Radian: A unit of angular measure, an
alternative to degrees. There are 2 x pi radians in a circle, so
one radian is approximately 57.3°.
Reference map:
A
base
map
that has been made more locally relevant by
ground-checking (and correcting if necessary) major features and
adding local landmarks and place names. 'Reference map'
(or reference base map) may refer specifically to the final base
map on which all the information from field surveys and other
sources has been compiled.
Registration marks:
Small marks (usually '+' symbols) used to simplify the aligning
of two or more maps (such as tracing paper or plastic
thematic maps on top of a
base
map) so that the
features on the top map(s) are in their correct positions with
respect to the features on the bottom map.
Relative location:
A location of a place in relation to (for example, 600 m
southwest of, or 100 m downhill from) another place (usually one
whose absolute location is already known).
Remote sensing:
The process of gathering information about the Earth from a
distance. Such data is commonly gathered by
satellite
or
air (aerial) photography.
Resection:
A survey
technique that involves taking bearings to two known
places to determine the location of a third, unknown location
at which you are standing.
Resolution:
The smallest distance or size of object that can be seen in an
image (as acquired, for instance, through
remote sensing).
Adapted with
permission from: Flavelle, A. 2002.
Mapping our Land
