Instructor: Tim McKee

Kimberley GSARMaps

Objectives• Types of maps used in SAR• Identify maps by name and sheet #• Using map scales• Grid systems

– Geographic Coordinate System – Lat/Long– UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator System)

Grid Coordinates• Map legends• Identify map features• Interpret contour lines• Map handling

Map Types• Topographic – most commonly used by

KSAR• TRIM Maps• Search Status Map• Orthophotos• Air photos• Tourist/trail maps• Backroads map book• Forestry maps

Topographic MapsScales of 1:250 000 and 1:50 000Most often used by KSARProduced by Natural Resources Canada

conforming to National Topographic System – NTS

Identified by unique map names and numbers

Wealth of information

Map Name

Map Number

Map ScalesScale refers to the relationship between

distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground

1:50 000 – 1cm on the map equals 50 000cms on the ground

50 000cm = 500m = 0.5kmUTM Grid Lines spaced 2cm = 1km

UTM GridMore commonly used by SAR groups and

recreational map usersUses the crossing of a north-south grid line

and an east-west grid line to describe a location

Easting is always given first and the northing coordinate second

In the door (Easting) and up the stairs (Northing)

Specify NAD27 or NAD83 when giving coordinates

NAD27 and NAD83Grid Coordinates can differ by several

hundred meters

UTM Coordinates

• The coordinates for this knoll are 375136 St. Mary’s Lake or Easting 11U 537500 Northing 5513600

Latitude and LongitudeUsed by pilots and aircraft personnelMeasured in degrees, minutes and seconds116° 55’ 30” N – one hundred sixteen

degrees, 55 minutes and 30 seconds North60 seconds = 1 minute60 minutes = 1 degreeLatitude given first, then longitudeLongitude decreases West to EastEstimate seconds to the nearest 5” or

1/12th of a minute

Lat/Long Coordinates

• The coordinates for this knoll are 49° 46’ 30” N 116° 28’ 45” W

Topo Map ColorsBlack – buildings, railways, power lines, co-

ordinates, precise elevations, border information

Red – paved roads, highway #’s,urban developments

Orange – unpaved roads, unclassified roads and streets

Brown – contour lines, contour elevations, spot elevations, sand

Blue – water, ice, UTM grid infoGrey – back of map legendGreen – wooded areas (platoon of troops)

Map Symbols

Contour LinesConnect points of equal elevationContour intervals 25m or 100ftGentle slope: wide spacing (picture 5)Steep slope: lines are close together

(picture 4)Peak: circle (picture 1)Valleys: V points to a higher elevationRidges: V points to a lower elevationDirection of flow in rivers: V always

points upstream

Map HandlingHandle maps carefully!Use map cases in the field or photocopiesKeep dryFold properlyLeave folded when possible

A. On a map, points A and B are separated by 4.0 cm. Points C and D are separated by 11.2 cm. What is the actual distance in km between these points for the map scales given below?

Scale A - B C - D 1 : 25 000 __________________ __________________ 1 : 50 000 __________________ __________________ 1 : 125 000 __________________ __________________

B. Points E and F are actually 800 m apart. Points G and H are actually 3.6 km apart. What will be the separation of each pair of points on maps with the scales given below?

Scale E - F G - H 1 : 10 000 ___________________ __________________ 1 : 50 000 ___________________ __________________ 1 : 250 000 ___________________ __________________

C. What is the actual distance between the following pairs of points on the St. Mary’s Lake map?

Summit of Mount McKay to Mount Evans ______ Knoll at 502905 to road intersectionat 480915 ______ Outlet of White Boar Lake to Meachen Creek Road at 461895 ______

A. On a map, points A and B are separated by 4.0 cm. Points C and D are separated by 11.2 cm. What is the actual distance in km between these points for the map scales given below?

Scale A - B C - D 1 : 25 000 1 km 2.8 km 1 : 50 000 2 km 5.6 km 1 : 125 000 5 km 14 km

B. Points E and F are actually 800 m apart. Points G and H are actually 3.6 km apart. What will be the separation of each pair of points on maps with the scales given below?

Scale E - F G - H 1 : 10 000 8 cm 36 cm 1 : 50 000 1.6 cm 7.2 cm 1 : 250 000 0.32 cm 1.44 cm

C. What is the actual distance between the following pairs of points on the St. Mary’s Lake map?

Summit of Mount McKay to Mount Evans 6.5 km Knoll at 502905 to road intersectionat 480915 2.5 km Outlet of White Boar Lake to Meachen Creek Road at 461895 2.75

km

 D. Give the UTM grid coordinates of the following features on the map provided:

 Feature Grid Coordinates1. Mount Evans Summit

________________________2. End of road at head of Fiddler Creek

________________________3. Mayo Lake ________________________4. Bridge on Meachen Creek Road

________________________5. Col NW of Mount Evans

________________________ E. Identify what is located at points with the following grid

coordinates on the map provided: Grid Coordinates Feature1.535946 _________________ 2.518871 _________________3. 476864 _________________4. 525961 __________________

D. Give the UTM grid coordinates of the following features on the map provided:

 Feature Grid Coordinates1. Mount Evans Summit 507892 St. Mary’s

Lake2. End of road at head of Fiddler Creek 490879 82 F/93. Mayo Lake 448862 St. Mary’s Lake4. Bridge on Meachen Creek Road 456892 82 F/95. Col NW of Mount Evans 503899 St. Mary’s

Lake E. Identify what is located at points with the following grid

coordinates on the map provided: Grid Coordinates Feature1.535946 Bridge 2.518871 Lake3. 476864 Knoll4. 525961 Marsh/Oxbow

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE F. Give, to the nearest 5 seconds, the latitude and longitude of the following points on

the topographic map you have been given: Location Latitude Longitude  Summit of Hagwilger Peak o ' "N o ' "W Sawmill by New Hazelton o ' "N o ' "W The “16” on Hwy 16 ___o ' "N o ' "W

G. Identify the most prominent feature to be found at points with the following latitude and longitude on the map provided:

 1. Latitude 49° 49’ 35” N ______________________________ Longitude 116° 24’ 60” W  2. Latitude 49° 50’ 5” N ______________________________ Longitude 116° 27” 20” W 3. Latitude 49° 47’ 25” N ______________________________ Longitude 116° 27’ 40” W

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE F. Give, to the nearest 5 seconds, the latitude and longitude of the following points on

the topographic map you have been given: Location Latitude Longitude Summit of Hagwilger Peak 55° 11’ 50” N 127° 35’ 55” W Sawmill by New Hazelton 55° 14’ 35” N 127° 35’ 50” W The “16” on Hwy 16 55° 14’ 20” N 127° 31’ 25” W G. Identify the most prominent feature to be found at points with the following latitude

and longitude on the map provided: 1. Latitude 49° 49’ 35” N Summit of Irish Queen Mountain Longitude 116° 24’ 60” W  2. Latitude 49° 50’ 5” N Intersection of Calamity and Dewar Creek Longitude 116° 27” 20” W 3. Latitude 49° 47’ 25” N End of road up Copper Creek Longitude 116° 27’ 40” W

Questions?