Suggestions for the Revision of ISOM 2000 and other comments
(because of its different structure the comments of the Australian Orienteering Federations are not included)

GeneralFederationComments in GrimstadMy comments, suggestions
(as an ISOM2000 team member)
Control
There is too much room for the mapper’s personal interpretation.
SwedenEspecially in minimal sizes of signs.I agree.
Colours
Differentiating between green and yellow PMS 361 causes more problems with colour-blind people than PMS 339.
SwedenSuggestion: to change green PMS value because of colour blinds.
Result of voting: refused (if the green is too bluish, it's too dark for course printing and for night-o).
Don't change or special colour test required!
Combinations permitted
Combination of 401 ”Open land” with 210 Stony ground to be allowed. In the Swiss pre-alps there are many areas with open land as defined under the symbol 401 with scattered stones.
SwitzerlandI agree.
Combinations of 310+402 and 310+402 are relevant for very easy runnable grass marshes.Norway
Four colour printing
The current ISOM does not seem to allow four colour printing. Four colour printing is very difficult to get right, and the quality is very dependent on the capabilities of the equipment and the expertise of the involved. ISOM should specify technical requirements for four colour printing. This should include colour mixes (CMYK-values) for the colours of orienteering maps, requirements to the screens (density, angles and special effects such as frequency modulated screens).
NorwayWe have to deal with CMYK printing.
We have to define all standards of four colour printing for orienteering maps carefully (screens, equivalent CMYK values).
Legibility
Extensive tests are necessary. Some symbols are unnecessary heavy. Generalisation is too weak.
SwedenIt would be necessary to include a guide for generalization in ISOM.
The fieldwork scale must be 1:7500.
The map must show the complexity of the terrain, but the legibility must follow 1:15000 scale.
Guidlines for generalization are necessary to include in ISOM.
It can't be very scientific, but better to write by experts.
North lines
Dimension to be increased from 0.125-0.175 to 0.18 (1: 10000: 0.13 i.e. 1,5 x in printed maps).
FinlandThicker lines.
In general the computer drawing is very precise, the line width are exact, it would be necessary to thicken a little bit thin lines.
0.175 is enough, I think.
We always use blue north lines in Hungary. It would be better to check different opinions.
Number of Symbols
Symbol economy should be the ruling principle of ISOM.
Germany
Norway
Very important not to increase the number of signs.
Rock and boulder
ISOM could be read so that 201 should be used for impassable cliffs while 203 should be used for cliffs that are passable in any direction. If this is the right interpretation, how do we map cliffs that are passable downwards, but not upwards? It is very important to have the possibility to show these kinds of rock faces, as they have a real impact on route choices in many types of terrain. Rock faces that are passable in any direction may be of interest, but they should not come instead of the ”passable down, impassable up” rock faces.
NorwayMake the definition more concrete!
Scandinavian (Norwegian and Swedish) problems: cliffs possible to cross downwards, but not upwards.
Summary of Australian suggestion: we should show the great features accurately, the smaller ones can be generalized.
No comments. I agree with actual symbols, there are no problems on Central European terrains.
Scale
Symbols at scale 1: 10.000 must be enlarged to 150 percent.
SwedenThere are too many maps in 1:10000 scale.
Discussion: the sizes of signs in 1:10000 scale. It would be necessary to use different (generalized) contours in 1:10000 than in 1:15000 scale and omit small features.
If we allow and encourage using more detailed contours in 1:10000 scale, we change the map standards.
I prefer 1:15000, but organizers are keen on 1:10000. Economic point of views are also important factor to use 1:15000. If organizers want 1:10000 scale they want more details.
Screens
40 lines/cm are very coarse. Higher screen frequencies should be allowed; 60 lines/cm.
SwitzerlandI agree with finer screens, but take care of low quality printing, allow lower screens!
Vegetation
Many orienteering maps give the impression of vegetation maps. Especially for beginners this can be misleading. An orienteering map should be primarily a topographical map. This should be mentioned in the specification and the number of vegetation symbols should not be increased.
Germany
Switzerland
Suggestion: if there are no forests in the terrain, allow to use only white for open areas instead of yellow.
Result of voting: changes forbidden.
I disagree with the extreme using of vegetation, but it is the problem of generalization, not the signs.
The boundaries for green classification (10%, 50%, 80%) is artificial. An argument for the current classification scheme is that the dark green can be used to show vegetation barriers. But green should show runnability, not barriers.
Class boundaries to be changed to 25%, 50% and 75%.
NorwayChanges of runnability limits: from 10, 50, 80 % to 25, 50, 75 %.


Actual symbolsFederationComments in GrimstadMy comments, suggestions
(as an ISOM2000 team member)
101 Contour
Dimension to be increased from 0.125 to 0.14.
Finland
Germany
Sweden
± 20 % of deviation is allowed in sign dimension in ISOM. This deviation is enough to make this change.
We have to check the sample map!
I agree.
102 Index contour
The use of index contour should be mandatory for maps with more than 25 metres of elevation variation.
NorwayDifferent opinions, no majority, we have to make decision later.
103 Form line
Dimension to be increased from 0.125 to 0.14.
Finland
Germany
I agree.
112 Small knoll
Diameter to be increased from 0,5 to 0,5?.
FinlandScandinavian (Finland, Sweden) suggestion: elongated knoll, they have used this sign for 20 years.
It would be a minimal size (rotatable), no changes in shape are allowed.
We have to check the sample map!
No comment.
115 Pit
If the dimensions of the present specification are applied to the outermost points of this symbol, the symbol is very small. The present dimensions should be applied to the centre lines
Germany
Switzerland
We have to check the sample map!I agree.
116 Broken ground
Diameter to be increased from 0.175-0.25 to 0.25.
FinlandI don't agree.
201 Impassable cliff
The main line going beyond the last tag to be allowed.
SwitzerlandWe have to check the graphical view, but if we allow it we have to define accurately.
Natural impassable cliff to be shown with rounded ends (there are very few sharp edges in nature). Man-made cliffs could be shown using sharp edges.NorwayI think this sign is too small to be able to identify the differences. I think it is not so important.
203 Passable rock face
Dimension of tags and baseline to be increased from 0.125 or 0.175 to 0.25; length if needed 0.4.
Switzerland
Natural passable rock faces to be shown with rounded ends (there are very few sharp edges in nature). Man-made cliffs could be shown using sharp edges.NorwayI don't agree.
204 Rocky pit
If the dimensions of the present specification are applied to the outermost points of this symbol, the symbol is very small. The present dimensions should be applied to the centre lines.
Germany
Switzerland
I agree.
205 Cave
If the dimensions of the present specification are applied to the outermost points of this symbol, the symbol is very small. The present dimensions should be applied to the centre lines.
Germany
Switzerland
I agree.
209 Boulder cluster
This symbol to be excluded because of apparent confusion with boulder field. Boulder field 208 to be used instead.
SwedenI think it is not a big problem (in Hungary), there are similar features in the terrain, there are similar in sign, but not equal.
Boulder field 208 is very similar. 209 could be dropped by including its intended usage in the specification 208.Norway
210 Stony ground
Dimension to be increased from 0.125-0.175 to 0.25.
FinlandSwiss comment: allow the combination with full yellow.I don't agree.
0.20Norway
Sweden
211 Open sandy ground
The figure of this symbol is not according to the text. The distance between the dots to be measured in a 45° angle (0.6).
SwitzerlandWe have to correct the contradiction.
212 Bare rock
The screen to be reduced from 30% to 20% and increased from 54 lines/cm to 60 lines/cm.
FinlandWe have to check the sample map!Check the test map!
303 Waterhole
If the dimensions of the present specification are applied to the outermost points of this symbol, the symbol is very small. The present dimensions should be applied to the centre lines.
Germany
Switzerland
I agree.
306 Crossable small watercourse
Dimension to be increased from 0.125 to 0.18 in order to easily distinguish between this symbol and 307.
Germany
Sweden
Switzerland
I don't agree.
Why is it necessary to make more difference between the continuous and dashed line?
0.14FinlandWe have to check the sample map!
0.15Norway
307 Minor water channel
Dimension to be increased from 0.125 to 0.18 in order to easily distinguish between this symbol and 306.
Germany
Switzerland
I don't agree.
0.14Finland
0.15Norway
308 Narrow marsh
The dots to be increased from 0.25 to 0.35.
SwedenI don't agree.
0.3, keep 0.5 as dot distance.Norway
310 Marsh
Symbol should be changed so that less obvious forms are legible. See examples.
SwedenSwedish want to make changes in marsh signs, but it is a long process.I agree.
311 Indistinct marsh
Symbol should be changed so that less obvious forms are legible. See examples.
SwedenI agree.
402 Open land with scattered trees
The figure for this symbol is not according to the text. The distance between the dots to be measured at a 45° angle (0.6).
SwitzerlandSwiss comment: there are too many (4) yellow signs. Strong Scandinavian support.
There are changes in forest culture: no full cut, only thinning out.
We have to correct the contradiction.
The dots should be ”adjusted”. No concrete proposal.Norway
404 Rough open land with scattered trees
Symbol to be changed in order to increase legibility and avoid confusion with 402.
SwedenI don't agree.
The figure of this symbol is not according to the text. The distance between the dots to be measured at a 48° angle (0.6).SwitzerlandWe have to correct the contradiction.
The dots should be "adjusted". No concrete proposal.Norway
406 Forest: slow running
Screen to be increased from 20% to 30%.
Finland
Germany
We have to check the sample map!Check the test map!
407 Undergrowth
Symbol to be put together with 409, since the legibility is extensively reduced.
SwedenQuestion: Do we need this sign at all?
Vote: definitely yes.
Is it necessary to change this sign?
It would be good, but what about the new sign.
The symbol 407 and 409 tend to interfere with underlying symbology, particularly contours. A better solution should be found.Norway
408 Forest: difficult to run
Screen to be increased from 50% to 60%.
Finland
Germany
Changes of runnability limits: from 10, 50, 80 % to 25, 50, 75 %.
Last years tendency: too many green on the maps.
Check the test map!
415 Cultivated land
Diameter of black dots to be reduced from 0.25 to 0.20.
Finland
Norway
We have to find out a different sign or we may use permanently out of bond or overprinting symbols?
Cultivated land must not be open (yellow). In many places around the world (e.g. Tanzania) they practice agro-forestry (growing crops in the forest).NorwayIf we leave the sign I agree with the dot reduction.
416 Distinct vegetation boundary
Symbol to be enlarged from 0.175 to 0.22. The present specification is obviously intended for a 0.175 mm pen, which produces larger dots
Finland
Switzerland
0.2NorwayI also suggest 0.2.
509 Narrow ride
The line to be increased from 0.125 to 0.18.
GermanyI don't agree (max. 0.15).
515 Wide ride
There is no need for this symbol.
NorwayI agree.
518 Major power line
The line for pylon to be increased from 0.125 to 0.18.
Sweden I agree.
531 Ruin
Minimum size like building (527).
Sweden
The minimum size is rather large. Is it necessary Norway to use a full line for the ”smalI ruin”?NorwayReduce the minimum size to 0.5x0.5!
539 Cairn
The line width to be reduced from 0.175 to 0.08 and the diameter of the ring.
NorwayI don't agree.
540 Fodder rack
In order not to jeopardise relations between orienteers and landowners/hunters, fodder racks should not to be shown on the map or it should be a local symbol.
SwedenI diasgree.
The relationship doesn't depend on the legend.
We have to show on the map each features which help the runners in navigating on the terrain.
602 Control point
The definition of the line between controls is missing.
NorwayWe have to add the definition!


New symbolsFederationComments in Grimstad
there was minimal time to discuss about it
My comments, suggestions
(as an ISOM2000 team member)
Elongated knoll
improves legibility
Finland?
Sweden
See above!See above!
Even if we accept this sign, it is not necessary to use separate number for it.
Forest difficult to run with great variations
There is a need to be able to show forest which is Sweden difficult to run in but with great variations. The runnability should be equivalent to that of 406. 20 percent screen with large white dots
SwedenWe have similar problems in Hungary, but I definitely disagree to use a new sign.
Bushes
Bushy area with small trees, where you can run by zigzagging as in 406. Green 60% (40 lines/cm), white 50% (16.75 lines/cm)
FinlandExamples from several countries were mentioned.
It would be good to examine photo examples.
Bushes
Uncrossable area of the shores of waterways. Green 33% (27 lines/cm), blue 20%.
FinlandThis would be the area of generalization.I disagree.
Windfalls
In a more ecologically focused forestry, windfallen trees may not be cleared away as it is done today. There will almost certainly arise a need to show these areas on the map. One way could be use the symbol for undergrowth and indicate the runnability direction as is being done in 411.
SwedenIt is actually not a suggestion, but we have to think about this new problem.I think there is not necessary a new sign for it.
Small hut e.g. hunting hut
There is a risk of confusing it to rocks unless the symbol is heavily over-dimensioned
SwedenI don't agree.
Tractor tracks
Deep, clearly visible tracks made by forest tractors. Ground surface broken, reduced runnability. 2 parallel broken lines, 0.08, length 2.5, distance between lines 0.25.
FinlandDifferent opinions.
Question: do we need this new sign?
Voting: the majority is against.
I don't agree.
Trench
Black line 0.13 (same as 414).
FinlandI don't agree.
I suggest to use 110 (small erosion gully). However we may change the definition.
Overprinting symbols
Overprinting should be regarded as part of the Switzerland map and therefore be included in the specification (ski orienteering, mountain bike orienteering, corrections).
SwitzerlandI agree.


Last change: 28 Dec. 1997

Back to the ISOM2000!