Cartographic Terminology

[Midgardsormr]

Honestly, this is more the kind of thing I was hoping to find in this thread. I'd also like to find more foreign terms with definitions, such as gebirge, erg, wadi, etc...

So then would you care to provide definitions for those terms? I know wadi, though:

Wadi: A riverbed that is dry most of the year. (Arabic)

[RobA]

Honestly, this is more the kind of thing I was hoping to find in this thread. I'd also like to find more foreign terms with definitions, such as gebirge, erg, wadi, etc...

Well, you can't beat Wikipedia for that... convenient organized into the following categories:

• 1.1 Coastal and oceanic landforms
• 1.2 Erosion landforms
• 1.3 Fluvial landforms
• 1.4 Mountain and glacial landforms
• 1.5 Slope landforms
• 1.6 Volcanic landforms
• 1.7 Deposition landform

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landform

-Rob A>

[Midgardsormr]

Bathymetry: The underwater counterpart to topography. The representation of ocean depth on a map.

[su_liam]

Gebirge - (German) mountains, mountain range
Erg - (Arabic) dune, sandy desert
Hamada - (Arabic) rocky plateau
Chott - (Arabic) salt lake
Djebel - (Arabic) mountain
Nahr - (Arabic) river
Oued - (Arabic) river
Sahara - (Arabic) desert, plain
Sebkha - (Arabic) salt marsh

There's a start.

[Midgardsormr]

Inset: Some maps feature an enlargement of an important area, such as a city or harbor, usually in an otherwise unused corner.

[ravells]

I can't believe there is a word for this:

hachures


/hashyoorz/
• plural noun parallel lines used on maps to shade in hills, their closeness indicating steepness of gradient.
— DERIVATIVES hachured adjective. — ORIGIN French, from hacher (see HATCH3).

[Arkkeeper]

Just to reiterate what we all already know but still should have in the list:

Compass: symbol which represents the the orientation of the map and the direction of north, south, east, and west.

Latitude: Distance Measuring lines going North and South

Longitude: Distance Measuring lines going East and West "Remember when a map has North up, The Longitude lines are long

Key: A box that gives definitions of the symbols used on the map

Scale: The size of the map relative to the actual area the map is displaying.

and here a buttload of a list I found (note: some of these might not apply or have already been listed, it was too big to really go through):

accuracy
Degree of conformity with a standard. Accuracy relates to the quality of a result and is distinguished from precision which relates to the quality of the operation by which the result is obtained.

adjustment
Process designed to remove inconsistencies in measured or computed quantities by applying derived corrections to compensate for random or accidental errors.

adjustment, land- line
Positioning land lines on a map to indicate their true, theoretical, or approximate location relative to the adjacent terrain and culture, by reconciling the information shown on Bureau of Land Management plats and field records with the ground evidence of the location of the lines.

adjustment, standard accuracy
Adjustment of a survey resulting in values for positions and (or) elevations that comply with the National Map Accuracy Standards.

aerotriangulation
The process of developing a network of horizontal and or vertical positions from a group of known positions using direct or indirect measurements from aerial photographs and mathematical computations.

alidade
Instrument, or part of an instrument , for determining direction , either horizontal or vertical . In its simplest form, a peepsight or telescope mounted on a straightedge and used for plotting directions graphically. In such instruments as transits and theodolites, the alidade is the part containing the telescope and its attachments.

altimeter
Instrument for measuring altitudes or elevations with respect to a reference level, usually mean sea level. The most common type is an aneroid barometer. A radar altimeter determines the height of an aircraft above the terrain by measuring the time required for an electromagnetic pulse to travel from aircraft to the ground and back.

azimuth
Horizontal direction reckoned clockwise from the meridian plane.

backshore
Part of a beach that is usually dry and is reached only by the highest tides; by extension, a narrow strip of relatively flat coast bordering the sea.

base map
See: map, base.

bathymetric map
See: map, bathymetric

bathymetry
Science of measuring water depths (usually in the ocean) to determine bottom topography.

beach (seabeach)
Zone of unconsolidated material that extends landward from the low water line to the place where there is marked change in material or physiographic form, or to the line of permanent vegetation (usually the effective lint of storm waves).

bench mark
Relatively permanent material object, natural or artificial, bearing a marked point whose elevation above or below an adopted datum is known.

boundary monument
Material object placed on or near a boundary line to preserve and identify the location of the boundary line on the ground

boundary survey
Survey made to establish or to reestablish a boundary line on the ground, or to obtain data for constructing a map or plat showing a boundary line.

cadastral map
See: map, cadastral.

cadastral survey
Survey relating to land boundaries, made to create units suitable for title transfer or to define the limitations of title. Derived from "cadastre" meaning a register of land quantities, values, and ownership used levying taxes, the term may properly be applied to surveys of a similar nature outside the public lands, such surveys are more commonly called "land surveys" or "property surveys."

cartography
Science and art of making maps and charts. The term may be taken broadly as comprising all the steps needed to produce a map: planning, aerial photography, field surveys, photogrammetry, editing, color separation, and multicolor printing. Mapmakers, however, tend to limit use of the term to the map-finishing operations, in which the master manuscript is edited and color separation plates are prepared for lithographic printing.

chain
Unit of length equal to 66 feet, used especially in the U.S. public land surveys. The original measuring instrument (Gunter's chain) was literally a chain consisting of 100 iron links, each 7.92 inches long. Steel-ribbon tapes began to supersede chains around 1900, but surveying tapes are often still called "chains" and measuring with a tape is often called "chaining." The chain is a convenient unit in cadastral surveys because 10 square chains equal 1 acre.

chart
Special-purpose map designed for navigation or to present specific data or information. The term "chart" is applied chiefly to maps made primarily for nautical and aeronautical navigation, and to maps of the heavens, although the term is sometimes used to describe other special-purpose maps.

chart, aeronautical
Charts designed to meet requirements of aerial navigating, produced in several series, each on a specified map projection and differing in scale, format, and content, for use as dictated by type of aircraft and whether flight is to be conducted under visual or instrument flight rules.

chart, bathymetric
See: map, bathymetric

chart, nautical
Representation of a portion of the navigable waters of the Earth and adjacent coastal areas on a specified map projection and designed specifically to meet requirements for marine navigation. Included on most nautical charts are depths of water, characteristics of the bottom, elevations of selected topographic features, general configurations and characteristics of the coast, the shoreline (usually the mean high water line), dangers, obstructions and aids to navigation limited tidal data, and information about magnetic variation in the charted area.

choropleth map
See: map, choropleth

clinometric map:
See: map, slope

color separation
Process of preparing a separate drawing, engraving, or negative for each color required in the printing production of a map or chart.

compilation
Preparation of a new or revised map or chart, or portion thereof, from existing maps, aerial photographs, field surveys, and other sources.

continuous tone
Image not broken into dots by photographic screen; contains unbroken gradient tones from black to white, and may be either in negative or positive form. Aerial photographs are examples of continuous-tone prints. Contrasted with halftone (screened) and line copy.

contour
Imaginary line on ground, all points of which are at the same elevation above or below a specific datum.

contour interval
Difference in elevation between two adjacent contours.

control mapping
Points of established position or elevation, or both, which are used to fix references in positioning and correlating map features. Fundamental control is provided by stations in the national networks of triangulation and traverse (horizontal control) and leveling (vertical control). Usually it is necessary to extend geodetic surveys, based on fundamental stations, over the area to be mapped, to provide a suitable density and distribution of control points. Supplemental control points are those needed to relate the aerial photographs used for mapping with the system of ground control. These points must be positively photoidentified; that is, the points must be positively correlated with their images on the photographs.

control station
Point on the ground whose position (horizontal or vertical) is known and can be used as a base for additional survey work.

coordinates
Linear and (or) angular quantities that designate the position of a point in relation to a given reference frame.

coordinates, origin of
Points in a system of coordinates which serves as a zero point in computing the system's elements or in prescribing its use.

culture
Features constructed by man that are under, on, or above the ground which are delineated on a map. These include roads, trails, buildings, canals, sewer systems, and boundary lines. In a broad sense, the term also applies to all names, other identification, and legends on a map.

[Arkkeeper]

datum (pl. datums)
In surveying, a reference system for computing or correlating the results of surveys. There are tow principal types of datums: vertical and horizontal. A vertical datum is a level surface to which heights are referred. In the United States, the generally adopted vertical datum for leveling operations is the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. The horizontal datum is used as a reference for position. The North American Datum of 1927 is defined by the latitude and longitude of an initial point (Meade's Ranch in Kansas), the direction of a line between this point and a specified second point, and two dimensions that define the spheroid. The new North American Datum of 1983 is based on a newly defined spheroid (GRS80); it is an Earth-centered datum having no initial point or initial direction.
datum, national geodetic vertical See: national geodetic vertical datum of 1929

declination
In astronomy, the angular distance of a celestial body above (north, plus) or below (south, minus) the celestial Equator. Magnetic declination is the angular difference between magnetic north and true (geographic) north at the point of observation; it is not constant but varies with time because of the "wandering" of the magnetic north pole.

depth curve
Line on a map or chart connecting points of equal depth below the datum.

diazo process
Rapid method for copying documents in which the image is developed by exposure to ammonia.

dike
Bank of earth or stone used to form a barrier, frequently and confusingly interchanged with levee. A dike restrains water within an area that normally is flooded. See levee.

electronic distance measuring (EDM) device:
Instruments that measure the phase difference between transmitted and reflected or retransmitted electromagnetic waves of known frequency, or that measure the round-trip transit time of a pulsed signal, from which distance is computed.

elevation
Vertical distance of a point above or below a reference surface or datum.

ellipsoid
See: spheroid

engineering map
See: map, engineering

ER-55 plotter
Double-projection plotting instrument utilizing ellipsoidal reflectors for light projection.

erosion
Group of natural processes including weathering, dissolution, abrasion, corrosion, and transportation that remove material from any part of the Earth's surface.

estuary
That portion of a stream influenced by the tide of the body of water into which it flows; an arm of the sea at a river mouth.

feature separation
Process of preparing a separate drawing, engraving, or negative for selected types of data in the preparation of a map or chart.

flood control map
See: map, flood control

flood plain
Belt of low flat ground bordering a stream channel that is flooded when runoff exceeds the capacity of the stream channel.

forestry map
See: map, forestry

formlines
Lines, resembling contour lines, drawn to present a conception of the shape of the terrain without regard to a true datum or regular spacing

geodesy
Science concerned with the measurement and mathematical description of the size and shape of the earth and its gravitational fields. Geodesy also includes the large-scale, extended surveys for determining positions and elevations of points, in which the size and shape of the earth must be taken into account.

geoid
Figure of the Earth visualized as a mean sea level surface extended continuously through the continents. It is a theoretically continuous surface that is perpendicular at every point to the direction of gravity (the plumbline).
geologic map
See: map, geologic

graticule
Network of parallels and meridians on a map or chart.

graticule, geographic
System of coordinates of latitude and longitude used to define the position of a point on the surface of the Earth with respect to the reference spheroid.

grid
Network of uniformly spaced parallel lines intersecting at right angles. When superimposed on a map, it usually carries the name of the projection used for the map- that is, Lambert grid, transverse Mercator grid, universal transverse Mercator grid.

[Arkkeeper]

hachure
Any series of lines used on a map to indicate the general direction and steepness of slopes. The lines are short, heavy, and close together for steep slopes; longer, lighter, and more widely spaced for gentle slopes.

halftone
A picture in which the gradations of light are obtained by the relative darkness and density of tiny dots produced by photographing the subject through a fine screen.

high water
Maximum height reached by a rising tide. The height may be due solely to the periodic tidal forces or it may have superimposed upon it the effects of prevailing meteorological conditions. Use of the "high tide" is discouraged.

high water line
Intersection of the land with the water surface at an elevation of high water.

high water mark
Line or mark left upon tidal flats, beach, or along shore objects indicating the elevation or the intrusion of high water.

hydrographic survey
Survey of water area, with particular reference to submarine relief, and any adjacent land. See: oceanographic survey

hydrography
Science that deals with the measurement and description of the physical features of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and their adjoining coastal areas, with particular reference to their use for navigation.

hydrology
Scientific study of the waters of the Earth, especially with relation to the effects of precipitation and evaporation upon the occurrence and character of ground water.

hypsographic map
See: map, hypsographic

hypsography
Topography referred to the national geodetic vertical datum of 1929. The science or art of describing heights of land surfaces with reference to this datum.

hypsometric map
See: map, hypsometric

hypsometry
Science or art of determining terrain relief, by any method.

imagery
Visible representation of objects and (or) phenomena as sensed or detected by cameras, infrared and multispectral scanners, radar, and photometers. Recording may be on photographic emulsion (directly as in a camera or indirectly after being first recorded on magnetic tape as an electrical signal) or on magnetic tape for subsequent conversion and display on a cathode ray tube.

infrared scanner (thermal mapper)
Instrument that detects infrared radiation and converts the detected energy to an electrical signal for recording on photographic film or magnetic tape.

isogonic chart
Chart showing isogonic lines properly labeled with their magnetic declination.

isogonic line
Line joining points on the Earth's surface having equal magnetic declination as of a given date.

isopleth map
See: map, isopleth

Kelsh plotter
Double-projection plotting instrument utilizing swinging lamps to transmit light through contact- size diapositives (positive transparencies).

land use classification system
Coding system of categories and subcategories designed for use on a map to designate land or water use.

land use map
See: map, land use

landmark
Monument of material mark or fixed object used to designate a land boundary on the ground: any prominent object on land that may be used to determine a location or a direction in navigation or surveying.

latitude
Angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of a point north or south of the Equator.

lead line
Line weighted with lead for making depth soundings in water.

levee
Artificial bank confining a stream channel or limiting adjacent areas subject to flooding; an embankment bordering a submarine canyon or channel, usually occurring along the outer edge of a curve.

level surface
Surface which at every point is perpendicular to the plumbline or the direction in which gravity acts.

leveling
Surveying operation in which heights of objects and points are determined relative to a specified datum.
line copy (line drawing) Map copy suitable for reproduction without the use of a screen; a drawing composed of lines as distinguished from continuous- tone copy.

line map
See: map, line

longitude
Angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, of a point east or west of the Greenwich meridian.

low water:
Minimum height reached by a falling tide. The height may be due solely to the periodic tidal forces or it may have superimposed upon it the effects of meteorological conditions.

low water line
Intersection of the land with the water surface at an elevation of low water. Not to be confused with mean low water line.

[Arkkeeper]

magnetic declination
See: declination

map
Graphic representation of the physical features (natural, artificial, or both) of a part or the whole of the Earth's surface, by means of signs and symbols or photographic imagery, at an established scale, on a specified projection, and with the means of orientation indicated.

map, base
Map on which information may be placed for purposes of comparison or geographical correlation. The term "base map" was at one time applied to a class of maps now known as outline maps. It may be applied to topographic maps, also termed "mother maps" that are used in the construction of other types of maps by the addition of particular data.

map, bathymetric
Maps delineating the form of the bottom of a body of water, or a portion thereof, by the use of depth contours (isobaths).

map, cadastral
Map showing the boundaries of subdivisions of land, often with the bearings and lengths thereof and the areas of individual tracts, for purposes of describing and recording ownership. It may also show culture, drainage, and other features relating to land use and value. See:plat

map, choropleth
Thematic map in which areas are colored, shaded, dotted, or hatched to create darker or lighter areas in proportion to the density of distribution of the theme subject.

map digitization
Conversion of map data from graphic to digital form.

map, engineering
Map showing information that is essential for planning an engineering project or development and for estimating its cost. It usually is a large-scale map of a small area or of a route. It may be entirely the product of an engineering survey, or reliable information may be collected from various sources for the purpose, and assembled on a base map.

map, flood control
Map designed for studying and planning control projects in areas subject to flooding.

map, forestry
Map prepared principally to show the size, density, kind, and value of trees in a designated area.

map, geologic
Map showing the structure and composition of geologic features.

map hypsographic
Map showing relief with elevations referred to the national geodetic vertical datum of 1929.

map, hypsometric
Map showing relief by any convention, such as contours, hachures, shading, or tinting.

map, isopleth
Map consisting of lines connecting places of equal value of distribution for a given theme such as rainfall or temperature.

map, land use
Map showing by means of a coding system the various purposes for which parcels of land are being used by man.

map, line
Map composed of lines as distinguished from photographic imagery.

map, orthophotographic
See: orthophotographic map

map, photographic
See: photomap

map, planimetric
Map that presents only the horizontal positions for features represented. distinguished from a topographic map by the omission of relief in measurable form. The features usually shown on a planimetric map include rivers, lakes, and seas; mountains, valleys, and plains; forests, and prairies; cities, farms transportation routes, and public utility facilities; and political and private boundary lines. A planimetric map intended for special use may present only those features essential to the purpose to be served.

map projection
Orderly system of lines on a plane representing a corresponding system of imaginary lines on an adopted terrestrial or celestial datum surface. Also, the mathematical concept for such a system. For maps of the Earth, a projection consists of 1) a graticule of lines representing parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude or 2) a grid.

map series
Family of maps conforming generally to the same specifications and designed to cover an area or a country in systematic pattern.

map, slope (clinometric map)
Map showing the degree of steepness of the Earth's surface by the use of various colors or shading for critical ranges of slope.

map, soil
Map that shows the constitution, structure, and texture of the soil and identifies ongoing erosion.

map, storm evacuation
Map designed to identify coastal areas subject to flooding, to indicate recommended areas of refuge, and to emphasize available evacuation routes.

map, thematic
Map designed to provide information on a single topic, such as geology, rainfall, population.

map, topographic
Map that present the horizontal and vertical positions of the features represented; distinguished from a planimetric map by the addition of relief in measurable form.

marsh, coastal
Area of salt-tolerant vegetation in brackish and (or) saline-water habitants subject to tidal inundation.

marsh, freshwater
Tract of low wet ground, usually miry and covered with rank vegetation.

mean high water
Tidal datum that is the arithmetic mean of the high water heights observed over a specific 19-year Metonic cycle (National Tidal Datum Epoch). For stations with shorter series, simultaneous observations are made with a primary control tide station to derive the equivalent of a 19-year value. Use of "mean high tide" is discouraged.

mean high water line
Intersection of the land with the water surface at the elevation of high water. See: shoreline

mean low water
Tidal datum that is the arithmetic mean of the low water heights observed over a specific 19-year Metonic cycle (National Tidal Datum Epoch). For stations with shorter series, simultaneous observations are made with a primary control tide station to derive the equivalent of a 19-year value. Use of "mean low tide" is discouraged.

mean low water line
Intersection of the land with the water surface at the elevation of low water.

mean sea level
Tidal datum that is the arithmetic mean of the hourly water elevations observed over a specific 19-year Metonic cycle (National Tidal Datum Epoch). Shorter series are specified in the name; that is, monthly mean sea level and yearly mean sea level. See: datum

meander line
Metes-and-bounds traverse approximately along the mean high water line of a permanent body of water. By following the sinuosities of the bank or shoreline, the meander line provides data for computing the area of land remaining after the water area has been segregated. A meander line differs from other metes and bounds surveys in that it does not ordinarily determine or fix boundaries.

meanderable
Capable of being depicted by reference to a meander line.

meridian
Great circle on the surface of the Earth passing through the geographical poles and any given point on the Earth's surface. All points on a given meridian have the same longitude.

metes and bounds
Method of describing land by measure of length (metes) of the boundary lines (bounds).

Metonic cycle
Period of 235 lunations or about 19 years. devised by Meton, an Athenian astronomer (5th century B.C.) for the purpose of obtaining a period at the end of which the phases of the moon recur in the same order and on the same days as in the preceding cycle.

metric system
Decimal system of weights and measures based on the meter as a unit length and the kilogram as a unit mass.

monoscopic
Pertaining to the observation of a single photograph or other view.

monument (surveying)
Permanent physical structure marking the location of a survey point. Common types of monuments are inscribed metal tablets set in concrete posts; and metal rods driven in the ground.

mosaic, aerial
Assembly of aerial photographs whose edges usually have been torn or cut selectively and matched to the imagery on adjoining photographs to form a continuous representation of a portion of the Earth's surface.

multiplex
Stereoplotter of the double-projection type characterized by its use of reduced- scale diapositives and stationary lamphouses with condensing lenses.

multispectral scanner (MSS)
Device for sensing radian energy in several channels of the electromagnetic spectrum.