Who are our maps designed for?

MICHAEL WOOD

Hi orienteers. Here’s a plea from a partially sighted runner. I’d like to be able to orienteer well. This means reading the map ahead of where I am, not just running into the area and making the map fit when I get there. A coach once gave me this advice: Be a “that’s where I’m going” orienteer, not a “that’s where I’ve been”.

My eyesight is a quarter of what it once was. It’s not just me but most people my age (75). A study by the Swedish Orienteering Federation using actual orienteering maps shows the degradation of vision with age, it’s a widespread thing called presbyopia.

Our maps follow the international orienteering specifications. These specify things like scale, size of the symbols, the smallest patches of colour, and minimum gaps. Orienteers being what we are, we put in as much as will fit. In fact, clubs delight in seeking out the most feature-filled terrains. How often do you see event promotion featuring the words “detailed” and “intricate”?

Now these specifications are written for international competitions, i.e. people in the prime of life. It’s not surprising that 75-year-olds have difficulty. In fact, eyesight has been degrading through life, though it doesn’t usually become noticeable until our 40s. We older orienteers like detailed terrain too, after all, it gives us a chance to use our skill and experience. Provided we can SEE the detail. Clearly, partially sighted orienteers are going to have a problem with maps designed for the fully sighted.

Larger Scales for Old and Young

Fortunately, there’s a solution. With current technology we can simply print larger. The ONZ Mapping Committee has boiled it down to a simple rule of thumb: Whatever scale the elites need, enlarge at least to 133% from age 40, and to 150% from 60. (It also includes kids, but for a different reason. When the symbols are not well known, size helps recognition). Luckily, older- and younger-competitors’ courses aren’t as long as elite. But even if a bigger map is required, that’s a small price to pay. Refer to the objective of the map; I want to be a “that’s where I’m going” orienteer. These recommendations have been incorporated in the ONZ Rules, sort of. Table 15.2 gives the “normal scales” for various event types and age groups, and some alternative scales “where the complexity or simplicity of the terrain justify them”. Larger scales “can” be provided.

Does It Happen?

The trouble is, it isn’t always done. Last year everyone at Taradale (Pokapu Sprint Champs) got the elite scale of 1:4000. At a local event, after-work sprint around parliament, there were no classes, just choose your course length on maps 1:4000. At Waitangi Weekend 2023 around Christchurch there were no classes except elite. The sprints were ALL at the elite scale 1:4000. Were M75s not welcome?

Sprints are particular sore points, with the importance of barriers, and short races won by seconds. At 1:4000 I can’t see whether tiny gaps have a thin line (merely an edge), a medium line (crossable obstacle) or a thick line (no go). But forest events are also held in detailed terrain. Sand dunes are a particular favourite where the mental picture is hard to acquire in advance. No streams to indicate “down”. Often I feel I am “flying blind” and finding a control comes down to luck. Yet controllers agonise over the slim chance that a dog-leg will help the following runner!!

Club events without age classes are obviously a problem. If a single scale is going to be provided, what is it? Do you disenfranchise the older orienteer? But there’s no excuse for championships. Section 15.2 says the controller must act as an advocate for the competitors, but please consider this: How can a fully sighted controller judge what the partially sighted can see?

Conclusion

Bottom line – 25% visual performance, even 50% is surely “partially sighted”. I’m still capable of orienteering, please don’t put me on the scrapheap. Two things planners and controllers can do. Read Section 15.2 of the rules – it’s just been updated. And whatever scale you deem necessary for elites, provide enlargements for the rest of us.