IOF%20MTB-O%20Event%20Advisor

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MTBO Mapping
(the map standard and the event advisor)
László Zentai IOF Map Commission http//lazarus.el
te.hu/mc laszlo.zentai_at_elte.hu
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The Event Advisor is necessarily not an
experienced MTBO-mapper, but he/she must be
capable to judge the map quality.The advisor
must be able to make the mapping rules strictly
kept to guarantee the fair competition for each
runner.
Think globally, not locally.
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How MTBO maps are made? (1)

• Mostly based on existing foot-o maps. It is
  important
• to delete unnecessary symbols
• to re-classify the path/track network
• to remove unnecessary features (invisible from
  the roads)
• to carefully check the path junctions and
  crossings
• to add special MTBO features (barriers).

The geographic accuracy is based on the original
foot-o map.
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How MTBO maps are made? (2)
If the maps are made especially for the MTBO
event (no previous foot-o maps were made), they
are probably based on the local topographic maps
(photogrammetric plot, air photo etc.). A random
check of accuracy is advisable, but you dont
have to be a cartographer to be able to find
potential errors just walk/run around the
terrain with a map and use it as a normal
orienteering map.
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ISOM2000 the mapping rule
What is ISOM today?

• Nearly perfect standard for Foot-O (but mostly
  under continuous improvement for other
  disciplines).
• A reliable basis for a fair competition.
• A clear message to organizers on the expected
  standard.
• A clear message to athletes on what to expect in
  order to prepare for competition.
• A rule with wide agreement among competitors and
  IOF member federations.
• In most countries these rules are strictly kept.

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ISOM2000 general requirements
In the ideal case no competitor should gain an
advantage or suffer a disadvantage because of
faults in the map. For the mapmaker, the task is
knowing which features to map and how to
represent them. A continuing involvement in the
sport is important for a basic understanding of
the requirements for the MTBO map its content,
the need for accuracy, the level of detail and
above all the need for legibility. MTBO maps are
generally based on previous foot-o maps. This
background and the smaller scale normally
guarantee the suitable geometric accuracy.
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Scale of the MTBO maps 1
The scale for MTBO maps was not clearly defined.
ISOM2000 The scale for MTBO maps range from 110
000 to 130 000. Maps at 110 000 may be produced
for the shorter distances while 130 000 is
suitable for the long distances. The size of the
map sheet must not exceed 300 mm by 300
mm. Independent of scale, maps should be drawn
with lines, line screens and symbol sizes as
specified for the 115 000 maps. This is
especially important since the line widths for
tracks and paths present information about the
classification. MTBO Rules 2001 15.1 Maps,
course markings and additional overprinting shall
be drawn and printed according to the IOF
International Specification for Orienteering
Maps. Deviations need approval by the IOF
Council. 15.2 Organisers are encouraged to use
maps drawn specifically for MTB-O at a scale of
120.000.
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Scale of the MTBO maps 2
The scale for MTBO maps was not clearly defined.

• WOC 2004 Advisors Report (Tibor Erdélyi)
• Similar to the orienteering competitions should
  be allowed to adjust to the event. That means
  using a larger scale than 120 000 in a short and
  the relay race (115 000, or 110 000) is
  justified.
• MTBO Rules addition (2004)
• The winning times were defined this indirectly
  affects the map scale

Man Woman
Long 90-110 70-90
Middle 50-60 40-50
Sprint 20-30 20-30
Relay 50-60 40-50
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Scale of the MTBO maps 3

• According to the new competition rules for
• International Orienteering Federation, Mountain
  Bike Orienteering events (2004)

15.2 Organisers are encouraged to use maps drawn
specifically for MTB-O at an appropriate scale
which will normally be 110 000, 115 000 or 120
000.
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Scale issue - statistics
Event Scale
2004 Sopron WRE (HUN) Middle 115 000 - Long 120 000
2003 World Cup (1-2, ITA) Normal 115 000 - Long 115 000
World Cup (3, POL) Relay 115 000 - Long 115 000
World Cup (4-6, CZE) Long 115 000 - Short 115 000 (120 000 for order)
World Cup (7, ITA) Relay 115 000 - Classic 115 000
2002 WOC (FRA) Prologue, Long, Sprint 120 000 Relay 115 000
2001 World Cup (1-2, FIN) Middle 110 000 - Short 110 000
World Cup (3-5, AUT) Short, Classic, Relay 120 000
World Cup (6-8, HUN) Classic 120 000 Relay, Score 115 000
World Cup (9-11, FRA) Long 115 000 - Short 110 000
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Scale issue my advice
Scale
Long 115 000 125 000
Middle 115 000 120 000
Sprint 110 000 120 000
Relay 115 000 125 000
The best scales are 115 000 and 120 000. The
dimension of the symbols are the same in every
scale.
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Scale issue the danger of too large scale 1
Route choice problem Remote alternative routes
are not recognised with a long leg between two
controls. Long leg overview problem For long
legs over 2 km it is hardly possible to keep an
overview of more than 25 cm in the map while
running. Map size problem Elite routes up to 25
km long require very large map formats, which can
hardly be handled in the competition.
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Scale issue the danger of too large scale 2
Number of controls problem The general
experience is that a course in a larger scale map
has significantly more controls than a course of
the same length in the same map at smaller scale.
The course is thus more a long "Sprint distance"
event and route choice as an orienteering
technique is often neglected. Wildlife
protection problem With a reasonable map size of
up to A4 it is only possible to represent a
relatively small area. Such an area is generally
too small to permit the designation of adequate
wildlife protection areas.
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Contour interval
5 m is perfect at every scale.
On flat terrains the use of smaller contour
intervals may be considered e.g. 2 m.
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Printing techniques 1
Colour copiers, printers and other digital
printing equipment are not yet suitable for
printing orienteering maps for high level
competitions in foot-o. It is very difficult to
achieve the line quality, legibility and colour
appearance of traditional spot colour printed
maps using this kind of equipment. It is
expected that the continuing development of
computer technology will lead to the possibility
of using alternative printing methods with
quality suitable for large competitions. Most
printing devices use a 4-colour technique (CMYK).
For such devices the same colour settings as
recommended for 4-colour offset printing may be
suitable, but the colour appearance will vary
slightly from one device to another and from one
paper quality to another.
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Printing techniques 2

• Colour printers
• Inkjet printers (dominant on the home market
  colour printing, photo quality printing).
• Colour laser printers (very fast, but still
  expensive).
• Special colour printers (thermotransfer, wax, dye
  sublimation) very expensive, but attractive
  output.

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Printing techniques 3
In non-foot-o disciplines the number of
participants is much lower than in foot-o. To use
of offset printing for producing the maps for
these disciplines would be very expensive and
uneconomic. The less details of these maps, the
thicker line symbols, the smaller number of point
symbols give chance for alternative printing
techniques. To achieve the suitable printing
quality requires good computer knowledge and
thorough test of all elements of the reproduction
process (paper, software, printer driver,
printer, cartridges etc).
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Minor changes in MTBO-map specification (after
ISOM2000)
Minor changes accepted in August 2003 and in
January 2004

• Water and Marsh symbols
• Black bank lines from symbols 301 Lake, 304
  Uncrossable river and 309 Uncrossable marsh were
  deleted.
• Water and Marsh symbols
• For large lakes and wide rivers (301 Lake and
  304 Uncrossable river), using 50 blue fill, a
  100 blue bank line (0.25 mm) may be used in
  place of the black bank line.

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Minor changes in MTBO-map specification (after
ISOM2000)
Minor changes accepted in August 2003 and in
January 2004
Man-made Features Foot-O symbols 510 Visible path
junction, 511 Indistinct junction, 513 Crossing
point with bridge, 514 Crossing point without
bridge were added. Overprinting Symbol 714
Dangerous objects across tracks or paths. This
symbol should be purple, as other overprint
symbols on foot-o maps. These must be highly
visible on the map and should be overprinted
inpurple. Crossable barrier as a short dash.
Uncrossable barrier or out ofbounds a cross or
series of crosses. It was agreed that green
symbols, asthe Australians proposed, would be
less visible to riders and could result
incollisions.
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Minor changes in MTBO-map specification (after
ISOM2000)
Minor changes accepted in August 2003 and in
January 2004

• Man-made Features
• Definitions for 813 Track slow riding to delete
  the words "infrequently used" and for 815 Track
  difficult to ride to delete the words "rarely
  used ".

813 Track slow riding A track at least 1.5 m
wide, with ruts, grassy, wet, muddy or sandy.
Possibility of rocky surfaces. Pedalling is more
difficult, riding is slowed. 815 Track
difficult to ride Track at least 1.5 m wide, with
obstacles such as roots or rocky steps. Many
obstacles, stones, rocks, erosion, mud, land
slides or sand. Very slow or impossible riding.
Could necessitate to carry bike.
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The mapping process and the role of the IOF Event
Advisor

• In the ideal case the Advisor can influence some
  processes
• In connection with the mapping process
• choosing fair terrain (no advantage for local
  competitors)
• instruct the mappers to keep the mapping
  specifications (international view)
• guarantee the map quality (together with the
  national map controller).

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Future trends

• MTBO is developing
• new disciplines were introduced (sprint, middle
  distance),
• more and more countries are participating,
• yearly WOC is introduced,
• more mapping experience,
• wider international recognition.

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Future trends
The mapping specification may change in the
future to improve the legibility

• Emphasize the path network
• thicker black lines,
• change the colour of other black symbols (grey,
  purple, other colours).
• Change some colours to increase the contrast.
• Use less colours and less symbols to emphasize
  the most important symbols.

This improvement will be based on the
collaboration of the MTBO and Map Commission
taking into account the feedback of competitors.
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Thank you for your attention
László Zentai IOF Map Commission http//lazarus.el
te.hu/mc laszlo.zentai_at_elte.hu