Basics of a Topographic Map
One of the most widely used of all maps is the topographic map. The feature that most distinguishes topographic maps from maps of other types is the use of contour lines to portray the shape and elevation of the land. This section further explains the production, map series, and standards of topographic maps.

Printed Topographic Maps
The topographic map series have been available in paper form for all of Wisconsin for almost two decades, and have a great variety of uses. They are printed using a special set of ink colors, and features are separated by color. For instance, blue is reserved for water, green for forest, and only contour lines are brown. However, boundaries, text, and geodetic control points are all printed in black. This section also describes revisions, finding a topo, and where to purchase a topo.

Digital Topographic Maps
Because the features of the topographic maps are of interest for so many purposes, some people have converted them to digital form in various ways. Digitizing maps is not a simple matter (nor is it a standardized process), and scanning these map sheets in their full size requires equipment most of us don't have access to. This section explains what digital raster graphics are, where to download or purchase them, and information on other digital versions of topo maps.

The SCO has produced a Wisconsin Topographic Mapping Guide. This guide consists of an original 12-page introduction published in 1992 and a revised 4-page brief published in 1998. The 4-page hard copy version is available for free from us through our order form or you can view either version online in pdf format (1992 guide or 1998 revised guide).