Practical: 2
Topographic Maps and
Introduction to Digital Maps (Google Earth)
Topics This practical covers the following topics:
• Scale.
• Distance.
• Direction
• Location.
• Altitude.
• Areas.
• Abstractions
• Contours.
• Topographic maps
• Google Earth
Data The data for this practical MUST be given to students as a hard copy i.e. 1:50000
2930DD topographic map
Background By now you should be familiar with map concepts of scale, direction, latitude-longitude
information location, distance, altitude and keys/legend/references describing symbols used in a map.
This practical is divided into two components. The first component of the practical is
designed to introduce you to basic principles of cartography when working with maps and
extracting relevant information, while the second component will introduce you to view of
the earth from above using digital maps.
In order to complete tasks in the first part of the practical, you must have a copy of the
1:50000 2930DD topographic map and a good understanding of map concepts and how they
are used which was covered in Practical 1. The tasks in the second part will introduce
‘bird’s eye view’ of the earth using Google Earth. Therefore, in order to complete the
second component you will need to use the computer.
Topographical Maps
Abstractions:
Real life features in
maps are often depicted
using symbols as shown
in the adjacent inserted
diagram. The user of the
map has to understand
what each of the
symbols mean in order
to understand the
information conveyed in
a map.
Map makers/cartographers have developed cartographic principles by which earth surface,
which is curved and 3-D dimensional, are generally depicted on a flat 2-D dimensional
plane (abstracted/represented). Through time map makers developed many notations
which are referred to as key or legend or reference (as shown in the diagram below). These
notations are essential to describe symbols used in a map.
Reference or Legend:
In order to understand and familiarise yourself with the notations used in South Africa,
spend a few minutes reading the topographic map provided to you and try to familiarise and
understand what is shown on the map.
Q1. Study the 2930DD topographic map and give yourself time to visually assess the
dominant feature(s) represented by the keys of the topographic map given to you. Based on
your visual assessment, would you classify the Mngeni river's tributaries at Hillgrove as
perennial or non-perennial (3 marks)?
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Q2. List two main features that distinguish Topographic maps from other types of maps?
(2marks)
Q3. The most common scale for the South African Topographic map is 1:50000. What
would 15cm on the map represent on the earth surface in kilometers (3marks)
• a. 40
• b. 100
• c. (50 000 x 15) / (1000 x 100)
• d. 1500
Q4. Topographic map features use different colours to symbolize features. What colours are
used to represent National Freeway and spot heights, respectively? (2marks)
Q5. Do contour lines cross? (2 marks)
Q6. Study the Index to Sheets diagram below and complete the index to sheets by giving
index (e.g. 2135CB) of the remaining blocks that are covered in one degree increase change
of latitude (29-30) degrees and longitude (30-31) degrees. (Hint: There are 16 quarter
degree topographic maps covering one degree increase change of longitude and latitude)
(14maks) 2 marks a block
Use the topographical map to answer the following Q7. TO Q14 questions:
Q7. List three ways height is represented on a Topographical Map (2marks)
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Q8. The recreational site directly east of Umkhumbaan is 29 degrees, approximately 52min
and 00 seconds south of the equator. What is the longitude co-ordinate in Degrees Minutes
and seconds of this recreational site (Hint: It is in the South-East quarter of the map) ?
(2marks)
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Q9. Explain why minutes of Latitude differ in distance from Minutes of Longitude on this
map. You can use Google to search for this answer (3marks)
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Q10. The straight-line distance from the Reservoir Hills Water Purification Plant to the
school in Chiltern Hills is 3.2cm. Use the map scale to calculate this distance in meters.
(3marks)
Q11. Find where Westville Campus is on the 1:50 000 map. What is the approximate
altitude in meters of L-Block location (Westville Campus of the University of KwaZulu-
Natal) (2 Marks)
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Q12. What is the name of the main river located in the North direction of Westville?
(2marks)
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Q13. What is the total area (in square kilometres) covered by the spherical water body
reservoir in the Water Purification Plant, if its diameter is 1 km (Hint use the formula
, where (π) ≈ 3.14 and (r)-radius = (D) diameter/2. (6marks) Show your working
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Q14. Outline the steps one would take to calculate the distance in meters between 29°51’0”
and 29°52’0” if the final distance is expected to be in meters. (4marks)
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Google Earth
Google Earth is a web based application that can be used to view the world from a ‘birds
eye’ point of view. The application stores satellite imagery, maps and other geographical
related content.
Although the options on Google Earth are endless, viz
• Discover the Earth: A virtual fly to a location
• Explore the Sky: A virtual view of the ‘Heavens’ and solar system
• Dive in the Ocean: A virtual view of the ocean floor
• Visiting Mars and Walk on the moon: A virtual trip to landing sites of astronauts,
the main aim however of this practical is to introduce you to digital geographic data and
show you how it is readily viewed. Therefore, at the end of the practical you can explore
other options not covered in this practical. For the purposes of this practical we will explore
virtual flying to a location.
Start Google Earth by clicking the Icon on your desktop.
If the icon is not on your desktop. Go to Start at the bottom left corner of you screen, and
then search and then find Google Earth in the list of names under letter G and click on the
name to start the application.
Once Google Earth application has been started, a new window should open showing the
GUI for the Google Earth application as show in the diagram below. If you are prompted to
provide your User-Name credentials, supply them as this is a web based application and
therefore connection to internet is necessary. Also, if the Start-UP Tip wizard opens, close
it (you can explore this on your own later).
Try to do the following on your own:
Check how the Zoom function which provides a closer look of features observed works and
view the globe in close proximity
Q15. In which image (give the date in which the image was captured) does the NEW RES
building's construction at the Westville Campus seem to have commenced. (Hint use google
earth) (4marks)
Use the 1:50 000 map Sheet 2930DD to obtain the latitude and longitude co-ordinated of
Westville Campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Once you have the co-ordinates, locate the Westville Campus of the University of
KwaZulu-Natal on Google Earth by typing the co-ordinates you obtained on the Fly-To
entry tab found on the top left corner of the list pane. (Hint: Ensure that you enter co-
ordinates in this notation 28 50.25’N, 33 43.35’W Or 37.400072, -125.235687).
Having located the Westville Campus, then go to menu bar and click on View tab. A list of
items will show up. But since we are looking for the data or image that will show us when
construction of BIOLOGY building resumed, we will then choose Historical Imagery from
the list that comes up when you click View tab on menu bar. When Historical Imagery is
selected from View tab, a time-ruler or time-series scale shows up. With your mouse, move
the position marker in the time-ruler and observe the different imagery shown and their
related dates.
Tasks Please submit the following at the end of Practical 2:
to hand in • The answers to the questions (Q1-to-Q15)
• Total Marks = 48
