CTEVT 📚 Cartography – Chapter 2: Map (Full Chapter + Free PDF + Illustrations)
🚀 What exactly is a map—and how do cartographers turn Earth’s complex surface into flat, readable graphics?
Chapter 2 of Cartography (EG 2201 GE) in the CTEVT Diploma in Geomatics Engineering, 4th Semester dives deep into one of the most fascinating aspects of geomatics: Maps — their types, design, and purpose in representing spatial data.
📥 Download Free PDF Notes, explore real-world map examples, and understand how maps communicate geography, terrain, and human activity through symbols, scale, and color.
📌 Overview
A map is a graphical representation of Earth’s surface (or part of it) drawn to scale on a flat medium such as paper or a digital screen.
It condenses real-world complexity into symbols, lines, and colors, allowing users to visualize relationships, measure distances, and analyze patterns.
From topographic and cadastral maps to thematic and digital layers, maps are the core communication tool of geomatics—used in surveying, GIS, navigation, and national planning.
🎥 Watch the Full Cartography Chapter 2 Video
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📚 What’s Covered in Chapter 2: Map
This chapter introduces you to how maps are defined, classified, designed, and used. It connects traditional cartographic methods with today’s digital techniques.
✔️ Definition of Map
A map is a scaled, symbolic representation of spatial features on a plane surface.
It shows locations, attributes, and relationships between geographic entities such as land, water, settlements, and boundaries.
“A map is a mirror of the Earth, but simplified to be understood at a glance.”
✔️ Types and Classification of Maps
Learn to differentiate maps based on content, scale, and purpose.
By Scale:
- Large-scale maps (e.g., 1:2,500 to 1:25,000) — show small areas in detail (used in cadastral or engineering surveys).
- Medium-scale maps (1:25,000 to 1:250,000) — used for regional planning.
- Small-scale maps (1:250,000 and smaller) — show large areas with less detail (like atlas maps).
By Function:
- Topographic maps – show relief, drainage, and man-made features.
- Cadastral maps – represent land parcels and ownership boundaries.
- Thematic maps – display specific information such as population, soil, rainfall, or land use.
- Navigation maps – for air, land, or sea transport.
- Engineering maps – for construction and design projects.
By Content:
- General-purpose maps – comprehensive overview (topographic).
- Special-purpose maps – focus on one theme or data type (e.g., geology or vegetation).
✔️ Map Scale
Scale expresses the ratio between map distance and actual ground distance.
Forms of scale:
- Numerical Scale – e.g., 1:50,000
- Verbal Scale – e.g., “1 cm represents 500 m”
- Graphical Scale – a line or bar scale drawn on the map
🧮 Example: On a map with a scale of 1:50,000, one centimeter equals 500 meters on the ground.
Important Concepts:
- Enlargement & Reduction: Changing map size without losing proportion.
- Shrunk Scale: Occurs due to paper contraction or printing errors.
- Map Accuracy: Always measure using the correct scale to avoid distortion.
✔️ Introduction to Drawing and Scribing
Before digital mapping, maps were created using scribing tools—metal pens used to engrave symbols and lines onto coated plastic sheets.
This process required high precision and steady handwork.
Modern digital scribing is performed using GIS or CAD software, which replicates the same principles with higher efficiency.
✔️ Semiology of Graphics
Semiology in cartography refers to visual language—the way symbols, lines, textures, and colors communicate information.
Common symbol categories:
- Point symbols – wells, trees, monuments
- Line symbols – roads, rivers, boundaries
- Area symbols – forests, settlements, water bodies
👉 A good map uses clear, consistent, and meaningful symbols to make interpretation easy.
✔️ Map Design and Layout
A map’s design determines its readability and aesthetic quality.
Key design elements include:
- Title – explains the theme or area.
- Legend – decodes symbols and colors.
- Scale bar – indicates proportional distance.
- North arrow – shows orientation.
- Borders & neatlines – frame the map neatly.
- Source & date – establish map reliability.
📐 Example Layout Practice:
Try preparing an A4-size layout for a topographic map showing rivers, roads, and contours with appropriate legend placement.
✔️ Typography and Typonomy
Typography – art of lettering on maps; involves font selection, size, and placement for clarity.
Typonomy – study of place names (origin, meaning, and application).
Correct labeling enhances both readability and scientific accuracy of a map.
✔️ Enlargement and Reduction
Cartographers often need to enlarge or reduce maps to fit different formats.
This is done proportionally to maintain geometric relationships.
Digital tools (like AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or QGIS) make scaling efficient while minimizing distortion.
✔️ Uses of Maps
Maps serve countless purposes in Geomatics and beyond:
- Surveying & Engineering – base maps for design and construction.
- Land Administration – cadastral maps for ownership and taxation.
- Urban Planning – visualize zoning and infrastructure.
- Environmental Management – monitor deforestation, flood zones, and land cover.
- Navigation & Rescue – road maps, GPS, and route planning.
🌍 In Nepal, Survey Department produces official topographic and cadastral maps at various scales—1:25,000, 1:50,000, and 1:250,000—using MUTM projection and national grid systems.
🧪 Practical Applications
1️⃣ Identify map types by comparing topographic vs. cadastral maps of your district.
2️⃣ Draw a simple map layout of your local area using A4 paper with legend and scale bar.
3️⃣ Practice labeling—apply proper typography for rivers (italic), mountains (caps), and settlements (medium bold).
4️⃣ Use QGIS to explore digital map symbology and scale settings.
📂 Download Free PDF Notes – Chapter 2: Map
Perfect for:
✅ CTEVT exam preparation
✅ Practical drawing and layout assignments
✅ Concept reinforcement before lab sessions
🔽 [Download Notes – Chapter 2: Map (PDF)]
🧮 Practice Questions for Students
🧾 Short Questions
- Define a map.
- What is a map scale?
- Write the types of maps based on function.
- Differentiate between large-scale and small-scale maps.
- Mention any two uses of maps.
📚 Long/Analytical Questions
- Explain the classification of maps with examples.
- Discuss the components and layout elements of a good map.
- Describe different forms of scale used in cartography.
- Explain the difference between topographic, cadastral, and thematic maps.
- Write short notes on: (a) Typography, (b) Map Layout, (c) Scribing.
💡 Study Tips to Master Chapter 2
🔹 Draw one example of each map type (topographic, cadastral, thematic).
🔹 Practice scale conversion daily—1:50,000 ↔ 1:25,000 ↔ 1:10,000.
🔹 Analyze Survey Department map sheets to understand numbering and projection.
🔹 Create your own legend for a small-area map project.
🔹 Collaborate with friends—exchange maps and test interpretation accuracy.
🎯 Lessons Learned from Chapter 2
✅ Understand what maps are and how they are classified.
✅ Learn to interpret and design maps using correct elements and symbols.
✅ Apply principles of scale, layout, and typography.
✅ Connect conventional methods with digital cartographic tools.
📘 Explore More from Cartography
📚 Chapter 1: Introduction – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 2: Map – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 3: Branches of Cartography – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 4: Graphic Variables – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 5: Map Projection – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 6: Map Sheet Numbering – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 7: Generalization – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 8: Relief Representation – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 9: Color – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 10: Digital Cartography – Download PDF
📚 Chapter 11: Map Reproduction – Download PDF
🎥 Watch the Full Chapter 2 Video
👉 [Click Here to Watch on YouTube]
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