A New Manual on Map Uses, Scales, and Accuracies

A Manual on Map Uses, Scales, and Accuracies for Engineering and Associated Purposes, in preparation by a Task Committee of the Committee on Cartographic Surveying, of the Surveying and Mapping Division of the ASCE, is nearing completion. This preparation is part of the long-range objective of the parent committee to aid engineers in obtaining maps which best fulfill their requirements. For a wide range of engineering and associated purposes, the proposed manual will: (1)Provide a means of determining appropriate scales and contour intervals, based on present and past practice; (2)present a functional method for defining map accuracies according to need; (3)furnish guidelines on the map's content and symbols required to depict graphically the details essential to its purpose; and (4)supply information on the availability of existing maps suitable for the intended purpose. This paper will present a brief report on the development of the manual, its purpose, and highlights of its content.