REFERENCE: UNITED STATE ARMY MANUAL

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, 1987

 To provide the Students the
knowledge and develop their
skill in map reading and to
impart to them the importance
of map information in the
future planning.
 Definition, Importance and Caring of
Map
 Categories and uses of Maps
 Marginal Information
 Colors used on a Military Map
 Grid Coordinates
 Scale and Distance
 Directions
 MAP- is a graphic
representation of the
earth’s surface or part of
it, drawn into scale as
seen from above.
 A map can give accurate
information.
 It becomes more & more necessary
to rely upon maps.
 By necessity, planning must be
done on maps.
 Adequate supply of maps.
• Protect fm water, mud & tearing.
• Map should be carried in
waterproof cases, in pocket or in
place where it is handy for use.
• If you put a mark on a map, use
of pencil.
• Use light lines so they
maybe erased easily without
smearing and smudging, or
leaving marks that may later
cause confusion.
• Should be folded properly.
 ACCORDING TO SCALE  
Scale  -  is  expressed  as  a 
fraction and gives the ratio of map 
distance to the ground distance.
Small Scale  
Medium Scale 
Large Scale 
• The map scale is 1:50,000
• RF = 1/50,000
• The map distance from point A to
B is 5 units
• 5 X 50,000 = 250,000 units of
ground distance
 Types of Maps
Planimetric map 
Topographic map
Photomap  
Joint  operations 
graphics 
Photomosaic map
 Types of Maps
Terrain model
Military city map 
Plastic relief map
Special maps
 Military Use
 General map 
 Strategic map
 Strategic-Tactical map 
 Tactical map 
Artillery map 
Situation map
 Sheet Name
 Sheet Number
 Series Name
 Scale
 Serial Number
 Edition Number
 Index to Boundaries
 Adjoining Sheet Diagram
 Elevation Guide
 Declination Diagram
 Bar Scale
 Contour Interval Note
 Spheroid Note
 Projection note
• Sheet Name:

CAVITE
Sheet Number:

SHEET
7171 I
Series Name:

PHILIPPINES
 Scale:

PHILIPPINE 1:50,000
S
Adjoining Sheets Diagram

7173 III 7172 II 7272 III

7171 IV 7171 I 7271 IV

7171 III 7171 II 7271 III

 Legend
Bar Scales
 Serial Number
Example: S701
S – word series
7 – scale of the map as follows;
8 – 1:25,000, 7 – 1: 50,000
6 – 1:100,000
0 – Sub-geographical area as follows;
0 – Philippines 1 – Luzon
2 – Visayas 3 – Panay
4 – Sulu 5 – Mindanao
 Black – man-made objects
 Blue – drainage/bodies of
water
 Brown – relief & elevation
 Green –vegetation
 Red – roads, built-up
areas and special
features.
 Reddish-Brown – cultural
features, all relief
features and elevation
Representative Fraction (RF)
  Example is as shown: 
The  map  scale  is  1:50,000  or 
RF = 1/50,000
 

The map distance from point A 
 to B is 5 units
 

5  x  50,000  =  250,000  units  of 

ground distance
Comparison with the Ground distance

Example: 1/X, RF = 1/X = MD/GD
MD =  4.32 centimeters
GD = 2.16kms (216,000 cms)

  1   4.32 4.32X = 216,000   
RF
X   216,000 4.32     4.32

X    =50,000
 
 RF = 1/X = MD/GD
Ex: MD = GD/Denominator of RF
GD = 2,200 meters
RF = 1:50,000

MD = 2,200/50,000
= 0.044 mtr x 100 (cm in a mtr)
= 4.4 centimeters
Graphic (Bar) Scales
Secondary Scale Primary Scale

Meters         1000                     0                         1                       2                        3                         4                       5      Kilometers

     1                      ½                        0                                         1                                              2                                         3    Substitute Miles    
      

   1                           ½                           0                                         1                                              2                                                    3  Nautical  miles         
 

Transferring map distance to paper strip
Measuring straight-line map distance
Measuring curved lines
Method of expressing Directions
 Degree  –  the  most  common  unit 
of angular measure. 
 Mil – used in arty, tank & mortar 
gunnery.
 Grad  –  a  metric  unit  of  measure 
found on some foreign maps. 
Base Lines
 True North
 

 Magnetic North

 Grid North GN or Y
Azimuths - is  a  horizontal  angle, 
measured  in  a  clockwise  manner 
fm a north base line.  
Back Azimuth – reverse direction
ADD 180 AZIMUTH IS 180  
O  -  O

OR  LESS.    SUBTRACT  180O  - 

AZIMUTH IS 180O OR MORE.
 0 or 360O

295 O
Ba

Az
ck
A

im
zim
uth

ut
h
270O 90O

115 O

180O
 Back Azimuth

Azimuth less than 180 degrees

- plus 180 degrees

Azimuth more than 180

degrees - minus 180 degrees
Method of Locating Points
 Intersection 
 Resection 
 Polar Plot 
 Modified resection 
Directions

®Methods of Expressing Directions

Degree ( 1 degree = 60 min)

Mil (Artillery, tank, and mortar

gunnery)
 0 or 360

BASE LINE
L ine
t i o n
D i rec
e e s
g r
270 de 90
64
ORIGIN

180
Grid Square  
Grid Coordinate scales  
Determining grids  
Precision 
RULE OF DUMB

READ RIGHT
AND UP
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 6 DIGITS

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 8 DIGITS

NEAREST 10 METERS
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