How to interpret a site plan or read a map
Working in the area of conservation and land management will require you to be able to read and understand the information provided on site plans and maps.
A site plan or map is a paper or electronic picture that provides information about the area in which you are going to be working. It may contain details of, for example:
- overhead, surface or underground services (such as electricity cables or water pipes)
- natural or man-made features (such as water courses or roads)
- contours, heights and distances.
You can use the information on the site plan to locate features at your work site, including those which you cannot see on the surface.
Roll your mouse over the site plan below to read more about symbols and conventions used on site plans (there are four areas for you to find).
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| Bypass interaction |
There are many different styles of maps that are drawn for a whole range of purposes, from the informal mud map scratched in the dust by the side of the road to provide directions, to a detailed map of the surface of the moon.
You can expect to come across various types of maps, including:
- planimetric maps
- topographic maps
- cadastral maps
- thematic maps.
The information found on maps usually includes:
- map title
- map scale
- legend or key
- North point diagram
- edition and date of production.
Roll your mouse over the map below to read more about these.
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| Bypass interaction |
It is very important to be able to locate exactly where you are by looking at your map or plan. The easiest way to do this is by using readily identifiable landmarks such as towers, buildings or geological features. For example, if you are standing next to a waterfall, you can find the waterfall on the map and can then work out the direction to go to the nearest road.
If there aren't any easily identifiable man-made features you may have to use contour lines on the map to be able to identify landforms, for example, knolls, ridges, mountains, creeks and rivers.
Widely spaced contours indicate a gradual slope, whereas more closely spaced contour lines would indicate steep ground. Each contour line connects points of equal height. For example, if the contour interval was 20m, each line would represent a 20m change in height.
Once you are able to determine exactly where you are on the map, you can then plot on it where a certain feature is. For example, if you were mapping Mallee Fowl nests you could mark their location on your map. This would create a thematic map of Mallee Fowl locations.
It may be necessary to give a grid reference for a location. To do this you would need to refer to the faint lines running at regular intervals both across and up and down the map. These are known as grid lines.
The grid lines are given values that can be seen along the top and down the side of the map. The lines running across the top of the map increase in an easterly direction and are called eastings. The lines at the side of the map increase in a northerly direction and are called northings.
When stating a grid reference, the eastings are always quoted first. The grid reference is always represented by six numbers that are derived as follows:
- Read the two figure grid value to the left of the point of reference and then estimate in tenths the distance from that grid line to the next one. This provides the first three figures (eastings) of the six figure grid reference.
- Read the two figure grid value below the point of reference and then estimate in tenths its distance from the grid line to the one immediately above it. This provides the last three figures (northings) of the six figure grid reference.
Have a look at the example here. The red circle shows the location of the Mallee fowls.
