asscciation for mexican cave studies box 7672 ut station austin ...

Cave Map Symbols11On the following pages are three sets of cave map symbols: the set byJames Hedges now being distributed by the NSS office, followed by the AMCS setof symbols and the set of symbols used by Ernst Kastning, a caver active in NewYork, but with considerable experience elsewhere. Other commonly seen sets ofsymbols are those used by the Cave Research Group and the symbols used in MissouriSpeleology. James Hedges has submitted a set of symbols to the NSS to beadopted as the NSS standard cave map symbols, but unfortunately this list is notavailable as it is so long he has not been able to prepare copies, but the maindifference between the list given and Hedges' revised list are covered in thediscussion.Cave map symbols should enable the priRted map to convey as much informationas possible about the three dimensional cave in a limited space. The set of symbolsshould be complete, so that all common features have a unique symbol, andblank paper indicates only lack of data. The set should be versatile so a fewsymbols can be combined to indicate most of the features found in the cave, andthey should be easily used by persons of little artistic ability.The advantages of a standard set of symbols are so overwhelming that itwould seem that a nationwide system would long ago have been established. Thereare several reasons why this has not been done. The first is that most mappingis primarily for local consumption. The local caver provides the vast majorityof all persons actively interested in a cave map and they know the local set ofsymbols, so the map is useful to them. This localism is being weakened as caversincreasingly visit distant areas and feel more a part of national and internationalcaving organizations. Inertia is another reason why a standard set of symbolshas not been adopted. Once a region or a survey has used a set of symbols to drawnumerous maps they do not want to learn a new set and make the old mappinp. obsolete.However, as most surveys and regions will admit that a common set of symbolswill someday be adopted, the sooner the change is made the fewer maps willhave been drafted using an eventually obsolete set of symbols. The need for acommon set of symbols has not been obvious to many non-mapping cavers as mostcave maps, especially those published in journals of wide circulation, are drawnto such a scale that only the general outlines of a cave can be given and nospecial symbols are necessary. Hm.,ever, the relative decline in the cost of printingin relation to the cost of living has made it possible to print more largecave maps that use special symbols extensively, and many of these maps are attainingwide circulation. As the student of speleology travels from Canada to tfuxicoand attends a conference in Yugoslavia he encounters a bewildering variety ofspecial symbols and local notations. Standardization has been taking place slowlythrough communication and personal contact, but the adoption of a standard setof symbols by the ~SS will set the trend for the entire North American continentand should be carefully considered.[2]1Simbolos:@][E]E§J~GJ[2]~023 t. 5 6 7 B 91. pared de La cueva. 2. doL Ina . 3. estaLoctltos etc. 4. gours . 5. derrumbes:6.tlerro. 7.c!iocLoso; 8. pendienle abruplo. 9.pendlente.Cuban Cave Hap Symbols