GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Chapter 2: Dissecting Maps25When using planimetric maps, you’ll often encounter these terms: Atlas: An atlas is a collection of maps, usually in a book. Gazetteer: A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary or a book that givesthe names and descriptions of places.MarineMarine charts are maps for inland, coastal, and deep-water navigation. Chartsfrom the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are commonlyused for boating. They provide such important information as waterdepth, buoy locations, channel markers, and shipping lanes. See www.noaa.gov/charts.html for more on NOAA charts.Marine charts aren’t available for all bodies of water. If you’re boating on alake or a river, you’ll probably use a topographic map for navigation.This book focuses on land maps, so there isn’t much detail about marinecharts. Part of a marine chart of San Francisco Bay, California, is shown inFigure 2-3.If you’re more of a sailor than a landlubber, check out Marine Navigator atwww.maptech.com. This commercial marine-navigation program displaysNOAA charts, aerial photographs, 3-D ocean-bottom contours, and tide andcurrent tables.Figure 2-3:A NOAAnauticalchart,showingimportantfeatures formariners.