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Using topographic maps today
Introduction
If you ask any Search and Rescue team member they will tell you that using a paper topographic map and magnetic compass is still a necessary and required skill in the outdoors. GPS units or phones with appropriate navigation apps can be recharged, but reciever units fail, break, or can be lost. A map and compass are still always included in the ten essentials of hiking. Even with a GPS, it can often be hard to tell where you are on a smallish screen, and even harder to plan out appropriate routes when trails and markings are sketchy. With a properly prepared topographic map and GPS, locating your position using UTM coordinates can be quick and easy.
Topographic maps for the 21st century
A series of papers from the April 1997 issue of Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing.
Map Conversion and the UTM Grid, Frederick J. Doyle. An introductory paper outlining the findings in the following three papers, how they point to the need for education from professional mapping societies, and the need for the USGS to take steps for the continued currency of large scale paper topographic maps in the 21st century.
Datum Shifts for UTM Coordinates, R. Welch and A. Homsey. Describes the shift from the NAD 27 Datum to the NAD 83 Datum, and how this affected not only the latitude and longitude on maps, but the UTM grid position also. Conversion software for UTM coordinates is discussed.
The Gridded Map, Alden P. Colvocoresses. This paper outlines the need for full UTM grids on paper 1:24000 maps into the age of GPS technology.
Field Validation of the UTM Gridded Map, Major N.G. Terry, Jr., USMC. This paper discusses military field tests where particpants did position finding using topographic maps with longitude and latitude, a full UTM grid, and only UTM grid tick marks. The paper recommends the use of full UTM grids on topographic maps when used with GPS receivers.
Printing your own paper maps
Methods for setting up 1:24000 topographic maps with a UTM grid and printing them cheaply.
How to make a printable US Topo map with a dark UTM grid, here at Parsa's Page.
Printing Full-Size USGS Or USFS Topo Quad Maps At Staples, by Colby at Southeast 4x4 Trails, 18 May 2020. Describes how to set up digital USGS topographic maps for printing at a low cost.
Map Tools
Tools that can be used in the field with topographic maps.
Tools for UTM, MGRS, and USNG Coordinates, from MapTools. I recommend slot tools for the scale you need. For USGS 1:24000 maps, the 1:24,000 Pocket Sized Slot Tool is good if you also need a protractor for bearings. For simple position finding using a GPS, the Credit Card Sized UTM Slot Tool is fine. For use in Canada or most European countries, pick up the Pocket Sized UTM Slot Tool - Degrees that adds 1:25000 and 1:50000 scales. MapTools has tutorials on how to use these tools. They have some short, basic video tutorials on the use of a map and compass, and how to use the UTM grid.
Conversion tools
Online web pages for coordinate conversions and file type conversions.
NGS Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT). Converts latitude and longitude, UTM, MGRS (US National Grid), or State Plane Coordinates into several detailed coordinate forms and maps the location.
Earth Point - Convert Coordinates. Converts coordinates including Lat/Long, UTM, and MGRS. The entry boxes take several formats. Batch conversion is possible on the site also.
North American Datum Conversion. Converts latitude and longitude to and from NAD 27 and NAD 83.
Convert Geographic Units, Yellowstone National Park Research Coordination Network, Montana State University. Simple coversions between latitude and longitude and UTM for various datums.
GPSVisualizer. Convert between many geospacial file types then create maps in several formats from the data.
MyGeodata Converter. Another tool that converts between many geospacial file types.
ConvertCSV. A page that converts to and from several geospacial file types and spreadsheet CSV files.
Elevation Finder, at FreeMapTools. Enter lat/long to find a location's elevation in feet or metres.
What is my elevation? Another tool for finding elevation from coordinates. Click Change Location to start.
Lessons in reading and interpreting scientific maps
Presentation notes on Topographic and Geologic Maps. Steven Varner.
Reading Topographic Maps. A lesson featuring a tour around a USGS 1:24000 topographic map quareangle. Use the resources below to fill out the lesson.
Introduction to Topographic Maps.
A video lesson by Seth Horowitz.USGS Valley Center quadrangle 1975 revision. A topographic quadrangle that can be used for this lesson. A printed paper map works best, however.
Topographic maps symbols pamphlet. From the USGS for their topographic maps.
Topographic maps symbols. Important symbols in black ink.
Topographic Profile Lab. An activity for drawing slope profiles along sections of a topographic map.
How to Draw Topographic Profiles.
GazdonianProductions.Creating a topographic profile (cross-section).
earthsciencevids.
Making and Reading a Geologic Map. A lesson on the terms and features of geologic maps, including practice in making a small geologic map and key.
How to read geologic maps (And more!).
BetterGeology.How to read a geologic map.
naturebytesvideo.Reading for Part 1 – Introduction to Geologic Maps. USGS
Reading Resource: Geologic time chart with events. Steven Varner.
Lab Map Sheet for Part 2: Black and white geologic map of part of the 7.5′ Valley Center Quadrangle. Uncolored map needed for Part 2 of the lab. Steven Varner.
Lab Map Key: Key to the Geologic Map of the Valley Center 7.5′ Quadrangle. Uncolored map key needed for Part 2 of the lab.
Map and key coloring resource: Geologic Map Color Codes. Colors needed for coloring the geologic map. Colored pencils or crayons may be used. Steven Varner.
Map resource for Part 4: Minnesota geologic map, from the Geologic Map of the U.S.. A larger version of the map in Part 4.
Other resources
United States Geological Survey. Ticonderoga quadrangle, New York, Vermont [map]. 1:24,000. 7.5 Minute Series (Topographic). Reston, Va: United States Department of the Interior, USGS, 2019.
A modern US Topo map of the Ticonderoga quadrangle, the lower third of which was used as the pull-out map for Björn Kjellstrom's classic book Be Expert with Map and Compass. This PDF file can be printed at a shop like Staples as a 24×36 inch sheet, and trimmed to 24×29 using the cutting guide lines. This modern 2019 version of the map features a dark UTM grid, as outlined in my method linked to above, so that positions can be found using a UTM grid tool.
Note: this is a large PDF for printing. For viewing purposes open this JPEG file instead.