OA Sprint mapping workshop Ballarat, 1 Oct 2015 Andrew Lumsden
Choosing an area Look at aerial photos (Google maps or better) Walk or jog around Look for potential problems: traffic, access issues Assess how good the area is, incl finish & parking Ownership & permission issues What is the potential to use temporary fences or areas that are normally off limits to the public? (To make route choice more complex and/or to reduce the advantage of people who know/study the area.) 2
Landowners Talk to landowners about : when you can use area restrictions on access to parts of area, putting tent pegs or control stands in the ground which days area can be used access to toilets, possible finish area construction plans what maps (plans) their facilities section has of the grounds and buildings 3
Map to commence field work with IDEALLY an OCAD file with: Landowner s plan of buildings, paths etc this can be converted into OCAD symbols Up to date aerial photos 2.0 or 2.5m Contours All georeferenced OCAD file has been set up properly Urban sprint maps are almost always 1:4,000 make sure scale is correct in OCAD In NSW, several orienteers are excellent at sourcing and putting this together. 4
Vary standard OCAD symbol set? Create a separate black and green for impassable walls, fences and hedges put above course purple in the colour chart. Impassable features are the most important thing on the map Create passable fence symbol (0.21 mm) without tags Otherwise, stick to what s in OCAD s New Files it is in line with the specification 5
Some non- IOF agreed variations These have been used in Australia: halos around control numbers (not lines or circles), can help if there are a lot of buildings on the map adjust colours so map is easier to read for colour blind orienteers print at 1:3,000, not 1:4,000 for courses for older orienteers But, do these variations assist our best orienteers when they compete overseas in JWOC, WOC, WMOC? 6
Detailed pre-mapping examination Go for a detailed walk around the area, preferably with field checker, course setter, controller. Look for: Areas with high density detail 1:4,000 What point features do you want to map? Multi-level issues choosing the running level areas to avoid, marshals needed, can only set courses in one direction Gates some sections of map might be difficult to use 7
Mapping process Varies from mapper to mapper 2 extremes: Luddite Lumsden: carry map board with base map under drafting film use a black clutch pencil base map is 1:2,000 for 1:4,000 final map carry aerial photos separately each day: fieldwork for 3 hours then OCAD drawing 6 hours converting base map into OCAD symbols hasn t saved time Maurice Ongania carries multiple GPS s & a tablet Draws in OCAD whilst in the terrain & tidies up contours at home 8
Mapping process Changing things in OCAD takes significantly more time than drawing from scratch so be careful and systematic. If the base map is good enough, pacing & bearings are not necessary Walk around each building, then move onto next building Go into every nook and cranny Look down, forward, around and up Expect some questions from passers-by Dress conservatively, be polite 9
Cartography Urban maps change considerably over time Try not to overlap areas or lines Try to use the correct symbol Drawing speed improves with practice I check printed map against my fieldwork after each drawing session, then make corrections BE CAREFUL WITH VERSION CONTROL Back up each day or save in the cloud 10
Mapping contours Contours must be 2.0 or 2.5m Not unusual for base map to have no, or poor, contours Try at least to get some reliable contours (in NSW 10m contours from Government topographic maps) If base map has poor contours, finish mapping everything else Walk up each hill, look forward on level and estimate where next contour is In open land, I trace my finger around imaginary contour line 11
Field checking The map won t get a High Distinction if its not field checked! I field check my mapping a month or more after initial map is completed My wife also comes along and checks The first course setter and/or controller should also field check Field checking number of corrections can vary from 50 to 1,500 12
Subsequent updates & corrections Once complete and paid for, the map is no longer the mapper s property An urban map will need to be updated Minor inconsistencies might start to creep in It is important for owner of map (eg club) to have good version control processes In time, a full field check might be needed to regain consistency, legibility, etc 13
LEGIBILITY A map with few well chosen features will give a much better map than a map cluttered with many insignificant features. Eduard Imhof Orienteering events should not be won by the person with the best eyes. Tony Simpkins Features that are not important for a competitor taking part in a sprint orienteering event should not be mapped. Examples of this are waste baskets, fire hydrants, parking meters and individual street lights. ISSOM 14
PROMINENT point features Prominent trees, small trees, bushes ; Or X, O: A feature which is significant or prominent that you choose; and define The definition of the symbol shall always be given in the map legend. ISSOM Point features on sprint maps should be : consistently prominent few in number (unless other features are lacking); definable; fixed in the terrain. 15
Too many x s? 16
Try to avoid overlapping symbols X s crossing boundary lines can reduce legibility Bad Good 17
Too many trees & seats? Mapped as open land scattered trees 18
QUESTION Prominent point feature Are these definitions fair? 1. Large metal object 2. Other man made features 3. Playground equipment 4. Prominent person made object: BBQ, Pump, Power box, gas valve, playground equipment, cannon, rail signal, weather station, generator fuel tank, farm machinery, cement block 5. Prominent sign, pole, table 6. Sculpture 7. Sign, artwork or monument 8. Tap 19
Fair definitions Prominent point features are not fair if: Some defined features are mapped and some are not You don t recognise something that s on the map Something that looks like it should be on the map, but isn t 20
ANSWERS The highest probability correct answers are: Sculpture Playground equipment Large metal object But, these will not be suitable on all areas. 21
Legibility - gaps IOF Map Commission: All passages need to be very clear ISSOM: between buildings > 0.4 mm crossing point > 0.9 mm OCAD: staircase > 0.66 mm Unless the gap is too small to run through quickly, always try to be > 0.66 mm 22
Gaps some hints Cut contours that cross steps (ISSOM requires this) Change index contours to normal (ISSOM recommends this) Don t narrow stairways with walls If you have multiple walls/fences between buildings, reduce the size of the building to fit them in (eg wheelchair ramps) Look at gaps on printed map, adjust as appropriate 23
Too many lines ISSOM: Distinct differences within the paved area can be represented with the symbol step or edge of paved area (529.1), if they serve navigation. IOF Map Commission: Avoid marking the border between road and sidewalks/pavement, as this clutters the map. 24
PASSABILITY Black line width is used to show passability Barriers, such as high walls, high fences and high rock faces, affect route choices and shall be represented unambiguously. Therefore, these features shall be represented with a prominent thick black line. Obstacles which can be crossed, such as fences and small rock faces, are represented with a significantly thinner black line than the barrier features. Features which can be crossed very easily, such as steps and edges of paved areas, are represented with a very thin black line. ISSOM 25
ISSOM - crossability Doesn t slow you Might slow you Forbidden to cross
Black line width is really important! Impassable = 0.4 Passable fence = 0.21, passable wall = grey 0.35 Edge of paved area, distinct cultivation boundary, canopy edge, step = 0.07 (not 0.14) The barriers and obstacles are what you want to see when running at speed. 27
Line width differentiation On the run, the forbidden to cross features are of primary interest see next slide TIP: avoid drawing lines over the top of each other - the result is often thicker lines on the printed map 28
Barriers & obstacles only Map What I read at speed 29
BARRIERS THAT ARE FORBIDDEN TO CROSS Features that are represented on the map as impassable, independently of their effective passability, shall not be crossed.... Competitors who do not obey this rule must be disqualified. ISSOM Crossing is not permitted because: Impossible to cross Unsafe to cross (includes all fences and walls > 2m height) Forbidden by the organiser. This is often due to the law or by decisions of the landowner or other interested parties. 30
ISSOM forbidden to cross
Forbidden to cross These features don t have to be impassable in reality: Swim a river Climb a fence Go through doors of a building 32
Forbidden to cross fences Fences < 2m high: Dangerous spikes (1.7m high) Forbidden by land owner (historic & fragile) 33
1 Passable or impassable? 34
2 Passable or impassable? 35
3 Passable? Fence, wall or both? 36
MY ANSWERS All passable, unless land owner would not want feature crossed. 3 = passable fence. Competitors will be on the path, so the fence is the most significant feature for them if course planner put a leg going up to the fence near tree ferns, I d change fence to impassable wall Not enough space for impassable fence tags & fence is passable hence an impassable wall Given design of fence, I d only consider wall height Change to impassable, when wall height > 2m 37
ANSWERS Some points: Any passable forbidden to cross feature on a possible route choice needs a marshal in a serious, competitive race Most organisers don t have surplus volunteers Lots of competitors could cross the fence in 2 quicker than me. Is this unfair or are they just better in the terrain? If a fence is passable but not by all competitors, course planners need to ensure route choices are fair. 38
Multiple features How would you map the hedge, fence, wall (beyond the stairs)? Map: hedge, forbidden to cross, impassable wall Could be one line (choose hedge as visible from both sides) or hedge & passable wall 39
Gates & gaps in fences, etc A crossing point is a gap or an opening in a fence, railing or wall, which can easily be passed through by a competitor. ISSOM If gate is open = crossing point If gate is closed, but easily opened = crossing point (better to keep gate open, if possible) Small gaps or openings which can not easily be passed through by competitors, shall not be represented on the map and shall be closed during the competition. ISSOM Everything else is a fence. 40
Forbidden areas IOF Mapping Commission stresses the need to avoid mapping detail in forbidden areas. It is very important that forbidden areas are easy to interpret. The more detail there is inside a forbidden area, the more difficult it is to see that it as a forbidden area. Avoiding the mapping of hedges and fences inside forbidden areas is particularly important, as linear features are easily mistaken for passages. 41
Symbol 709 Out-of-bounds area - often called temporary out-ofbounds ISSOM: shall only be used for last minute updates to the competition map Used, sensibly, in Australia for areas that are: Temporarily out-of-bounds to everyone - eg building construction sites Areas that are used by public, but are not usable by orienteers busy roads, sporting fields in use on race day, multi-level structures that are impossible to map (eg car parks) 42
Symbol 714 Temporary construction or closed area (50% purple screen) Used for places where there are likely to be a lot of people Examples: crowds watching orienteering (includes stands at WOC Sprint Finish); outdoor cafes 43
QUESTION Gardens which symbol Use: 421 Impassable vegetation (darkest green); or 528.1 Area with forbidden access (olive green)? Both are forbidden to cross. 44
ANSWER 528.1 ISSOM: 421 An area of dense vegetation (trees or undergrowth) 528.1 An area with forbidden access such as a private area, a flower bed, a railway area etc. Are gardens usually dense vegetation? No. 1. Competitor runs, not fights, across a garden. 2. The organiser disqualifies competitor. 3. Competitor complains that feature was mapped incorrectly. 4. Complaint dismissed. 5. What would jury decide? It should uphold protest. 45
Gardens Making judgments on what is and what is not a garden (forbidden area) at race speed is very difficult Mappers need to be consistent But, there are often problems at the margin mapper and course setter/controller need to consult Highly desirable to legitimately have a distinct cultivation boundary line around the garden If a garden is narrower than 0.5mm it is hard to see & probably can be jumped 46
QUESTION 1 Area of forbidden access? 47
2 Area of forbidden access? 48
3 Area of forbidden access? 49
4 Area of forbidden access? 50
ANSWERS 1 = good short cut, orienteers unlikely to cause damage - mapped as forest: easy running 2 = lovely piece of urban forest, steep slope, obviously no foot traffic in past, not a likely route choice mapped as area with forbidden access 3 = left end looks like a garden orienteers could damage, no distinct boundary so, it is all mapped as area with forbidden access 4 = unlikely to be a short cut, immediately across path from 3, looks similar to 3 - mapped as area with forbidden access 51
MAPPPING OF RUNNING SPEED 100% 95-100% 80-95% 60-80% 20-60% 1-20% 0% 52
Running speed: ISSOM v ISOM ISSOM: Open land = very good runnability White forest = easy running ISOM (International Specification for Orienteering Maps) which is used for non-sprint foot orienteering maps: Open land = easy running White forest = easy running Assume: rough open = easy running 53
Trees with bark Slightly slower than lawn. Map as white forest 54
MULTILEVEL STRUCTURES The cartographic representation of more than one level is in general impossible. You only have one sheet of paper! Hence only the main running level should be represented on the map. However, underground passages (e.g. underpasses, lighted tunnels) or overpasses (e.g. bridges), which are important for the competitors should be represented on the map. ISSOM 55
Multilevel structures IOF Mapping Commission on these slides: you could perhaps have put even more emphasis on the need to avoid areas with more than one level. If you need to explain something in a program, then think again about how you map it!!!!! 56
Bridges & underpasses These symbols work better if the bridge or underpass is long Bridge symbol is generally useless between buildings Don t use the ISOM footbridge symbol sometimes used for bridge-like crossings (use passable water instead?) 57
Underpasses and purple ISSOM: If underpasses or tunnels etc. are to be used in a competition, they shall be emphasized with the symbol crossing point (708) or crossing section (708.1)! There are 5 underpasses on next slide s course that do not use 708 or 708.1. The map seems clear. 708 appears on left route choice to 12 I didn t see it in my lounge room, yet alone on the run. 58
World Cup Sprint, CH, 2013 59
Use crossing if it adds clarity Crossing point desirable if there is a 20m high cliff Explained in program, but it was a fun event 60
Underpasses IOF Mapping Commission: It is normally better to mark underpasses with elongated purple crossing symbols than with one crossing symbol at each end, as that emphasizes the passage better. But it depends on the situation. In general, underpasses shall not be used as elements in route choice challenges, as it is impossible to show them clearly on the map. 61
Choosing running level Generally, ground level 1. If the other level is reached by going up or down stairs & going there is not a short cut: OK use stairs with virtual impassable wall 2. If going onto another level is a short cut: care is needed need to work out if you can use bridge or underpass 3. If staying on one level means you end up off the running level care is needed 62
1. Staircase & virtual wall You can U-turn to left at top of stairs 63
2 Go onto another level & short cut Shown in NOL Bulletin impossible to streamer off & not enough volunteers to marshal 64
3 Run flat & go off mapped level This one needs a marshal on race day Busy pedestrian area, so can t streamer it off 65
Multi-levels some areas are not usable The 3 lowest levels look the same when you are on them building out-of-bounds on race day 66
COLLABORATION BETWEEN COURSE PLANNER & MAPMAKER Mapper should note & indicate on a map points where there are potential issues, eg multi-level, crossing of forbidden areas Course setters should tell the mapper where the map is confusing Two or more heads are better than one in terms of resolving contentious issues Listening to each other and coming to a consensus is important 67
Mapper too ambitious From west Original map Post controller one level only 68
TRAFFIC Traffic that can influence the results cannot be allowed in a competition area for sprint orienteering, for fairness and safety reasons. ISSOM Orienteering NSW rules: M/W14 and below should avoid traffic if speed limits are above 40km/h or above 30km/h when there is kerb-side parking. Any traffic marshals used to stop public road traffic must have a Traffic Control Photo Card. 69
Distinguish pavement with traffic Almost an accepted norm in Australia Sydney & NSW University maps: With traffic brown 40% (non-urban) No traffic brown 20% Mark pedestrian crossings (without traffic lights)? No traffic brown with distinct vegetation boundaries (dots) Important for safety, particularly in longer urban races 70
CONTOURS It is permissible to alter the height of a contour slightly if this will improve the representation of a feature. ISSOM Important when there are steep banks Contour lines go through buildings and canopies Cut for steps and other brown features Often need slope tags to show slope along a road is a good place 71
Contours &man made terrain Contours between A & B are different to between C & D 72
STEPS Don t go narrower than OCAD symbols Make sure side of steps is correct step edge, passable wall or fence, impassable wall or fence Don t double up on side of steps lines, eg passable wall over step edge Take care in OCAD not to get step lines too close together Sometimes use OCAD symbol, draw step lines one by one & delete OCAD symbol Some steps end in virtual impassable wall either at end of steps or where it is impassable underneath 73
How to show left side of steps Step edge Impassable wall 74
CANOPIES Show: regardless of height high canopies are noticeable if it rains if it looks like a canopy, but canopy is not solid Canopy grey should only be used if running surface is pavement or steps if running surface is open land, area with forbidden access use those symbols 75
MAP TEXT (oriented to north) Safety emergency phone number, course closure time Legend at least uncrossable features & special features Scale, scale bar, contour interval Name and date of map Copyright & owner Mapper s name, basemap, printer, paper type State or club website URL Grid lines & north arrow 76
PRINTING Adrian Uppill recently got the OK from IOF Mapping Commission to print a 1:15,000 WRE bush map digitally The quality of good quality digital printing is now the same as good offset printing Digital printing seems easier and cheaper to obtain 77
QUESTIONS If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Lumsden: Email: lumsden.byers@gmail.com Phone: 612 9412 3545 78