Physical Environment
UNIT ONE
MAP READING
1. INTRODUCTION
One of the important dimensions of social knowledge is being able to locate yourself in time
and space answering the questions when and where. Locating yourself in time requires an
understanding of the concepts of days, hours, second, years, months, weeks and even
centuries. Similarly locating yourself in space requires an understanding of the concepts of
distance, maps, and directions. Location in physical space is probably the first step in
understanding your physical environment. This unit is going to focus on Map reading and
other related concepts that help us to locate ourselves in physical space.
A map is a graphic representation of a portion of the earth 's surface drawn to scale, as seen
from above. It uses colors, symbols, and labels to represent features found on the ground.
The ideal representation would be realized if every feature of the area being mapped could
be shown in true shape.
Obviously this is impossible, and an attempt to plot each feature true to scale would result
in a product impossible to read even with the aid of a magnifying glass. A map is a
representation of a geographic area, usually a portion of the earth 's surface, drawn or printed
on a flat surface. In most instances a map is a diagrammatic rather than a pictorial
representation of the terrain; it usually contains a number of generally accepted symbols,
which indicate the various natural, artificial, or cultural, features of the area it covers.
Five concepts are going to be explored in this unit to assist you in appreciating the use of a
map and interpreting the information that is displayed on a map. These concepts are;
MAP READING
1. INTRODUCTION
One of the important dimensions of social knowledge is being able to locate yourself in time
and space answering the questions when and where. Locating yourself in time requires an
understanding of the concepts of days, hours, second, years, months, weeks and even
centuries. Similarly locating yourself in space requires an understanding of the concepts of
distance, maps, and directions. Location in physical space is probably the first step in
understanding your physical environment. This unit is going to focus on Map reading and
other related concepts that help us to locate ourselves in physical space.
A map is a graphic representation of a portion of the earth 's surface drawn to scale, as seen
from above. It uses colors, symbols, and labels to represent features found on the ground.
The ideal representation would be realized if every feature of the area being mapped could
be shown in true shape.
Obviously this is impossible, and an attempt to plot each feature true to scale would result
in a product impossible to read even with the aid of a magnifying glass. A map is a
representation of a geographic area, usually a portion of the earth 's surface, drawn or printed
on a flat surface. In most instances a map is a diagrammatic rather than a pictorial
representation of the terrain; it usually contains a number of generally accepted symbols,
which indicate the various natural, artificial, or cultural, features of the area it covers.
Five concepts are going to be explored in this unit to assist you in appreciating the use of a
map and interpreting the information that is displayed on a map. These concepts are;
References: Carter, James R., 1972, "Commentary on Mason 's 'Spatial Variability of Radioactivity in the United States," The Professional Geographer, Vol. 24, (Feb. 1972), 77-80. Carter, James R., 1979, "Two Maps--Many Images," Proceedings of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping, 39th Annual Meeting, 1979, 153-159. Carter, James R., 1988, "The Map Reading Environment: A Significant Factor in Cartographic Design," The American Cartographer, Vol. 15, No. 4, Oct. 1988, 379-85. Elzakker, C.P.J.M. van; A.W. Simon van Leeuwen & E. Massop, 2001, Investigations into the use of Dutch cycling maps and their results. The Cartographic Journal, 38(1), pp. 41-47. Go cheng Leong (1991), Certificate physical and Human Geography – Oxford University Press, London, UK.