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- SIY2.TXT Write a Land Description from a Map 19
-
- Chapter 2
-
- Write a Land Description from a Map
-
- For this chapter you will need:
-
- a) Silva Ranger type 15 compass, available for $41 + $5 shipping & handling
- from CAVE Inc, 1/2 Fast Road, Ritner, KY 42639. 606/376-3137. If you do not
- have a Silva Ranger compass, then you may substitute a circular protractor and
- a ruler. You could even make do with a schoolchild's protractor and ruler, but
- you won't like it.
-
- b) These instructions,
-
- c) Pencil & note paper,
-
- d) The maps which you plotted in Chapter 1 or 1_C.
-
- You will NOT need:
-
- a) Any land,
-
- b) Any land description,
-
- c) Any assistants,
-
- d) Nor to leave the comfort and safety of your kitchen.
-
- e) You don't even need this computer, except to make a printout so that these
- instructions can be doodled with a pencil.
-
- Label your note paper "Data measured from Map 1".
-
- Make column headings, "TO FROM COMPASS TAPE COMMENTS".
-
- Get out the map which you made from the data of Table 1.
-
- Station 0 is the starting point. On the first line write "0" for station TO,
- "0" for station FROM, 0 for the COMPASS direction, and 0 for the TAPE
- distance. Now you have started somewhere.
-
- Onwards. TO 1, FROM 0. Lay your compass on the map next to station 0. Turn
- your compass so that the mirror points in the direction of travel. Slide the
- compass so that the edge of the compass base aligns with the line TO 1, FROM
- 0. Now turn the compass dial so that the red and black arrow points north on
- the map and the black lines inside of the dial align with the north-south lines
- on the map. Remove the compass and read the COMPASS direction under the index
- blob. Record this number in your notes.
- SIY2.TXT Write a Land Description from a Map 20
-
- To measure the TAPE distance, use the ruler on the base of your compass.
- Remember, this ruler is graduated in twentieths of an inch, not sixteenths.
-
- Fill out your table of data. At each station, record the station TO, the
- station FROM, the COMPASS direction, and the TAPE distance. Now compare this
- table with Table 1. They should be the same.
-
- How close is close enuf? For now, 5 degrees and 5 hundredths of an inch. For
- serious work you can be accurate to 1 degree and 1 hundredth.
-
- Any boundary on a map can be described as a land description by this method.
-
- 1} Start someplace.
-
- 2} Then measure the direction and distance to the next point.
-
- 3} Repeat step 2 until you have your land description.
-
- Any point on the map, such as the location of a building, well, or cave can be
- described in this way. Draw a line TO the point FROM a point which you have
- already located. Measure the direction and distance. The station FROM need
- not be THE previous station. It need be only A previous station. Be sure to
- keep track of the station FROM when you write your land description.
-
- Now label another table. The name of this table is "Data measured backwards
- from Map 1". Write the standard column headings, "TO FROM COMPASS TAPE
- COMMENTS". Add another column, "compass backwards".
-
- Start at station 4. TO 3, FROM 4. Measure and record the compass and tape the
- same way as you did before. In addition, at each station take another compass
- direction reading with the red and black arrow pointing backwards. Pointing
- south on your map. Record this direction under compass backwards.
-
- Compare the land description going forwards with the one going backwards.
- Notice that you have the same compass and tape (or close enuf) going in either
- direction around the map. They are in different places, to be sure.
-
- The value of "compass backwards" can be calculated. Simply add 180 to, or
- subtract 180 from, the compass reading going in the normal direction. Take the
- choice which gives the answer between 0 and 360 degrees.
-
- Play around with this until you are convinced that you can translate map into
- land description, and land description into map. Forwards and backwards.
- Fluently. And when you get confused again, draw yourself pictures until you
- are unconfused.
-
- No magic. Magic is for such as magicians and politicians. It will get a
- surveyor or a scientist into BIG trouble. Don't.
-