Description
Learn to navigate and read topographic maps, along with learning to use a hand compass, staff compass and aerial photography. Students will learn differential leveling, pacing, traversing, survey mapping, General Land Office survey methods, legal descriptions, bearing/azimuth survey and topographic interpretation-profiling. Transect survey plotting and sampling will be introduced.
Grading Basis
Graded
Course Learning Outcomes
Core Topics
- Overview of historic mapmaking and tools related to modern surveying and mapping methods, including GIS (geographic information systems) and aerial maps
- Public Land Survey, latitudinal and longitudinal systems; township, range, section system
- Map types and projections
- Map elements (scale, symbols, contours, etc.)
- Map and field calculations
- Field use of maps, orienteering, and GPS
- Basic math needed to perform map and field calculations (trigonometry and geometry)
- Mapping and map making with the use of land survey equipment
- Understanding, use, and navigation with a hand held and staff compass
- Differential leveling, elevation determination, land area determination using closed traversing systems and natural resource feature profiling.