MAP READING
AND
LAND NAVIGATION
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
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.
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
CATEGORIES
SCALE
SMALL SCALE - 1:1,000,000 & SMALLER
used for general planning & for strategic studies
standard small scale map is 1:1,000,000.
MEDIUM SCALE – 1:75,000-1:1,000,000
Used for operational planning
standard medium-scale map is 1:250,000.
LARGE SCALE - 1:75,000 & LARGER
used for tactical, administrative, and logistical
planning
Standard large scale is 1:50,000
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
SMALL
1:1,000,000 & smaller
MEDIUM
1:75,000 1:1,000,000
LARGE SCALE
1:75,000 & LARGER
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
Methods of expressing Direction
• AZIMUTH & DIRECTION
• Degree - the most common unit of
measure
– 360 DEGREES IN A CIRCLE
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
DEGREE
• 360 DEGREES IN A CIRCLE
• 1° = 0°
60’
360°
• 1’ = 60”
270° 90°
180°
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
TOPOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS
HOUSE BUILDING TRAIL BRIDGE
SCHOOL QUARRY FOOTPATH BUILT UP
AREA
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
STANDARD COLORS OF
TOPOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS
• BLACK
• REDDISH BROWN
• BLUE
• GREEN
• BROWN
• RED
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
COLORS USED IN CONVENTIONAL
SIGNS
RED
- depicts
classification
of roads,
built-up
areas &
special
features
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
BLUE – Water Features
(Hydrography)
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
GREEN - represents vegetation
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
BLACK -
represents man-
made objects. i.e.
buildings, tower,
etc
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
BROWN --
BROWN
depicts
depicts relief
relief
andand
elevation
elevation
such as
such as
contours on
contours
older mapson
older maps
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
PRINCIPLE IN READING MAP
COORDINATES
READ “RIGHT-UP”
RIGHT - OBJECTIVE RELATIVE TO
THE VERTICAL GRID LINE
UP - OBJECTIVE RELATIVE TO THE
HORIZONTAL GRID LINE
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
PRINCIPLE IN READING MAP
COORDINATES
RIGHT UP
NEAREST 1000 M 98 05
NEAREST 100 M 983 057
NEAREST 10 M 9832 0579
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
86
READING COORDINATES USING MGRS
EXAMPLE 1
86
A 7
85
85
6
NEAREST 1000M
GS: ____ ____
84
NEAREST 100M
83 GC: 15___ 85____
13 14 15
15 16 17 18
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
86
EXAMPLE 2
16
86
85
B
84 3
84
9
GC: _____ ______
83
13 14 15 16 17 18
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
86
Plotting coordinates
GS: ______
16 84______
86
c
85
Nearest 100m
5 84_____
GC: 16____ 7
84
83
13 14 15 16 17 18
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
METHODS OF LOCATING POINTS
• Intersection
• Resection
• Modified resection
• Polar plot
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
INTERSECTION - is the location of
an unknown point by successively
occupying at least two (preferably 3)
known positions on the ground and
then map sighting on the unknown
point.
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
RESECTION – the method of locating
one’s position on a map by
determining the grid azimuth to at
least two (preferably 3) locations that
can be pinpointed on the map.
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
MODIFIED RESECTION - is the
method of locating one’s position on
the map when the person is located
on a linear feature on the ground
such as a road, stream, etc.
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
POLAR PLOT - a method of locating
or plotting an unknown position from
a known point by giving a direction
and distance along that direction line
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
NAVIGATION
TECHNIQUE AND
METHODS
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
TYPES OF COMPASSES
1. THE LENSATIC COMPAS
- COMMOM AND SIMPLEST INSTRUMENT
FOR MEASUERING DIRECTION
2. THE ARTILLERY M2 COMPASS
- SPECIAL PURPOSE INSTRUMENT
DESIGNED FOR ACCURACY
3. WRIST/POCKET COMPASS
- ATTACHED TO A WRISTWATCHBAND
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
Lensatic Compass
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
USING A COMPASS
Center hold technique
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
Compass to cheek technique
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
ORIENTING A MAP
1. DETERMINE DECLINATION
ANGLE.
2. PLACE COMPASS
ALONGSIDE NORTH-
SOUTH GRIDLINES.
3. ROTATE THE MAP AND
COMPASS TOGETHER.
4. ALIGN NORTH SEEKING
ARROW WITH RESPECT
TO THE VALUE OF
DECLINATION ANGLE.
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Ref: SP 8-032 Map Reading and Land Navigation
