the
cover forms a straight edge with the
base. Move the lens/rear sight to the
rear as far as it will move.

2. Next, place your thumb through

the thumb loop, form a Methods,
steady base with your third and
fourth fingers, and extend your index
finger along the side of the compass.
3. Place the thumb of the other
hand between the eyepiece and
the lens, extend the index finger
along the remaining side of the
compass, wrap the remaining
fingers around the fingers of the
other hand, and pull your elbows
firmly into your sides. This will
place the compass between your
chin and your belt.
4. To measure an azimuth, you must
turn your entire body toward the
object and point the compass cover
directly at the object. Look down
and read the azimuth from beneath
the fixed black index line. You may
use this method at night.
5. To keep from going in circles
when you are land navigating, stop
occasionally to check the azimuth
along which you are moving. Also,
you can move from object to object
along your path by shooting an
azimuth to each object and then
moving to that object. Repeating
this process while you navigate
should keep you straight.
ORIENTING THE MAP WITH A
COMPASS

1. PLACE THE MAP ON A FLAT

SURFACE.
2. PUT THE COMPASS ON TOP
OF THE MAP.
3. TAKE THE STRAIGHTEDGE ON
THE LEFT SIDE OF THE COMPASS &
PLACE IT ALONGSIDE THE NORTH-
SOUTH GRID LINE WITH THE
COVER OF THE COMPASS
POINTING TOWARD THE TOP OF
THE MAP.
NOTE: THIS WILL PLACE THE
FIXED BLACK INDEX LINE
PARALLEL TO NORTH-SOUTH GRID
LINES.
4. KEEPING THE COMPASS
ALIGNED AS DIRECTED, ROTATE
THE MAP AND COMPASS
TOGETHER UNTIL THE
MAGNETIC ARROW IS BELOW
THE FIXED BLACK INDEX LINE.
AT THIS TIME, THE MAP IS
CLOSE TO BEING ORIENTED.
5. ROTATE THE MAP AND
COMPASS IN THE DIRECTION OF
THE DECLINATION DIAGRAM.
6. IF THE MAGNETIC NORTH
ARROW ON THE MAP IS TO THE
LEFT OF THE GRID NORTH, THE
COMPASS READING WILL EQUAL
THE G-M ANGLE GIVEN IN THE
DECLINATION DIAGRAM.
7. IF THE MAGNETIC NORTH IS
TO THE RIGHT OF GRID NORTH,
THE COMPASS READING WILL
EQUAL 360 DEGRESS MINUS THE
G-M ANGLE.