Febrilyn L.

Pagulayan Soil Science April 12, 2019

Laboratory Exercise 3
Reading and Interpreting Topographic and Soils Map

Introduction

Maps are essential tools in geology. Maps are as important in geology as written texts are in the
study of literature. By studying maps, a geologist can see the shape and geology of the earth’s
surface and deduce the geological structures that lie hidden beneath the surface. Geologists are
trained in map reading and map making. Many geologists have experience mapping some part
of the earth’s surface. It takes some training to read maps skillfully. You are not expected to
become a geological expert in reading maps. However, it will be expected to develop a map
reading skills as it use maps to help learn geology.

A topographic map is one type of map used by geologists. Topographic maps show the three-
dimensional shape of the land and features on the surface of the earth. Topographic maps are
also used by hikers, planners who make decisions on zoning and construction permits,
government agencies involved in land use planning and hazard assessments, and in engineers.
Topographic maps are important in geology because they portray the surface of the earth in
detail. This view of the surface shows patterns that provide information about the geology
beneath the surface. In addition, topographic map provides the frame of reference upon which
most geologic maps are constructed. Reading a topographic map requires familiarity with how it
portrays the three-dimensional shape of the land, so that in looking at a topographic map you
can visualize the shape of the land. Also, to read a topographic map, you need to understand
the rules of contour lines.

A soil map is an object specific spatial model of the soil cover, whose compilation is dominated
by the consideration of soil forming processes (Böhner et al., 2001). Soil mapping is very
important for the correct implementation of sustainable land use management. In recent
decades, soil mapping methods and data availability have increased exponentially, improving
the quality of the maps produced. Despite these advances, local knowledge is a great source of
information, refined for centuries and useful for soil mapping and the implementation of a
sustainable land management. Local wisdom and experience should be an important aspect of
soil mapping because farmers will be one of the major end-users of the maps produced and
they should account for the farmers’ reality. Geographic information systems and spatial
statistics offer powerful tools for producing soil maps, but to maximize their utility it is
important for the mapper to understand the principles and assumptions behind the methods.
However, several problems have been identified in the spatial correlation between folk and
scientific classification related to different cultural variables that influence local soil
classification.

Materials and Methods

A. Area measurement

In measuring the area, the total length and total width of the area covered by each topographic
map quadrangle was measured and the total area of the map was computed. The total area
map measurement converts from m2 into hectares (1 ha. = 10,000 m2).

B. Interpreting Map symbols

1. Determine the symbols and/ or the color used to identify the following map features: River
(large), Road ( National & Provincial), Contour, Swamp, Buildings – using google map
(government offices, hospital & restaurants), Woodland Area, Agricultural Area, Grassland/
Shrub land, Wetland

2. Draw the symbols of the map features and their corresponding color.

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Reference
Bradley A. Miller, in Soil Mapping and Process Modeling for Sustainable Land Use Management,
2017

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/geo/chapter/reading-maps/

https://www.ck12.org/earth-science/topographic-and-geologic-maps/lesson/Topographic-and-
Geologic-Maps-MS-ES/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/soil-mapping