Basic Map Layout Checker
Checks a map for essential marginal elements like title, scale, north arrow, legend and datum.
Checklist
Tick off every element a finished map or GIS layout needs before you submit it — including the marginal information and north/scale/legend.
Still outstanding
- Map title
- Author / surveyor
- Date produced
- Data source / credit
- Scale — ratio and bar scale
- North arrow
- Coordinate / grid lines
- Datum and projection stated
- Legend / key
- Consistent symbols and line styles
- Legible, non-overlapping labels
- Sheet / edition number
- Locality or area covered
- Disclaimer / accuracy note
A field and study aid only — follow your organisation's procedures, project brief and QA requirements. Nothing here is stored.
Before you rely on this: First-pass guide only. Verify safety-critical or regulated work against the relevant standards, your project requirements and a qualified professional.
How to use this calculator
- Work down the sections — identification, spatial reference, content and marginal information.
- Tick each element as your map includes it.
- Watch the completeness bar and the ‘still outstanding’ list until everything is done.
How it works
A finished map needs a fixed set of elements so a reader can use it without guessing: what it shows, at what scale and orientation, in which coordinate system, with a legend and source.
This checklist gathers those required elements — including the marginal information and the north/scale/legend a quick QA often misses — into one pre-submission pass.
Worked example
Before you submit. A map with a title, ratio + bar scale, north arrow, grid with a stated datum, a legend and a source credit ticks every box; a missing bar scale or datum shows up immediately in the outstanding list.
Frequently asked questions
Why both a ratio scale and a bar scale?
A printed or zoomed map changes size, which breaks a ratio scale (1:25,000). A bar scale resizes with the map, so always show both.
Is this official course material?
No. It is free study support mapped to surveying course levels — not official North Metropolitan TAFE content or advice. Always follow your lecturer and the official assessment brief, and check your own working.
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Cite this tool
Zerdly. (2026). Basic Map Layout Checker. Retrieved from https://www.zerdly.com/tools/basic-map-layout-checker/
Tip: Enter any known values to calculate the remaining results.
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