27

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION TO MAP READING

MAPS, CONVENTIONAL SIGNS, SCALE AND GRID SYSTEMS

Definition of Map

1. A map represents selected natural and manmade features of the whole or part of the earth's surface
on a sheet of paper. It has a definite scale and correct relative geographical positions and elevations.
Symbols, colour differences and contours on map help to show the physical features i.e. mountains, valleys
and plains. Maps show important natural and cultural features such as relief, vegetation, water bodies,
cultivated land, settlements, and transportation networks, etc. These maps are prepared and published by
the National Mapping Organisation of each country. The science of making maps is called as Cartography.
For example, the Survey of India prepares the topographical maps in India for the entire country. A map,
however, has one major limitation that it cannot show everything that exists on the ground.

Conventional Signs

2. Conventional signs are symbols used to represent certain artificial or natural features/objects on the
map. Some common types of conventional signs are listed as follows in Figure - 1

(a) Roads-metalled with Km-stone.

(b) Roads-unmetalled with Km-stone.

(c) Cart track, camel track, mule path.

(d) Footpath, road in bed of stream, Level crossing.

(e) Bridges with pier sand without, Causeway, Ford.

(f) Stream-Approx water course, canal River banks,

shelving, steep 10 to 20 feet,, over 20 feet.

(g) River beds-dry, with stream, With island and rocks.

(h) Tidal river-shoal-submerged rocks.

(i) Wells-lined and unlined, spring, Tanks- perennial

and dry.

(j) Kaeaz - in, flow and dry, swamp, Reeds.

(k) Embankments, road or rail, tank cutting tunnel.

(l) Broken ground, camping ground, Vineontrellis.

(m) Railways, broad gauge, Double, Single (Station),

under construction.
 28

(n) Railways other Gauges, double, Single (milestone)

and under Construction.

(o) Light railway or tramway, Telegraphline.

(p) Circuit house, Dak, Travellers, Bungalow, Rest

House.

(q) Inspection bungalow, Police station, Buddhist

Kyaung.

(r) Post office, telegraph office, Combined office.

(s) Forest-reserved, state and protected.

(t) Spaced names, Administrative, Locality, tribal.

(u) Villages: open, walled, ruined, Deserted antiquities.

(v) Huts, permanent and temporary, Fort, Tower

chhatvi.

(w) Church, Mosque, Temple, Pagoda, Idgah, tomb.

(x) Dams, masonry and Earthwork-work.

(y) Grass high and low cane, Bamboo plantation.

(z) Palms, Areca, palmyra, Other conifer, other trees,

scrub.

(aa) Contours, Form lines, Rocky slopes.

(ab) Cliffs-sand features.

(ac) Moraine, Glacier, Screen.

(ad) Boundary demarcated; International.

(ae) Boundary demarcated; Province or state.

(af) Boundary un-demarcated; International, province or

state.

(ag) Boundary; district or Tribal.

 29

(ah) Boundary; Sub Divisional, Tehsil, Taluka or

township forest.

(aj) Boundary pillars, surveyed, not found.

(ak) Graves, oil wells, Mine-Battle field with year.

(al) Heights triangulated, Bench Mark.

- 200, BM200

SCALES AND GRID SYSTEMS

Scale

3. Scales help us work out distance to our destination and therefore how long it will take us to get there.
The smaller the area a map covers, the larger the scale will be. So if you have a map on a square meter of
paper and the scale of the map is 1:50,000 and another map on the same size paper with a scale of 1:25,000,
the area covered by the first map will be 4 times the area covered by the second map. Every map will carry a
scale, not just the value of say 1:50,000, but also a depiction of that scale.

Definition

4. Scale is the proportion which the distances

between the two points on the map that relates to the
distance between two points on the ground. Everything
on the map must be reduced and the extent to which the
size is reduced makes the scale of the map.

Methods of Expressing a Scale

5. There are two methods of expressing a scale:-

(a) In Words. 1 inch to 1 mile, it means that 1 inch on the map represents 1 mile on the
ground.

(b) As a Representative Fraction (RF). This is the scale expressed in the form of a fraction.
If the scale of a map is given as 1/100000 this means that one unit of the map represents 100000 of
the same unit on the ground. It could mean that one centimetre on the map represents 100000 cm on
the ground.

Scale Line

6. Below the scale is the scale line by means of

which distance on the map can be measured. In this scale
2 cm on map is equal to 1 km on ground. An example of
the scale line for a scale “2 cm to 1 km” is as shown.

Definition of Grid and Grid Lines

7. The ‘Grid’ is a systematic pattern on Earth by laying a vertical and horizontal grid over the Earth's
layout. The vertical lines are called the longitude and the horizontal lines are known as the latitude.
Combinations of these lines are known as Grid Lines.

Purpose

8. The purpose of Grid Lines is to make possible giving and reading Grid References and to facilitate
measurement of bearings.
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Method of Grid Reference

9. In giving a Grid Reference following rules should be

remembered:-

(a) A reference must always contain an even

number of figures, normally it contains six figures.
(b) EASTING lines are the black colour vertical
lines.
(c) NORTHING lines are the black colour
horizontal lines.
(d) Always count along the EASTING lines first
from the WEST to EAST and then NORTHING from
SOUTH to NORTH.
(e) Grid References are of different types viz.
Four Figure, Six Figure, Eight Figure and Ten Figure.
(f) Mostly Six Figure Grid Reference is used.
(g) For six figure Grid Reference the third and the Sixth figure represent the divisions of 1000
meters square to the nearest 10 thpart, so they have to be estimated and for these figures a slight
latitude is allowed.
(h) If a general Grid Reference is to be given or there is only one such object in one square e.g.
bridge, temple, road junction then its identity and four figure grid reference would suffice.

10. Example

(a) As we already said when giving a four figured grid

reference, always give the Easting number first and the
northings number second. In the diagram, the number 4 is in
square 28 across (on the horizontal) and square 54 up (on the
vertical) and therefore, the four-figure grid reference is ‘2854’.

(b) The other number in the square above would get the
following grid:- 2755; 2855; 2754; 2854.

(c) In order to be little more precise with your grid

references, you can give a 6 figure grid reference as shown in
diagram 5b.

(d) Here, we have taken the lower right square from the
previous diagram and divided it by 10 in each direction. The
circle is in the four-figure grid reference square ‘2552’, but
more accurately it is 2 tenth across and 7 tenths up with in that
enlarged grid square, therefore the six-figure map reference is ‘252527’. The circle has 6 figure grid
references of 257522.

Topographical Forms and Technical Terms

11. Topographical. forms are names used to describe geographical features which occur on the
ground. The following are more commonly used:-

S No Topographical Forms Samples

(a) Basin: An area of fairly level ground
surrounded by hills or the area drained by a
river or its distributaries.
 31

(b) Col or saddle: A narrow ridge of high land

joining up to higher hills.

(c) Crest: A highest part of hill or mountain range.

It is that line on the range of hills or mountains
from which the ground slopes down in opposite
direction.

(d) Dead Ground: Ground which because of

undulations or hills is not visible to the
observer.

(e) Knoll: A small isolated hill.

(f) Plateau: A table land, an elevated region of

considerable extent generally of same level.

(g) Ridge: A line along a hill or range of hills or

mountains from which water flows in opposite
directions.

(h) Spur: A piece of high ground jutting out of

range of hills into lower ground.

(i) Watershed: The line separating the water

flowing in two different rivers systems, the edge
of a river basin.

(j) Defile: Any feature whether natural or artificial

which could cause a body of troops to contract DEFILE
its front. An example of a natural defile is
mountain pass while bridge is an example of an
artificial defile.

(k) Escarpment: The steep hill side formed by a

ESCARPMENT
sudden drop in the general ground level usually
from a plateau.

(l) Bearing: The angle formed by a line joining two

points and the North and South line. Bearings
are always measured clockwise.
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(m) Bench Mark: A permanent mark usually cut

into a wall recording exact height for future
reference. It is marked as BM with height on
Ordnance Survey Maps.

(n) Gradient: The slope of a hill expressed as a

fraction.

(o) Spot Height: A point on a map whose height

has been determined by Survey methods.
These are usually shown as block dot with a
number giving exact height above sea level in
meters.

(p) Trigonometric Point: A point fixed during the

triangulation at the beginning of a survey,
marked on Ordnance Survey Maps by a small
triangle with the height.

(q) Contours: A line drawn on the map joining up

all points of equal height above sea level.

(r) Grid Lines: Lines running parallel to and at

right angle to a North and south or East and
West, Grid North is the direction of the North
South grid lines on a map.

(s) Magnetic Variation: The difference between

True North and Magnetic North.

(t) Horizontal Equivalent: The distance

measured on the map between adjacent
contour lines. It varies according to the nature
of the relief.
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Relief, Contours and Gradients

12. Relief means the shape of the ground in a vertical plane.

Representation of a relief on a map means showing of heights and shape
of the ground above or below or datum which is normally sea level. Thus
it shows the broad features and relative heights of highlands and low lands
which are portrayed on the map. Relief is shown with means of hachure,
shading, form lines, layer tints, contours, spot heights, trig heights, bench
marks and relative heights.

13. Contour is an imaginary line drawn on map showing

same height from mean sea level. If you walk along a contour
line you neither gain nor loose elevation. The Contours have
following characteristics:-

(a) Contours accurately show height, shape and

slope of the ground.
(b) Contours are shown generally in brown.
(c) Height is marked on every fifth contour.
(d) Contour lines vary in appearance.
(e) These lines never touch or cross each other.

14. Slope means a surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another. Contour lines
represent to slope that is, closer the contour lines are, the steeper is the slope of the hill. If representation of
slopes the contour lines are far apart, the slope down is gradual. The slopes are of two types, convex and
concave. A convex slope is the one which bulges outwards and concave slope is the one which curves inwards.

15. Gradient is the slope of the ground expressed as the angle the ground makes with the horizontal A
gradient of 1 in 15 means that in a horizontal. The horizontal equivalent is obtained by measuring on the map
and vertical interval by subtracting the contour heights. You may often need to know just how steep a piece
of ground is, whether a road is too steep for a certain type of vehicle to negotiate. The gradient can be worked
out quickly from a contoured map. The rise or fall of a slope can be expressed in following two ways:-

(a) In an Angle or Degree of Slope.

(b) The tangent of the Angle or Gradient.

CARDINAL POINTS AND TYPES OF NORTH

16. Cardinal Points. North, South, East and West are known as the cardinal points. If the North point is
taken as zero degrees, East will be 90 0, South will be 180 0, and the West point forms an angle of 270 0. In
addition to four Cardinal Points and four intermediate four major directions, there are eight minor directions.
The names and degrees are as under:-
 34

(a) North North East - 22 & ½ Degrees

(b) East North East - 67 & ½ Degrees
(c) East South East - 112 & ½ Degrees
(d) South South East - 157 & ½ Degrees
(e) South South West - 202 & ½ Degrees
(f) West South West - 247 & ½ Degrees
(g) West North West - 292 & ½ Degrees
(h) North North West - 337 & ½ Degrees

17. Types of North There are three types of North :-

(a) True North. The direction of North Pole from the

observer.
(b) Grid North. North as per the Grid on map.
(c) Magnetic North. It is the point to which a
magnetic needle points, when freely suspended.

Magnetic Variation and Grid Convergence

18. True North is Constant. Magnetic North is the

point to which the compass needle points. The needle does not
point directly to True North, but a little West or East of True North.
The point towards which the needle swings is known as Magnetic
North and the difference between True North and Magnetic North
is called Magnetic Variation. The amount of the Magnetic Variation
depends upon two factors, time and place as at Fig below.

Magnetic Variation

19. Time. The Variation is not constant but is, gradually changing and even the change each year is not
constant but the difference being negligible it is taken to be constant. On the top margin of a map will be found
a statement giving the Magnetic Variation. To bring this up-to-date, the year of issue of the map must be noted
and for every year that has passed since then the applicable change annually subtracted or added from the
figure given as applicable.

20. Place. The amount of the Magnetic Variation also changes in different parts of the world and indeed
in different parts of the country.

Grid Convergence

21. The angular difference between Grid and True North is called the Angle of Convergence or the Grid
Convergence.

CONCLUSION

22. Knowledge about Cardinal points and types of North is the first step towards learning map reading.
This knowledge is necessary not only with respect to maintaining direction during navigation; but also comes
handy in our other daily activities. A good navigator has the ability to quickly orient himself as per the cardinal
directions almost naturally; this helps in getting a sense of direction and helps to find out our own position
subsequently.
 35

CHAPTER II : CONDUCT OF MAP READING

TYPES OF BEARING AND USE OF SERVICE PROTRACTOR

Bearing and Its Conversion Methods

1. Types of Bearing. The clock wise angle formed by a straight line joining two points and direction of
NORTH, is called the bearing between the two points. A bearing is always measured clockwise. They are three
types as given below:-

(a) Grid Bearing. Measured on the map

from the Grid North by the help of a
protractor.
(b) Magnetic Bearing. Measured from
Magnetic North by the compass.
(c) True Bearing. Calculated by finding
out the relation of True NORTH and Grid
NORTH or Magnetic NORTH.

2. To Convert a Magnetic Bearing to a Grid

Bearing. Suppose the bearing of a certain point P is measured with a compass and is found to be 160 0. To
convert this Magnetic Bearing to a True Bearing, follow under mentioned steps:-
(a) First find out the Magnetic Variation of the Area. Magnetic Variation is given on the Top Right
corner of each Map.
(b) Suppose 5is0 the Magnetic Variation of the area. Now subtract this Magnetic Variation to the
Magnetic Bearing.
(c) The resultant is the Grid Bearing i.e. 1550

3. To Convert Grid Bearing to Magnetic Bearing.

(a) Measure the Grid Bearing of an object on the map with help of the service protractor from your
own position.
(b) Suppose the Grid Bearing of the object is 1500.
(c) Now, find out the Magnetic Variation of the area with the help of Map (Magnetic Variation is
given on the Top right corner of the map). Suppose Magnetic Variation of the area is 6 0.
(d) Now, add this Magnetic Variation to the Grid Bearing.
(e) The resultant will be the Magnetic Bearing of the object i.e. 156 0.

4. Back Bearing. It is bearing taken opposite of original position of

object. The rule is that if the bearing is less than 1800 add 1800 and if bearing
is more than 1800 then subtract 1800. For example:-
(a) If forward bearing of an object is 70 0 then its back bearing will be 180 0 +
700 = 2500.
(b) If forward bearing of an object is 240 then its back bearing will be 240 0-
1800= 600.

Service Protractor and its Uses

5. The service protractor "A" Mark IV is an instrument used for plotting and measuring bearing on the
map. It is an essential link between the compass and the map. With the help of the protractor the magnetic
bearings have been converted to grid bearing and transferred to the map.

Description

6. The protractor is made of

cardboard or ivories (flexible material)
and it measures 6 inches long and 2
inches wide.

Scale of Protractors

7. The main purpose of the protractor is to measure angles and bearings as described in the preceding
 36

paragraphs. The protractor also shows on both its faces a number of the more common map scales. The
respective scale lines are drawn out and divided into primary and secondary divisions in exactly the same way
as at the bottom of the map.

Measuring a Bearing

8. The angle can be measured by drawing a line from the graduation to the point zero on the protractor.
The required angle will be the gap between this line and the line joining the zero.

Uses of Protractor

9. The service protractor is an essential item of Map Reading. With its help one can:-

(a) Plot and measure bearing on paper or on a map. For bearing between 0 and 180 degrees
their Zero edge must be on the LEFT and for 180 degrees -360 degrees it must be on the RIGHT.
(b) Measure distance in inches / cm correct up to l/100 th
(c) Measure distance in yards, meters or miles on a map by using the appropriate scale
(d) For using the diagonal scale one must use an intermediate agent. Mark off the distance to be
measured on the straight edge of a paper or by means of a divider and then put the paper or divider
on the diagonal scale and measure.

Prismatic Compass & Its Use and GPS

10. The magnetic compass an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of
magnetic north and bearings from it. The magnetic compass is used extensively in ships, aircraft and the
various branches of the army to find and maintain direction. The Prismatic Compass is an accurate and
reliable instrument of great value except during a "magnetic storm" or when subject to strong local magnetic
field e.g. in polar regions. With the prismatic compass one can measure magnetic bearing on the ground.

Types of Compass and Acquiring A Bearing

11. Types of Compass and Taking Bearing. There are two types of prismatic compass, the dry and
liquid filled. Liquid type is easier to use though it is less sensitive.

12. Description. Various parts are shown below:-

13. How to Take a Bearing

(a) Open the lid of compass.

(b) Turn the prism casing over.
(c) Put your thumb through the ring.
(d) Put your forefinger underneath the
compass & hold it to horizontal level.
(e) Bring the prism up to the eye.
(f) See through the prism via hairline to
object.
(g) Read the bearing.
 37

Navigation by compass and GPS

14. Navigation by Compass. Sometimes it may be necessary to march by night or in thick jungle
area in the direction of a certain point; since the point may not be visible in darkness or thick vegetation. In
such a situation follow the steps mentioned below:-

(a) Calculate the bearing from the Map i.e Grid

Bearing
(b) Convert it to the magnetic bearing and
cater for the compass error to arrive at a figure (say
250 degree), the compass must now be set to this
figure to march on it.
(c) Unscrew the clamping screw
(d) Rotate the milled vane to 25 till it comes
exactly on the “lubber line”
(e) Tighten the clamping screw
(f) Compass is now set for 250 degree
(g) To obtain the direction of march, open the
lid fully and keep the compass on the palm.
(h) Now turn left or right till arrow head comes under the direction mark
(i) Direction of march is given by the direction in which tongue is pointing.

15. Compass Error. Sometimes due to the presence of impurities in the material of which a compass is
made or other reasons, the magnetic needle may not point toward the magnetic NORTH but a little to the
EAST or WEST of it. This deviation of the magnetic needle in the compass from the magnetic NORTH is
termed compass error.

16. Global Positioning System. Global Positioning System (GPS) refers to a system of satellites and
receivers that allows people and devices to pin point their precise location on the earth. The first GPS satellite
was launched in 1974. GPS is funded and controlled by the United States, Department of Defence. Present
technology provides very handy and accurate navigation. GPS is used by:-

(a) Commonly used in day to day life by general public like.

(b) Commonly used in day to day life by general public like for travelling purposes.
(c) Fishermen and hikers to navigate.
(d) Armed Forces, inbuilt its equipment and in uses in battlefields.

SETTING OF A MAP, FINDING NORTH AND OWN POSITION

Map Setting by Various Methods

17. Setting of Map. A map is said to be set or oriented when it is placed such that it corresponds
directly with the ground i.e. when true NORTH on the map points to true NORTH on the ground. There are
two methods of setting a map - by compass and by objects on the ground.

Setting by Compass

18. Draw a line showing magnetic NORTH from a point on a grid line.
Open the compass and lay it flat on the map over the above drawn diagram,
which will show the magnetic variation so that the hair line on the window lies
along the magnetic NORTH line on the diagram. Then turn both the map and
the compass till the needle points along the hair line. The map is now set,
since the magnetic NORTH line on the map is pointing in the direction of
magnetic NORTH as indicated by the compass needle.

19. Finding North and own Position Without Compass. The position of NORTH can be discovered
by one of the following methods :-

(a) Equal Altitude Method.

(i) Take a fairly large piece of paper or card board and spread it flat on the ground. In
the centre fix a pencil or piece of wood perpendicular to the ground. It can be done with the
 38

help of a coin fixed at the base of pencil or wood with sealing wax or by directly pushing it in
the ground.

(ii) Wait till after mid-day until the sun has moved around sufficiently to throw another
shadow as indicated by the dotted line AD i.e. of the same.

(b) By Stars. In the Northern hemisphere, the Pole star indicates the position of True North to
within 2 degree. It is a bright star and it can be found by protruding a line from Great Bear. The pole
star will be found slightly off this line on the side remote from the remaining stars of the Great Bear.

20. Methods of Finding own Position on Map.

(a) By resection method or Compass method.

(b) By Inspection method.

21. Resection with Compass Method.

(a) Recognise three prominent features (A, B, C) on

map and on the ground as well. These three prominent
features must not be more than 180 or less than 30 apart.
They should be as far as possible and clearly visible. The
bearing of these points be taken and converted into Grid
bearings.
(b) Then, on the map the back bearings from these
points must be plotted, and the point of intersection will
be the required position.
(c) In order to do an accurate resection, three or more objects are necessary. But in that case if
the three rays do not intersect at the same point, a triangle of error is obtained. The centre of triangle
is the point of your own position.

22. By Inspection Method. By inspections is meant a careful and detailed study of the ground and
features both on the map and the ground and features on the map and on the ground. The method consists
of:-
(a) Setting the map.
(b) Recognition of general area of own position on the map.
(c) A close study of the ground details.

MAP TO GROUNG, GROUND TO MAP

Map to Ground

23. To find out the details of map on ground is known as map to ground. Following methods are used to
identify objects from map to ground:-

(a) Bearing and Distance Method. With the help of bearing and distance, find out own
position. Find out the distance of the object to be identified on ground with the help of a scale on the
map. Using service protractor, find out the bearing of the object and convert it into magnetic bearing.
Set the magnetic bearing on compass and look for the object in the given bearing. Estimating the
distance on ground the object will be identified.

(b) Direction and Distance Method. Draw a line on the map between own position and
object to be identified. Calculate its distance and using any of the following methods find the direction
of the object:-

(i) With the help of a sight rule find the ground direction of the object.

(ii) With the help of two points on the map estimate the ground direction.

(iii) Place a foot ruler /pencil at own position and align it with line of the map.

(iv) Place a pin each at own position and at the object on the map. Align both pins and
find general direction.
 39

(c) By Estimation Method. In this method measuring bearing, distance and direction, object is
identified with the help of other details in the proximity of the object.
Ground to Map

24. To find out an object indicated on ground on the map is called ground to map.

GOOGLE MAPS & APPLICATIONS

Google Maps

25. Google Maps is a web mapping service developed by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial
photography, street maps, 360° panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and route
planning for traveling by foot, car, bicycle and air (in beta), or public transportation. Google Maps' satellite
view is a "top-down" or "birds eye" view; most of the high-resolution imagery of cities is aerial photography
taken from aircraft flying, while most other imagery is from satellites. Google Maps used a variant of the
Mercator projection, and therefore could not accurately show areas around the poles.

Use of Goggle Maps & Applications

26. Directions and Transit. Google Maps provide a

route planner, allowing users to find available directions through
driving, public transportation, walking, or biking. Screen shot of
Google Maps with traffic option enabled traffic conditions. Google
offering traffic data as a coloured overlay on top of roads and
motorways to represent the speed of traffic. Crowd sourcing is used
to obtain the GPS-determined locations of a large number of
cellphone users, from which live traffic maps are produced.

Business Listings

27. Google collates business listings from multiple on-line and off-line sources. To reduce
duplication in the index, Google's algorithm combines listings automatically based on address, phone number,
or geo code, but sometimes information for separate businesses will be inadvertently merged with each other,
resulting in listings inaccurately incorporating elements from multiple businesses. Google allows business
owners to verify their own business data through Google My Business, and has also recruited volunteers to
check and correct ground truth data.

Indoor Maps

28. In March 2011, indoor maps were added to Google Maps, giving users the ability to navigate
themselves within buildings such as airports, museums, shopping malls, big-box stores, universities, transit
stations, and other public spaces (including underground facilities).

Google Local Guides

29. Google Local Guides is a program launched by Google

Maps to enable its users to contribute to Google Maps and
provide them additional perks and benefits for the work. The
program is partially a successor to Google Map Maker as
features from the former program became integrated into the
website and app. The program consists of adding reviews,
photos, basic information, videos and correcting information such
as wheelchair accessibility.
 40

Mobile App

30. Google Maps is available as a mobile app for the Android and
iOS mobile operating systems. The Android app was first released in
September 2008, though the GPS-localization feature had been in
testing on cellphones since 2007.Up until iOS 6, the built-in maps
application on the iOS operating system was powered by Google
Maps. However, with the announcement of iOS 6 in June 2012, Apple
announced that they had created their own Apple Maps mapping
service, which officially replaced Google Maps when iOS 6 was
released on September 19, 2012. However, at launch, Apple Maps
received significant criticism from users due to inaccuracies, errors
and bugs.

Features

31. The Google Maps apps for iOS and Android have many of
the same features, including turn-by-turn navigation, street view, and
public transit information. Google Maps announced its new offline
functionality, but with various limitations downloaded area cannot
exceed 120,000 square kilo meters and require considerable amount of storage space. In January 2017,
Google added a feature exclusively to Android that will, in some U.S. cities, indicate the level of difficulty in
finding available parking spots, and on both Android and iOS, the app can, as of an April 2017 update,
remember where users parked. In August 2017, Google Maps for Android was updated with new functionality
to actively help the user in finding parking lots and garages close to a destination. In December 2017, Google
added a new two-wheeler mode to its Android app, designed for users in India, allowing for more accessibility
in traffic conditions.

Applications

32. Here are eight off-the-beaten-path Google apps that'll help you do all sorts of interesting things with
your Android device. And yes, they're all free. (Some, but not all, are also available for iOS.)

(a) Google Handwriting. Input ever feel like

scribbling something out on your smartphone's display?
Google Handwriting Input gives you a blank slate for writing
with your finger or a stylus and then converts your illegible
chicken scratch into actual send able text. It works
surprisingly well, and it can even handle e- mails (if you for
some reason are inspired to draw those). The best part about
Handwriting Input is that it works, hand-in-hand with Google's
regular, fully-featured G-board keyboard. Once you install and activate the app on your phone, you'll
see a new globe-like icon in G-board's bottom row.

(b) Trusted Contacts. This so-new-it-still-has-that-new-app-smell tool is one of those things

that's so practical, you'll wonder why your phone hasn't always had it. Trusted Contacts lets you
establish location-sharing relationships with your friends, family members, or anyone else you know
and love (or maybe just kind sort like). Once both people have installed the app and approved the
relationship, either person has the ability to request the other's location at any time. If the recipient
doesn't respond after five minutes, his last known location will automatically be sent. And it works
even if his phone is off or out of range. Take this mobile device management course from Plural
Sight and learn how to secure devices in your company without
degrading the user experience. Peace of mind has never been
easier.

(c) Google Trips. Organizing travel can be a pain but if you're

already using Gmail, Google's new-ish Google Trips app makes
everything super simple. Trips automatically finds and imports all
your travel info as it arrives in your inbox travel reservations, hotel
reservations, and any other related confirmations and bundles it all
together into neatly organized trip-based portfolios. It even adds
in extra little goodies like suggestions for nearby attractions, popular
 41

(and customizable) day plans, and restaurant recommendations. Once your data's pulled over,
everything works offline.

(d) Google Arts & Culture. Google Arts &

Culture lets you explore national parks and monuments,
zoom up close into famous works of art, and even take
virtual tours of entire museums right from your mobile
device. The app views of fascinating things from around
the world, and it's something you really have to experience
for yourself.

(e) Chrome Remote Desktop. Chrome Remote

Desktop is one of Google's most powerful cross-platforms
tools and yet it doesn't get nearly enough attention. The
app makes it dead-simple to remotely access any desktop
computer from your Android phone. All you do is install the
companion desktop Chrome extension, set up a PIN, and
that's it: You can pull up your desktop on demand and
access files, open programs, or do anything else you need
from the palm of your hand.

(f) Google Opinion Rewards. You answer a handful of questions about a recent shopping
experience or your thoughts on some type of merchandise, and then the app puts a credit on your
Play Store account. It might be for 10 cents or it might be for a dollar. Either way, it takes practically
no time to do, and the credits add up fast meaning your next app purchase or movie rental can be on
the house.

(g) Android Auto. Google revamped its Android Auto app a few months ago and made
it into something anyone who drives should have standing by. The new Auto app is basically a "car
mode" for your phone an interface that's optimized for driving, with large buttons for commonly used
commands and simplified access to the sort of stuff you might need while behind the wheel.(And yes,
long time Android fans, that should sound familiar.)

(h) Wallpapers This last selection is actually the app that controls wallpaper picking for
Google's new Pixel phone but if you have any other device, you can think of it as an upgrade to your
system's built-in wallpaper picker. The aptly named Wallpapers makes finding a background for your
home screen a fun adventure, with options for selecting stunning images from sources like Google
Earth or the photographer-favored galleries of Google. The best part is that all of Wallpapers'
categories Earth, Landscapes, Cityscapes, and so on include a "Daily wallpaper" option that'll
automatically change your background to a different purity image every single day.

CONCLUSION

33. Map reading plays very major role in services as well as in governance system. These days digital
maps and artificial intelligence has taken over majority usage thereby making such task easy and user friendly
along with information technology. Setting of map and finding own position is the essence of the map reading
training.It is important for the cadets to understand the methods and the procedure to find objects from map to
ground and from ground to map. With the help of satellites and information technology companies like Google
have taken over mapping system by using artificial intelligence making life faster and user friendly connecting
Smart Phones with applications for map reading, navigation, tracking system, traffic and basic usage of our
daily life.
 42

SUMMARY

1. Map is the geographical representation of land on a paper.

2. Scale is a proportion of two points on map and two points on the ground.

3. Relief is applied to the shape of the ground in a vertical plane.

4. Contour is an imaginary line following surface of the ground at a certain level.

5. Gradient is the slope of the ground expressed as the angle the ground makes with the
horizontal.

6. Cardinal Points are the four major directions North, South, East and West.

7. There are three types of North, True North is the direction of North pole. Magnetic North is the
direction which a magnetic needle points, Grid North is the direction of the North South grid lines on a
map-point.

8. Magnetic Variation is the difference between True North and Magnetic North. It depends on
time and place.

9. Grid Convergence is the angular difference between Grid North and True North.

10. Bearing: The clock wise angle formed by a straight line joining two points and direction of North.

11. The service protractor “A” Mark IV is an instrument used for plotting and measuring bearing on
the map.

12. Setting of Map: A map is said to be set or oriented when it is placed such that it corresponds
directly with the ground. There are two methods of setting a map- by compass and by objects on the
ground.

13. Methods to find own position on map are- by resection, by map spotting or by bearing and
distance.

14. Types of navigation: Navigation during day and Night navigation. EXERCISE

15. Methods are used to identify objects from map to ground. MAP READING
(a) Bearing and Distance Method.
(b) Direction and Distance Method. SECTION-1
(c) By Estimation Method. INTRODUCTION TO MAP AND
CONVENTIONAL SIGNS
16. To find out an object indicated on ground on the map is called ground to map.

17. Use of Goggle Maps & Applications Directions and Transit. Business Listings.
(a) Indoor Maps
Ques 1.  (b) Google Local Guides What is a map?
Ques 2.  (c) Mobile App What is conventional sign?
(d) Applications.
SECTION-2
SCALES (i) Google Handwriting.
(j) Trusted Contacts.
Ques 1 - What is (k) Google Trips. scale?
Ques 2.   What (l) Google Arts & Culture. are the common scales used in survey
of India maps? (m) Chrome Remote Desktop.
(n) Google Opinion Rewards.
SECTION 3 (o) Android Auto.
(p) Wallpapers TOPOGRAPHICAL FORMS AND TECHNICAL TERMS

Ques 1.   Define important technical terms used in map reading?

Ques 2.    Define important Topographical terms used in map reading?

SECTION-4
THE GRID SYSTEM

Ques 1 - Define grid line?

Ques 2 - What are the basic rules for giving grid reference?

SECTION 5
RELIEF CONTOURS AND GRADIENTS

Ques 1 - Define Relief?

Ques 2 - Define Vertical interval, Horizontal equivalent and gradient.

SECTION 6
CARDINAL POINTS AND FINDING NORTH

Ques 1 - What are various types of North?

SECTION-7
TYPE OF BEARINGS AND USE OF SERVICE PROTRACTOR

Ques 1 - Define various types of bearings?

Ques 2.  How to convert magnetic bearing to a True bearing?
Ques 3.  How to convert magnetic bearing to a True bearing?
Ques 4.   What is the usage of service protector?

SECTION-8
PRISMATIC COMPASS, ITS USE AND
INTRODUCTION TO GPS

Ques 1.   What are the types of compass?

Ques 2. What are the various parts of a liquid compass?
Ques 3.  What is Global Positioning System (GPS)?
Ques 4.   What is the usage of GPS?

SECTION-9
SETTING A MAP, FINDING OWN POSITION AND NORTH

Ques 1.   When is a map is considered to be set?

Ques 2.   What are the various methods to find North?

SECTION-10
MAP TO GROUND

Ques 1.   What are the methods used to identify objects from Map to ground?

SECTION-11
GROUND TO MAP

Ques 1.  What is the intersection method of identifying objects from ground to map?

SECTION-12
POINT TO POINT MARCH
Ques 1.   What is night march?
Ques 2.    What all items are required by navigation party?
Ques 3.   What is the composition of navigation party?
Ques 4.   What points should be kept in mind by all members of navigation party?