1. Pros and Cons of Paper Maps
Pros of Paper Maps
Necessary for certain localities, such as distances by road and topographic features, especially when GIS layers are not readily available
Extents more readily obtained
Old paper maps may be the only option for obtaining coordinates for historic localities
Cons of Paper Maps
Time-consuming
Good quality paper maps may be hard to find
Map printing errors

2. Map Anatomy: Map Scale

3. Map Anatomy: Map Scale
usually recorded as a ratio, such as 1:100,000, or a fraction, such as 1/100:000
Large scale maps, such as 1:10,000, show finer detail
Small scale maps, such as 1:500,000, show greater areas

4. Map Anatomy: Map Scale 1:24,000 Large Scale Map

5. Map Anatomy: Map Scale 1:100,000

6. Map Anatomy: Map Scale 1:250,000

7. Map Anatomy: Grid

8. Map Anatomy: Grid
Shows the placement of the parallels and meridians on maps
Used to determine latitude and longitude
Maps with no grid recorded cannot be used to determine coordinates – only to determine extents

9. Map with no grid labeled
Map Anatomy: Grid
Map with no grid labeled

10. Map with no grid labeled
Map Anatomy: Datum
Map with no grid labeled

11. Map Anatomy: Datum
If datum is recorded, usually found near the map scale or publisher’s name
Use Horizontal Datum, not Vertical
Occasionally, if no datum is recorded but the reference ellipsoid is, then one can determine the datum using the pdf document found at (Use Appendix B)

12. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps
Paper maps are necessary when gazetteers will not report needed coordinates
Especially useful for distances by roads and topographic features like rivers and mountain ranges
Pay special attention to the grid lines and the hemisphere (latitudes in the southern hemisphere are negative, and longitudes in the western hemisphere are negative)

13. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps

14. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps: Latitude

15. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps: Latitude

16. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps: Longitude

17. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps: Longitude

18. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps: Error Calculation

19. Determining Coordinates from Paper Maps: Determination Reference
For Determination Reference: be sure to include the following:
Map name
Publisher name
Map Scale
Map Date
Example: United States Geological Society (USGS) Topographic Map California, 1956, map scale 1:24,000, map name “Boone”