UNITED NATIONS/AFRICAN UNION

CIVILIAN POLICE COURSE

LAND NAVIGATIONBY

WARRANT OFFICER ONEFREDRICK MAINA

5TH JUNE 2013

INTRODUCTION Map Reading is a life skill. Improper use

of map or lack of knowledge of map reading can result in casualties in a combat area.

Working in unfamiliar environments like in UN and AU missions calls upon the participants to have some basic map reading skills.

How would the Knowledge got in map reading assist you in your mission?

Locate own position Locate positions of other mission

colleagues Judge distance Judge speed Tell direction Move from one point to another easily. The following are examples of conditions

that you may find yourself in during your mission;

OBJECTIVE At the end of the lesson, the participants

should be able to set maps, use Grid Reference in giving locations and explain the land navigation procedure correctly.

SCOPE

IntroductionBasic definitionsMarginal Information on a mapPoints of a compassGrid System and Grid Reference Map settingConclusion Q & A

DEFINITIONS

Map Is a graphic representation of a piece of

ground drawn to scale.

Navigation Is defined as a method of maintaining

direction both during the day and night.

Scale Is defined as the ratio of the distance on

a map to the actual distance on the ground.

Map Title Map Scale Key to the Map Index to adjoining sheets

Marginal Information

POINTS OF A COMPASS

A compass has four main points, called cardinal points.

These are North, South, East and West.

The points half way between the cardinal points are called intercardinal points.

The intercardinal points are NE, SE, SW and NW

There are eight more points on the compass. They lie half way between the cardinal points and the intercardinal.

They are called secondary intercardinal points.

NORTH POINTS

True North

– Is the direction of the North Pole from the observer.

Grid North

– Is the direction in which the perpendicular grid lines point towards the top of the map.

Magnetic North

– Is the direction in which the needle of a compass points.

INSTRUMENTS OF NAVIGATION

Instruments of Navigation include; Compasses Global Positioning System Maps

GRID SYSTEM Is a network of parallel lines drawn on

maps, so that they intersect at right angles.

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65

67

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40 41 42 4543 44

40 41 42 4543 44

EASTINGS

NORTHINGS

Four-Figure Grid

Reference4368

GRID REFERENCE

Is defined as a method of locating a position on a gridded map

In locating a feature using the grid reference, Easting is given first followed by the Northing.

There are a number of grid references e.g. four-figure, six-figure etc

The following figures indicate a four and six-figure grid references respectively.

A B

C

D E

1181

10 11 12 13 14

11

12

12

11

81 81

82 82

A

B

C

D

E

F

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

12

89

76543

12

89

76543

GIVING A GRID REFERENCE

REMEMBER TO FIRST MUST GIVE THE EASTINGSFOLLOWED BY THE NORTHINGS

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USE OF ROAMERS IN GIVING GRID REFERENCES

A roamer scale is a simple device used for accurately measuring the position of a point within a grid square instead of estimating the tenths.

78 78

77 77

19

19 20

20

QUIZ

WHAT IS THE SIX-FIGURE GRID REFERENCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT EXPERIMENTAL STATION?

ANSWER

751381

QUIZ

WHAT IS THE FEATURE FOUND AT GRID REFERENCE 668366 TO THE NORTH-EAST OF KITENKELA SWAMP?

ANSWER

WATER HOLE

COMPASS

A compass is a simple precision instrument that is used for finding direction, location and navigation.

There are many compasses available in the market but most fall into one of two categories, the 'Prismatic' type and the plain 'Silva' type.

MAP SETTING This is placing the map on the ground

positionally, so that it can correspond to the area it represents.

A COMPASS CAN BE USED TO FIND THE MAGNETIC NORTH

WHILE SETTING THE MAP

ACTUAL NAVIGATION To be conversant with navigation,

one has to have adequate knowledge in;

Use of maps Use of compasses/protractors Global Positioning System Taking/measuring/conversion of

bearing Measuring/judging distance

ACTUAL NAVIGATION CONTINUED

Before you leave your current location to the next;

Identify the GR of your current position

Take the GR of your next destinationEstimate the distance between the

two Grid References

ACTUAL NAVIGATION CONTINUED

Appreciate the ground between the two Grid References

Then match off to your destination using the compass or the GPS.

Repeat the above steps to proceed to subsequent waypoints

CONCLUSION If you feel that you are lost during

navigation; Don’t panic!! Stop, note the time and confirm if you

are really lost. If you are lost, retrace your steps by

heading towards a known feature. On arriving at a known feature re-plot

your route and start fresh navigation.

ANY QUESTIONS