NATR 102: Maps and Navigation

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Class Program

Natural Resources

Credits

Clinical Hours None

Weekly Contact Hours

Course ID

092827

Meets Degree Requirements For

Restricted Elective

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

To read and navigate with a hand compass in bearings or azimuths.

How to use and understand land survey equipment, staff compass, level transit for the completion of traversing and leveling.

Read topographic maps and aerial photography for successful navigation and land parcel determination.

To read and write General Land Office legal descriptions.

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.