From Geoscience Australia
JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

Map Reading guide: How to Use Topographic Maps Edition 4

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

JSON format icon JSON RDF format icon RDF ISO19115-3 XML

The Map Reading Guide is an ideal resource for a wide range of map users and is an excellent and simplistic introduction to topographic maps which are suitable for anyone with an interest in maps. It contains:

an explanation of what is a topographic map steps on how to read topographic maps, including explanations of map scale and how to use a map scale to calculate distance the differences between grid north, true north and magnetic north an explanation of projections and symbols used on topographic maps how hills and mountains are shown on maps using relief shading, hypsometric tinting, and contours what a datum is and why there are different datum explanations of the difference between geographic and grid coordinates how to quote grid references from topographic maps how to plan a successful trip using topographic maps using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers and magnetic compasses with topographic maps using a topographic map to find your current position and to set a course.

This product is the guide/map romer card combination.

Files and APIs

Tags

Additional Info

Field Value
Title Map Reading guide: How to Use Topographic Maps Edition 4
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/en/dataset/90aaa9e9-f275-4ac8-a995-5d07e6d62e46
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
ClientServices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 22/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage Australia
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Map Reading guide: How to Use Topographic Maps Edition 4". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/map-reading-guide-how-to-use-topographic-maps-edition-4