You will now have to go to the field for the next step, to check the paths, represent the vegetation and draw the elements.
When you leave for your field surveys, you should:
– Check the paths and differentiate them. On an orienteering race map, there are several types of paths (roads, animal tracks, paths, layons, roads…).
– Place the vegetation. This is very important information for the runner because it will give him an idea of the speed of travel. The denser and dirtier an area is on the ground (ferns, brambles), the slower the speed of travel. Draw clearings, pastures, areas of dense vegetation etc….
– Place the elements. They can be of different types: The elements brought by man (black in color) will be the bollards, benches, posts, statues, fences…. It will also be necessary to place all the elements of the ground (brown in colour, these are the mounds, ditches, embankments, holes……). Finally, the other important colour will be green and will be used for all vegetation elements (isolated trees, stumps).
– Every symbol, every color has a meaning. But you can also make a map with your own codes and legend!
You can make 3 cards:
On the first one, we checked the roads: the passable roads, the paths and the tracks (paths not very visible).
On the second one, we placed the colors. On a very detailed orienteering race map, this stage is not done in this way, you have to be much more precise. On this discovery map for children, it is enough to explain the meaning of the different colours… We have therefore represented the vegetation more vulgarly. The very dark green will represent very dense areas and hedges (very hard areas to cross). In the light green, it will be possible to run. In the white, the forest is very clean and the race very fast. Finally, yellow will represent the areas where the sun passes, i.e. clearings or open areas.
On the third, we have placed the elements brought by man, the elements of earth, water and vegetation.
Tips :
Print your base map at a scale half the size to take the readings. This will be more readable for drawing. (for this 1/4000 map, I draw on 1/2000)
It is advisable to use layers, this will allow you to place your elements in relation to the vegetation for example, and not to make the unique sketch unreadable.
To map in the park or in the city, taking pictures of « complex » areas can help you draw the area correctly with your head rested at home.
Google map can also save you time on open areas, it can also help you place vegetation boundaries.
For city mapping, remember to check if the area is on Google street view. You could draw almost anything at home; handy for making a sprint orientation card
If you have elements to place in areas without a marker, you can use a step ruler (measure how many double steps you make over 10 or 20 metres and convert according to the scale of your map.