Is there a good guideline for map making?

[Rob_LS]

Other than the CEAC Guide - It is great, but it is at a higher level...
What do you give a newbie? I've been asked about what are the best practices for putting together a map (RofS or CR) as far as basic do's and don'ts -
No belly poker North Arrow, text readable from bottom or right side, not alternating so you have to keep turning the sheet, white space, tables, details, etc.

Are there any surveyors with opinions on this?

Thanks,

[mpallamary]

Sounds like a great seminar!

Wouldn't it be great of we had some universal and generally accepted standards. Sort of like a good QA/QC program.

[Ian Wilson]

Take a look at the drafting standards that are in effect in South Australia. The standards are very high and create a uniform lookinf set of maps.

Oh! The can lodge their maps electronically by submitting PDFs in stead of wasting huge numbers of trees and tearing the skins of mylars.

Those neighbors to the north in BC, Canda do the same thing.

I'll see if i can get a link to the SA Sandards and post it later...

[Peter Ehlert]

rules? we don't need no stinking rules! we need thinking people

BTW: what the heck is a "belly poker North Arrow"?

seriously, the "one shoe fits all" seldom fits anything well. Isn't 98% of the cook book stuff just personal preference?

[PLS7393]

Each agency should have their own checklist, and that is the best advice to follow. With a few examples from that agency, there should not be any problems for a newbie to follow. Don't forget to do your IN-HOUSE map review prior to submitting to the agency for review. That will help both parties in the map review process (my No. 1 issue with map submittals).

Same goes for a legal description you request a young surveyor to write for you. Give him examples of your style, because that is what YOU want him to learn. Be a GOOD mentor and the profession will benefit from your efforts.

Good luck!

[Lee Hixson]

Some of my own preferences:

1. Mixed lettering, instead of all caps.
2. Different fonts for different types of notes.
3. Clean, simple, unobtrusive, small north arrows and scale bars.
4. Mon descriptions next to the mon, if possible.
5. Use of standard/correct grammar & puntucation throughout.
6. A slight (10%) slant to the lettering.
7. All title block info in the bottom right corner.
8. Full references and comparisons to all adjoiners.
9. Either a Surveyor's Narrative explaining the resolution, or copious notes here and there that accomplish the same thing.
10. Organize all the text, line work, and notes (whenever possible) so that the map has some pattern to it.
11. Tables without boxes.
12. Line weights and text weights that correspond to the order of importance for each. (A little variety goes a long way.)

[land butcher]

Give him a copy of your best map.
Or, maybe someone elses would be a better idea. :)

[Ian Wilson]

Here's the PDF of teh Survey Drafting Manual in use in South Australia. It makes a very interesting read.

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