MAP READING

and
PLOTTING
 Topic Outline

Part I –Map Reading

• Cardinal Directions
• Bearings & Azimuth
• Scale
• Legend

Part 2 – How to manually configure technical

description of your Property
• Descriptive Boundary
• LEGAL Boundary
 What is a map?

• Map is a graphical
representation of the
earth’s surface
• Map is a handy piece of
paper which helps us
visualize HOW A PLACE
LOOKS LIKE FROM
ABOVE, WHAT
LANDMARKS AND
FEATURES WE CAN
PASS BY on the way to
our destination.
 Kinds of Map
Base Maps - shows
roads, rivers/bodies
of water, political
boundaries and
contour lines
(topographic map)
Kinds of Map

Thematic Maps
(“themes”) – landuse
or zoning map, flood-
prone maps, tourist
destination maps, etc
Kinds of Map

• satellite images
• google maps
Cardinal Directions:

NORTH

WEST EAST

SOUTH
Directions

• Bearing – horizontal direction of • Azimuth – horizontal direction

one point with respect to expressed as the angular
another or to the compass distance between the direction
of a fixed point and the
direction of the object

expressed in
degrees and
minutes
 Tools for
Gauging
Directions
SUN

MAP
COMPASS
 Features of a map

 Names of important places and locations.

 Legend
 SYmbols
 A scale and scale bar
 Grid system
 Contour lines
Map Legend  - is a key to all the symbols used on a map.
It is like a dictionary so you can understand the meaning of
what the map represents. Legend which shows the column
of symbols and their descriptions. This basically tells the
meaning of the representations made on the map.
Map Symbols
 What is Scale?
• The scale of a map is the ratio of a distance on the map to the
corresponding distance on the ground.

Small scale maps are between 1:250,000 and 1:2,500,000.

Medium-scale maps are between 1:25,000 and 1:250,000.

Large-scale maps are those with scales larger than 1:25,000,

such as 1:2,000, 1:5,000, 1:10,000.
Basic Information found in a
Map/approved Plan
• Location of the property
• Name of owner • Subject Lot/Subdivided Lot
• Location of the land • Area in square meters
• Legal Authority • Names of adjoining owners/lot
• Name of GE/Surveyor numbers
• Description of Tie points & tie line • Date of Survey
• Technical description: bearing and • Date of Approval
distance of corners/points along
the boundary lline
 The Technical Description in a TCT is made of:

• Descriptive location- which states

adjacent boundaries on all sides of the
parcel/lot;
• Exact Location - which tells us the
exact degrees and minutes and
distances of each point of a lot/parcel
that makes up a polygon.
 Legal Description of a Lot/parcel

Legally acceptable identification of real estate can be anyone of

the following:
1. Metes and Bounds is the Land description method that
details all the boundary lines of land, together with their
terminal points and angles.
2. Recorded Plat (lot and block number) where PLAT refers to
a plan or map of specific land area – usually seen in a
subdivision plan.
(Ref: Dictionary of Real Estate Terms 4th Edition by Jack P. Friedman, et.al.
1997)
Recorded Plat/Subdivision Plan
 Maps of
different
scales have
different
purposes

• The 1:15,000 scale map

is very useful for
walking (with more
details)
(1 cm on the map= 150
meters on the ground)
Small Scale
Maps

1:275,000 scale -
shows more land
but in less detail.
MANUAL Plotting OF
technical description

“ The Layman’s
way”
 Lot description based
on adjacent boundaries
Lot 1-A is bounded:
a) on the SW along line 1-2 by
existing Brgy Road
b) on the NW along line 2-3 by lot
5578-B-2
c) On the NE along line 3-4 by lot
5579
d) On the SE along line 4-1 by lot 1-B
of the subdivision pland
 Defining lot boundaries on the ground

All these points on the

ground are described in
the TCT as “technical
description

1 2
Cylindrical
3
Concrete
Monument
LOT 10-C “Muhon”
6
4
5
Understanding TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
Technical Description Explanation

Beg. at a point marrked “1” on plan being S.40 Points 1-2 is heading South West measuring a
deg.37’W; thence N 73 deg. 48’ W, 14.94 m.to distance of 14.19 meters
point 2;

Thence N. 14 deg. 57’ E, 26.78 m. to point 3; Points 2-3 is heading North East measuring a
distance of 26.78 meters

Thence S 73 deg. 53’ E, 14.94 m. to point 4; Points 3-4 is heading South East measuring a
distance of 14.94 meters;

Thence S 14 deg. 57’W, 26.80 m. to point of Points 4 -1 is heading SW measuring a distance

beginning of 26.80 meters
Using a protractor in plotting
 If the technical description states South going west or SOUTH
GOING EAST the PROTRACTOR SHOULD BE POSITIONED THIS WAY

 If the technical description states NORTG GOING WEST OR NORTH

GOING EAST THE PROTRACTOR SHOULD BE POSITIONED THIS WAY”
Plotting time….
1. Draw 2 lines intersecting each other at centerpoint
2. Define North, East, West and South (NEWS) on the your drawing
papers
3. For every point that you identify, use it as your point of axis, then
redraw X & Y axis North

West East

South
Step 1 Identify point 1 where point of origin is

Then draw a diagonal line North

from point of origin &
identify point 1

West East

South
Step 2 – Identify point 2
Draw an X & Y Axis where point of origin is Point 1.. Identify position of
point 2
Then draw diagonal line from point of axis to point 2. Measure its distance
based on technical desc.North

West East

Point 1

South
Step 3 –identify points 3
Draw an X & Y Axis where point of origin is Point 2.. Identify position of
point 3 Then draw diagonal line from point of axis to point 3, then
measure distance
North

2
West East

Point 1
1

South
Step 4 –identify points 4
North

West East

Point 1 Draw an X & Y Axis where

point of origin is Point 3.
Identify position of point 4
Then draw diagonal line from
point of axis to point 3. then
measure distance
South
Step 5 –identify point of beginning (pt.1)
North

4 East
West

2
South
Draw an X & Y Axis where
point of origin is Point 4.
1 Identify position of point of
beginning Then draw diagonal
line from
point of axis to point of
beginning (which is point 1
Final Step: Prepare your Lot plan
Lot Plan
TCT N0. 123-RT

Lot 2-A
Juan dela Cruz, et.al

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3
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5,000 sqm
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4 Forbes Park,
Ce

Makati City
A
2-
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1 is
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ar Surveyed by:
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Approved by: Dignadice & Tablizo
____________ Surveying Inc.
DENR Director
Date:________:
 Eleanor M. Liganor
Licensed Real Estate Broker, PRC No.11631
PRC Accredited Lecturer for CPD/Review
President – REBAP Mandaluyong City Chapter – 2014
Committee Chair – CREBANAR – Vigilance & Ethics – 2014
International Realtor Member – NAR 2014
Member – PHILRES Mandaluyong City Chapter
Contact Numbers: 09176285514/09228632589
Email: eleanor.liganor@gmail.com
Website: eleanorliganor.com