Orthophoto and Topographic Maps: Map Skills Recap.

A topographic map is a type of map that...

• Accurately depicts the location of natural and man-made features by means of symbols, colour, and elevation.

• Shows the layout of the earth's surface.

• Shows a picture of the earth's surface.

• Shows the street pattern in a settlement.

Which of the maps below is a topographic map?

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Answer explanation

As you noted in the previous question, topographic maps use symbols to accurately show the layout of the earth's surface. The other maps here either do not use conventional map symbols or are aerial photographs that have been made into orthophoto maps.

Tags

Maps

Topographic maps

Which of the symbols below show contour lines?

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Answer explanation

Contour lines are usually brown in colour in maps and are used to show altitude as they are lines that connect areas with the same height on a map. 

An orthophoto map is a type of map that...

• Accurately depicts the location of natural and man-made features by means of symbols, colour, and elevation.

• Is an aerial photograph or satellite image that is geometrically corrected ("orthorectified") such that the scale is uniform: the photo or image follows a given map projection.

• Shows a picture of the earth's surface.

• Shows the street pattern in a settlement.

What is the scale of an orthophoto map?

• 1:30000

• 1:26000

• 1:20000

• 1:10000

The difference between a topographic map and an orthophoto map is...

Answer explanation

Orthophoto Maps are actually just aerial photographs showing what features actually look like in real life while Topographic maps use symbols to represent said features. One is a representation of reality while the other is a "photograph" of reality.