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Are we done yet? – We have an excellent representation of a cave now. But it doesn’t look finished – it still doesn’t look like a map that we can share! We are still missing vital components!. Like the scale and the North arrow. A title block, survey information, outer box.
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Are we done yet? – We have an excellent representation of a cave now But it doesn’t look finished – it still doesn’t look like a map that we can share! We are still missing vital components!
All told – these are the extra components that change a ‘drawing’ of cave passage into into a cave map… These are important to make the map usable, understandable and appealing! Lets take a closer look at these components and what they should entail…
Lets Talk about Map Components We will use the Judging sheet as a guideline, not because all maps can or will be judged, but because it is a good reference for making good looking and usable maps. The closer we can follow these recommendations the more the map will stand out as a quality work
Cave Map Required Components: 1) Cave Name Seems Obvious, but there are some rules! - No Abbreviations - Location information (usually County and State) - Graphical hierarchy (should not be too big or small, but should stand out) - Font sizes should emphasize Name - Cave names are usually not underlined
Cave Map Required Components: • 2) Entrance • We need to know where the entrance is – in larger caves this is harder then you may expect, especially to those unfamiliar to the cave • - Clearly marked • - Stand out • - If the map is just a section of the cave, then the connection to the rest of the • cave should be clearly marked • - Entrances should be marked with drip line symbol
Cave Map Required Components: • 3) North Arrow • All maps need a North Arrow! • - Clearly marked as to Magnetic or true North. • - If Magnetic is used, a declination should be provided and dated • - If possible, both a true and Magnetic north arrow can be displayed • - Should be long enough to scale off of • - Not too ornate • - Best if it points in an ordinal direction of the paper the map is on (up, down, • left or right)
Cave Map Required Components: • 4) Scale • All maps need to have some kind of scale so that we know how large the cave is, how big the passages, and so on… • - Should be a Bar scale of some type • - Scaled measurements such as 1”= 50’ should be avoided. As the maps are • reproduced these can lose their meaning • - Units should be included, 2 bars (Metric, English) can be shown if desired • - Not too ornate nor should it overpower • - Should be rational to the size of the map
Cave Map Required Components: • 5) Vertical Control • Vertical Control is necessary to show the vertical extent of the cave – due to the 2-dimentional nature of paper maps, ,this is the most difficult to visualize, and thus MUST be added in some way to make the map useable • This seems obvious, but is one of the MOST forgotten component, and will often disqualify maps in competition • There are two widely used methods:
Cave Map Required Components: 5) Vertical Control (Cont.) Vertical Symbols - Numerical symbols on the plan view denoting distance above or below a certain spot (usually the entrance) called the Datum - Datum MUST be labeled - Units must be shared - All vertical extent and changes should be shown, such as pits, ledges, ceiling heights, water depth - Symbols should be shared in Keys - Can use place outside the map and use leader lines to show location of control, or place within map
Cave Map Required Components: 5) Vertical Control (Cont.) Profile - Usually shows a profile view of the cave - Should include a Vertical Bar with ‘easy’ to read divisions - Units must be shared - Type of profile should be shared (projected, idealized….)
Cave Map Required Components: • 5) Vertical Control (Cont.) • Other types of vertical control are acceptable as long as they are clearly explained and serve the purpose of determining the vertical run of the cave
Cave Map Required Components: • 6) DATA!! • Several Pieces of data MUST be included to finish out the map: • - Date of the survey • - Cartographer • - Survey group or Project • - Class (type) Of survey • Additionally there are several other pieces of data that can be shared to help the understanding of the map • - Length, depth • - Survey crew • - Historical notes
Cave Map Required (?) Components: 7) Symbol Information Symbols used in the map should be explained. Some groups use standard symbols and do not add a legend. This is fine as long as the symbol set used is standard and shared (NSS, MSS ect) However most cartographers add a legend (or key) to the map to explain what the symbols used mean. This is a great way to add more visual impact to the map but does come with some rules: - Every symbol should be detailed - Should be clear, easy to understand, and not crammed or cluttered
Cave Map Required (?) Components: • 8) Cross Sections • Who doesn’t love cross sections?. • Cross sections should be used liberally to explain what the passage is doing. However it can be a complex dilemma to get as much detail in without cluttering the map. • Likewise, complex cross sections can add a lot to the map if done well. • Cross sections should: • - either be scaled the same as the plan, or clearly called out as different • - Should have tic lines showing where they are being drawn in the cave • - Tic Lines should not contact map or cross section • - Should show direction sketcher is facing when drawing and up direction • - Detail in cross section should match plan • - Avoid gutless cross sections, don’t miss the complex areas! • - Adding bedrock symbols can help cross sections stand out • - Can be drawn Separate from plan – but must be located with labels
We have talked quite a bit about the components that make up a good map. But anyone will tell you that a map is more then its components, it is the quality of those components and how they are laid out! Warning - quality is in the eye of the beholder, the following is subjective and highly opinionated
Cave Map Quality: • 1) Drafting Quality • Its All about the Map! • Without a quality representation of the details of the cave, everything else is icing on a poop cake! • - Depends on the quality of the survey notes, You will become a better • surveyor after drawing your first few maps. Work with your surveyors to • maintain a level of detail • - Represent the cave as it really is, try to stay away from formalized • representations • - Take your time to add the details • - However, especially with computer aided drafting, it is easy to add to much • detail. Zoom out to presentation level and check that your detail is not too • dense. Remove some detail if necessary
Cave Map Quality: 1) Drafting Quality (cont) - The amount of detail should be consistent trough-out the map - Floor composition should be called out graphically (or with notation) - Drafting quality should be consistent and good with no gaps, blobs, smudges, or the computer equivalent - Print quality should be good too! A badly printed good map, is still a bad map
Detail too dense Detail Cleaned up Too little detail
Cave Map Quality: • 2) Line Weight Hierarchy • There should be hierarchy used in line weights in the drafting of the details • - Heaviest weight for the walls • - Next lighter for geology/ geological details in cave • - Lightest for details
Cave Map Quality: • 3) Component Hierarchy • Just like details in the Cave Drawing, other components also share a hierarchy • - most important things should be bolder • - Cave Name • - Location • - North Arrow/ scale • - Entrance • - Other cave information
Cave Map Quality: • 4) Balance and Layout • All this talk of detail and hierarchy lead up to one thing – it the map useful, and is it ‘pleasing’ to look at? • Good Maps blend detail and usefulness with a good balance and layout so that it is easy to use as well as something ‘more’ then a collection of details • Balance and Layout is hard to talk about – Lets give some examples
- No Title Hierarchy - Uneven Lettering - Doesn’t fit on Paper very well – Crammed in - No vertical Control - Entrance same font as other names - Cave is lost on page
Good - Good title Hierarchy - Vertical Control - Too Much information thrown in between profile and map - Once again cave gets lost
Better - Cave draws eye, and stands out - But still a lot of white space - Downward facing north arrow?
Even Better - Map fills Page - Cave stands out - Vertical Profile
Ribbon Winner - Color - Striping