What are topographic maps?

Question

(Dealing with Geography>maps)

Answer 1

it's maps that represents topography (details of the landscape) of a place: horizontal(plane) projection of objects located on it and contour (curves of elevation). details represented can differ,accordingly to the purpose of the map: engineering, cadastre, navigation, tourism, agronomy, landmanagement,defense....

Answer 2

Topographic Map Definition

Answer 3

Topographic maps, also called contour maps, topo maps or topo quads (for quadrangles), are maps that show topography, or land contours, by means of contour lines. Contour lines are curves that connect contiguous points of the same altitude (isohypse). In other words, every point on the marked line of 100 m elevation is 100 m above mean sea level.

Early topographic maps illustrated topography, in the original sense of the word, with the depiction of the natural, man-made and historical aspects of the landscape.[1] In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, military authorities introduced topographic surveys to record features that are important to an army, such as the physical relief, water sources and tree cover, which were not usually shown on the cadastral maps maintained for public administration.[2] In Europe, the term "topographic map" still retains the meaning of being a detailed general-purpose map.[3] [4]

There are several rules to note when viewing topographic maps:
* The rule of Vs: sharp-pointed vees usually are in stream valleys, with the drainage channel passing through the point of the vee, with the vee pointing upstream. This is a consequence of erosion.
* The rule of Os: closed loops are normally uphill on the inside and downhill on the outside, and the innermost loop is the highest area. If a loop instead represents a depression, some maps note this by short lines radiating from the inside of the loop, called "hachures".
* Spacing of contours: close contours indicate a steep slope; distant contours a shallow slope. Two or more contour lines merging indicates a cliff.

Of course, to determine differences in elevation between two points, the contour interval, or distance in altitude between two adjacent contour lines, must be known, and this is given at the bottom of the map. In most cases, contour intervals are consistent throughout a map. Sometimes dashed contour lines are present; these represent half the noted contour interval.

These maps usually show not only the contours, but also any significant streams or other bodies of water, forest cover, built-up areas or individual buildings (depending on scale), and other features and points of interest.

Topographic maps are prepared using aerial photography.

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 4

Topographic maps, also called contour maps, topo maps or topo quads (for quadrangles), are maps that show topography, or land contours, by means of contour lines. Contour lines are curves that connect contiguous points of the same altitude (isohypse). In other words, every point on the marked line of 100 m elevation is 100 m above mean sea level.

Early topographic maps illustrated topography, in the original sense of the word, with the depiction of the natural, man-made and historical aspects of the landscape.[1] In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, military authorities introduced topographic surveys to record features that are important to an army, such as the physical relief, water sources and tree cover, which were not usually shown on the cadastral maps maintained for public administration.[2] In Europe, the term "topographic map" still retains the meaning of being a detailed general-purpose map.[3] [4]

There are several rules to note when viewing topographic maps:

* The rule of Vs: sharp-pointed vees usually are in stream valleys, with the drainage channel passing through the point of the vee, with the vee pointing upstream. This is a consequence of erosion.
* The rule of Os: closed loops are normally uphill on the inside and downhill on the outside, and the innermost loop is the highest area. If a loop instead represents a depression, some maps note this by short lines radiating from the inside of the loop, called "hachures".
* Spacing of contours: close contours indicate a steep slope; distant contours a shallow slope. Two or more contour lines merging indicates a cliff.

Of course, to determine differences in elevation between two points, the contour interval, or distance in altitude between two adjacent contour lines, must be known, and this is given at the bottom of the map. In most cases, contour intervals are consistent throughout a map. Sometimes dashed contour lines are present; these represent half the noted contour interval.

These maps usually show not only the contours, but also any significant streams or other bodies of water, forest cover, built-up areas or individual buildings (depending on scale), and other features and points of interest.

picture of topograpic map
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/79/Topographic_map_example.png

Answer 5

I agree with Chris, GPS Travel Maps has a great map. It actually has topographic information and hydrology.

Answer 6

topographic maps are the maps that have the bumps on them, or they are 3-D images of land.
Topography means arrangement of natural and artificial physical features of an area
basically, they are the physical maps that shows landforms like mountains by circles that show elevations and depressions, etc

Answer 7

a map showing topographic features, usually by means of contour lines.

(elevation of the land)

Answer 8

Topographic maps, also called contour maps, topo maps or topo quads (for quadrangles), are maps that show topography, or land contours, by means of contour lines. For instance, it will show where there are mountains or flat lands.

Answer 9

Maps that indicate elevation, expressed by lines. The legend tells you the scale.

Answer 10

they are used for ordinance surveys. these maps show natural as well as man-made features of an area. they are usually drawn on a Large Scale, and so it is possible to show considerable details of natural and man-made features, such as hills, rivers, forests, town, bridges, canals and telegraph-lines, etc. on these maps contours bring out the relief features. these maps are drawn on scale 1:250000cm or larger.