Experiments in the Design of 1:100 000 Scale Topographic Mapping for Great Britain

Abstract

Most European countries have a national topographic map series at 1:100 000 scale, but currently Great Britain does not. The history of mapping at or around 1:100 000 in Britain is described briefly and consideration given as to why such a scale would be appropriate for a national series of mapping aimed at tourist and leisure users. The main focus of the article is to review a series of 1:100 000 scale maps of two sample areas of Great Britain, produced in the style of various western European medium scale topographic maps. Two further design examples are produced combining desirable characteristics of the maps examined. The results show both that many of the designs translate well to 1:100 000 scale maps of the British landscape and that there is considerable potential for a topographic base at this scale providing a basis for a national series aimed at tourist and leisure users.     

EXPANSION OF PAPER AS AFFECTING BEARING

Abstract

The problem of the influence of the paper itself on bearings taken off maps or plans has been recently discussed by G. T. M. in this Review (iii, 22, 479). The following alternative method of solving the problem may be of interest; the same figure and symbols are used as in the article mentioned.     

NOTES ON THE USE OF THE SLIDE-RULE IN TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEYING

Abstract

The Survey in which the following methods were employed was for a final map on a scale of 1/500,000, with contours at a 500-foot Vertical Interval. In order to make use of any available information shown on existing maps, the scale used in different areas in the field was that of existing maps. These scales were 1,000 roods to 1 inch (1 rood = 12.396 English feet), 840 roods to 1 inch (1/125,000), and 1,680 roods to 1 inch (1/250,000).     

Land use and land cover changes over a century (1914–2007) in the Neyyar River Basin,Kerala: a remote sensing and GIS approach

Abstract

Land use and land cover change, perhaps the most significant anthropogenic disturbance to the environment, mainly due to rapid urbanization/industrialization and large scale agricultural activities. In this paper, an attempt has been made to appraise land use/land cover changes over a century (1914–2007) in the Neyyar River Basin (L=56 km; Area = 483.4 km²) in southern Kerala – a biodiversity hot spot in Peninsular India. In this study, digital remote sensing data of the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series I-D (LISS III, 2006–2007) on 1:50,000 scale, Survey of India (SOI) toposheet of 1914 (1:63,360) and 1967 (1:50,000) have been utilized to map various land use/land cover changes. Maps of different periods have been registered and resampled to similar geographic coordinates using ERDAS Imagine 9.0. The most notable changes include decreases in areas of paddy cultivation, mixed crops, scrub lands and evergreen forests, and increases in built-up areas, rubber plantations, dense mixed forests, and water bodies. Further, large scale exploitation of flood plain mud and river sand have reached menacing proportions leading to bank caving and cut offs at channel bends. Conservation of land and water resources forms an important aspect of ecosystem management in the basin.     

A PNEUMATIC APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE FLATNESS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES

Abstract

The paper describes a simple pneuluatic apparatus, working at a pressure of about ½lb./in.², which enahles the flatness of photographic plates to be checked rapidly prior to their use in the camera. The errors of flatness are shown directly by the levels of coloured water columns in parallel manometer tubes; the magnification is 2,500 and the linear range is ±15μ (±0.0006 in.). The apparatus essentially measures departures from a prescribed form and has therefore other applications.     

MAPPING OUT OF CROWN LANDS IN CEYLON

Abstract

13. As mentioned earlier (xi, 83, 199) the “Final Village Plan”, which is evolved from the 4-chains-to-an-inch (1:3,168) “Block Survey” village plan after inquiry and settlement of claims as between the Crown and private parties, provides a sound basis for mapping-out and for the subsequent administration of the Crown estate. But as (in all cases) the development of Crown land could not await Block Survey and “Settlement”, it was also necessary to undertake mapping out in areas which had not been systematically surveyed, and for which no continuous large-scale plans were available.     

THE APPLICATION OF TRANSFORMATION FACTORS TO THE ADJUSTMENT OF AIR PHOTOGRAPHS COVERING NARROW LAND AREAS AND COASTLINES

Abstract

1. This new method of adjusting air photographs numerically to a uniform scale on a final map grid has already been described by the writert, where it concerns a large block-adjustment. The method to be described in this paper is the application of the same principle to the adjustment of photographic strips, covering narrow land areas and coastlines.     

'Be Map Aware: Cutting-edge…Not Close to the Edge'

Abstract

An assessment is made of the accuracy of the map and written survey, which is essentially a list of land-holders and the areas held by each, and of their mutual consistency. The geometry of the map is compared quantitatively with that of the first edition (1852) Ordnance Survey 6-inch (1 : 10 560) map. The Saxton map is found to have a scale of 1 : 5140, leading to the conclusion that the perch used in the scale bar represents 7¹/₉ yards or thereabouts. The areas quoted in the written survey are consistent with acres based on this value. The positional accuracy of points on the map is found to be ～20 m, and areas of typical plots determined from the map are uncertain by between about 4 and 12%. The relationship between these two facts can be understood through a detailed study of the statistics of the errors in separations of points on the map. The written survey is found to omit a substantial number of plots of land from its listings. The map thus appears to be more reliable overall than the written survey.     

USEFUL EXPERIENCE IN THE CREATION OF COMPUTER ATLASES

The activities of the Pacific Institute of Geography, USSR Academy of Sciences in the creation of a series of standardized computer (line printer) atlases of sown areas and yields of basic agricultural crops at 1:8,000,000 scale are described. Contributions by Institute researchers in the development or refinement of greytone scales for alphanumeric areal symbols, computer mapping programs in general, and applications of line-printer maps in planning and nature management are also mentioned. Translated from: Izvestiya Akademiya Nauk SSSR, seriya geografi-cheskaya, No. 3, 1986, pp. 128-130.     

Upscaling in situ albedo for validation of coarse scale albedo product over heterogeneous surfaces

ABSTRACT

One of the essential steps for satellite albedo validation is upscaling in situ measurements to corresponding pixel scale over relatively heterogeneous land surfaces. Although the multi-scale validation strategy is applicable for heterogeneous surfaces, the calibration of the high-resolution imagery during upscaling process is never perfect, and thus the upscaling results suffer from errors. The regression-kriging (RK) technique can compensate the calibration part by applying kriging to upscale residuals and produce more accurate upscaling results. In this paper, in situ measurements and high spatial resolution albedo imagery combined with RK technique was proposed. This method is illustrated by upscaling surface albedo from in situ measurements scale to the coarse pixel scale in the core experimental area of HiWATER, where 17 WSN nodes were deployed at heterogeneous area. The upscaling results of this method were compared with the upscaling results from multi-scale strategy. The results show that the upscaling method based on in situ measurements and high-resolution imagery combined with RK technique can capture the spatial characteristics of surface albedo better. Further, an attempt was made to expand this method in time series. Finally, a preliminary validation of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer albedo product was performed as the tentative application.     

FIGURES OF REFERENCE FOR THE EARTH

Abstract

1. The object of this note is to clear up what I believe to be some misconceptions regarding the use of a reference system by a surveyor of the earth's surface. In his article “An Aspect of Attraction”, E.S.R., No. 7, pp. 24–8, Major M. Hotine expressed doubts as to the validity of the process usually followed. I may say at once that I consider these doubts are unfounded.     

A LOGARITHMIC AREA-COMPUTING SCALE

Abstract

The computing scale to be described is based on the principle of the logarithmic slide-rule and has been devised for the rapid and accurate evaluation of quadrilateral areas from cadastral field sheets on the 1/2500 and larger scales.     

A NOTE ON THE TRIGONOMETRICAL SURVEY OF SOUTHERN RHODESIA

Abstract

After the completion of Simms's Geodetic Chain in 1901 and the publication of the results in 1905—Volume iii of the Geodetic Survey of South Africa—nothing further of a geodetic nature was done until 1928 when a short chain was run westwards from Simms's chain, at about latitude 17° 10′, to fix the Copper Queen mining area. The Eastern Circuit was commenced shortly after this; it runs from Salisbury eastwards to the Portuguese Boundary, southwards through Umtali to about latitude 20° and then westwards, joining Simms's chain again to the east of Bulawayo. Another chain running north from Simms's work has been commenced near Bulawayo. The several series are exhibited on the outline map attached.     

The Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland: An Outline of its History and Present Mapping Tasks

Abstract

This explains the formation of the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland as a separate institution in 1921, when it took over the map series which until that time had been part of the Ordnance Survey (U. K.) responsibility. As happened with many mapping organisations, replanning and reorganisation took place after 1945; this included a triangulation for Northern Ireland to provide a basis for a new Irt"sh Grid, and the introduction of the 1:1250 scale for major urban areas.

The technical problems of reproduction and revision are then considered, and details given for each of the main series.     

Coloured Roads on Ordnance Survey First Edition 1 : 2500 Plans and One-Inch Maps 1897–1935, and the Rights Of Way Disclaimer

Abstract

In 1892 a government committee of inquiry into the Ordnance Survey suggested that the Survey should make a distinction between public and private second class roads at the one-inch scale. This study is confined to England and Wales and looks at the nineteenth-century practice of colouring roads on the large-scale plans, and compares the representation of coloured rural roads on early Ordnance Survey one-inch maps with near contemporary highway records of the county of Huntingdonshire, sixteen rural district councils in six counties and an estate in Suffolk. The results show that all but four of the coloured roads on the one-inch maps in these areas are recorded as publicly maintainable highways.     

ERRORS OF THE PARALLEL-PLATE MICROMETER

Abstract

The last issue (No. 26) of the Review contained an article on “Observing with the Zeiss and Wild Theodolites”, making reference among other matters to the errors of the parallel-plate micrometer. The statement was made that the error was due to the difference in travel between the two plates. This is not strictly correct but could not be better expressed without additional explanation, out of place in an already overlong article.     

FURTHER NOTES ON FIGURES OF REFERENCE

Abstract

Major Hotine (E.S.R., No. II, pp. 264–8) still finds the location of a reference spheroid to offer insuperable difficulties. I confess that my difficulty is to see his! In my previous article (E.S.R., No. 8) at the foot of page 76, I used the word “coincidence” in error for “parallelism”. This harmonizes the article and I am glad that Major Hotine has directed attention to the error.     

TRIGONOMETRICAL HEIGHTS AND THE COEFFICIENT OF TERRESTRIAL REFRACTION

Abstract

Mr. A. J. Morley has contributed a series of articles in the Review (E.S.R., iv, 23, 16; iv, 25, 136 and vi, 40, 76) on the adjustment of trigonometrical levels and the evaluation of the coefficient of terrestrial refraction with a view to ascertaining how other Colonies and Dominions deal with these problems. This object is very commendable as several problems concerning both the observational and theoretical sides arise in height determinations, regarding which there is not much guidance in the usual treatises on the subject.     

The SPOT satellites: From SPOT 1 to SPOT 4

Abstract

The recently launched SPOT 1 satellite belongs to a family of second generation remote sensing spacecraft which has been designed to ensure more than 10 years of continuity for the corresponding data delivery.

Starting with the model 1 of the satellite series, the paper describes successively its sun synchronous orbit, the 2 identical imaging instruments and the other subsystems such as the on board tape recorders, the telemetry package, the stabilization equipments and etc. Special emphasis is given to the technological innovations put into the design of this satellite, and its twin model 2, with respect to the first generation satellites represented by the three first spacecraft of LANDSAT Series.

The paper then details the improvements carried out on the design of the 3rd and 4th models, to ensure the service continuity beyond 1990, and to deliver even more powerful data in terms of potential applications.     

THE DERIVATION OF CERTAIN PROJECTION FORMULAE FOR THE SPHERE

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to make available to readers of the Review a simple method of derivation from first principles of the projection farmulae for same of the more impartant normal conical projections.