STUDY OF VARIOUS TYPES OF MAPS AND SYMBOLS

USED
The maps can be categorized on the following criteria
1.Scale
2.Purpose
Scale is necessary for the accurate representation of geographical features
and occurrences. Different features need different scales for their
presentation. For instance, preparing a village cadastral map and a state's soil
map will be using different scales to reflect the details. Maps can be
categorized on the basis of scale as follows:
• A. Cadastral: Such maps document the possession of the land
assets. These are prepared for tax and income realization by the
government. An example of a cadastral map is a village map,
which is drawn on a scale of 16 inches per mile or 32 inches
per mile.
• B. Topographical: Topographical maps are created on a relatively
large scale and are based on reliable surveys. They do not
disclose parcels of land, but they show topographical forms
such as drainage, relief, village, town, forest, etc. Conventionally,
the size of these maps ranges from 1/4 inch to 1 inch to one
mile
• There are various scales for topographical maps of different
countries.
• i. The British Ordnance Survey topographical survey map is a map of one inch.
• ii. European toposheets scale range from 1:25000 to 1:100000.
• iii. On the scale 1:62500 and 1:125000, USA toposheets are drawn.
• iv. The global map, which is a uniform world map, is generated on a scale of
1:1000000.
• c). Chorographical/Atlas: Atlas maps that are drawn on a
very small scale, these provide a general view of the physical,
economic and climatic conditions of the various regions of the
world. In general, the map scale of the atlas is greater than
1:1000000.
• According to purpose or content, maps are classified as :
• i) natural maps and ii) cultural maps.

• A. Natural maps: These maps represent natural features and

processes related with them. Examples: astronomical maps,
geological map, relief map, climate map, vegetation map and soil
map.
• B. Cultural maps: These maps represent cultural patterns
designed over the surface of earth. Example: political map,
military map, historical map, social map, land-utilization map,
communication map and population map.
Symbol Description Symbol Description

Village (open)
Telephone Line

Church Electric Power

Line

Railway,
Temple Broad Gauge
Double Line

Bridge carrying
Mosque Railway
over
Road
Idgah
Metalled Road

Burial-Ground National
Highway

Boundary pillar UN-Metalled

Road
 Aerodrome
Level Crossing

Well Foot Path

with Bridge,
Culvert

Swamp or Marsh with ( Road or

Cultivation Railway )
Embankment

Lake with

a)Defined Limit

b)Fluctuating Orchard /
Limit Garden /
Plantation
c)Embankment
Single Line Stream Trees

a) Perennial a) Scattered

b) Non-Perennial b) Surveyed

Canal with Navigation Lock and

Road Bench Mark

Aqueduct with Road Alongside Triangulation

Station

Earthwork Dam Broken or Rocky

Ground

Masonry dam with Road Contours