Conventional signs (cartography)

Drawings from the " wind farm "; 1913 year.

Conventional signs can be classified by scale (spatial extent of objects). So, they distinguish:

• large-scale conventional signs (areal and linear);
• off-scale conventional signs (point);
• explanatory signs.

Areal

Areal symbols on the map display objects that are significant in two-dimensional spatial extent, which can be displayed at a given map scale .

Examples of such objects can be: the territory of the state on a map of scale M 1: 40,000,000 or land on the plan M 1: 500.

Linear

Linear symbols on the map represent significant objects of one-dimensional spatial extent, which can be displayed on a given scale of the map, while the width of which cannot be displayed metrically correctly on a given scale.

Examples of such objects can be: rivers or roads on the map M 1: 10000000.

Linear symbols look like lines of various graphic styles and colors. Moreover, the length of the line in scale corresponds to the length of the object on the ground, and the line width is a conditional value, sufficient only for convenient viewing with the naked eye.

In this case, the position of the described object on the ground corresponds to an imaginary or explicit center line of the symbol.

Spot

Dotted conventional signs on the map display objects that have dimensions on the ground that are not expressed at a given map scale.

For example, a well on the map M 1: 25000 or a city on the map M 1: 40,000,000.

Icons of off-scale dot conventional symbols, which are ideograms , look like quite complex drawings of a given size. In this case, the position of the described object on the ground corresponds to the position on the map of the so-called main point of a point symbol. In symmetrical patterns, this is usually the middle of the base.

Signatures

Signatures are off-scale auxiliary conventional signs designed to describe the names of terrain objects, their characteristics and properties of the map itself.

To perform signatures on cards, special cartographic font headsets are used.

Conventional signs can be divided into general use signs, used to display the situation on the ground regardless of the goals and objectives of the map, and special or thematic, used to display objects or phenomena in a particular professional area. The first include topographic symbols. Thematic ones include a very large group of signs, in fact, separate types of signs for each area of ​​human activity: meteorological, tactical, economic, environmental, demographic, etc.

Topographical Conventions

Meteorological conventional signs

Meteorological conventional signs - cartographic conventional signs indicating the meteorological elements of the environment, characterizing the physical state of the atmosphere and the processes occurring in it. For example: a warm air front, an anticyclone, a low-pressure area, a cloud border, etc.

Military Symbols

Conventional signs in military affairs - conventional signs on the working cards of commanders, used to indicate on maps and other graphic documents the deployment of troops , command posts, rear agencies, units , institutions related to the execution of a combat order, etc. For example: command post , wire fences , tank , etc. ^[1] .

Geological symbols

Economic Conventions

• Aerial photography
• Geodesy
• Geographic Information System
• Cartography
• Space images
• Satellite photography
• Topography
• Officer line

• "Symbols for use on Topographic, Geographic and Apartment Maps and Military Plans", approved by the Chief of the General Staff, in June 1822.
• Rychkov S.Yu. [1] Overview of conventional signs for topographic surveying and terrain mapping by Russian military topographers during the Napoleonic Wars // Patriotic War of 1812: Sources. Monuments. Problems. 2017 SS.47-75, illustrations [2] ISBN 978–5–904363–14–7.
• Conventional signs // Military Encyclopedia : [in 18 vol.] / Ed. V.F. Novitsky [et al.]. - SPb. ; [ M. ]: Type. t-va I. D. Sytin , 1911-1915.

• Topographic conventional signs.
• Symbols of formations in Russia.