IOF ISSprOM 2019 2 Revision 6 January 2024
IOF ISSprOM 2019 2 Revision 6 January 2024
Revision 6
January 2024
This International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps (ISSprOM 2019-2) has been compiled
and edited by the IOF Map Commission (December 2021).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License.
For additional license information https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/
For the full license text https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/legalcode.txt
ISBN: 978-91-519-0625-6
2
IOF INTERNATIONAL SPECIFICATION FOR
SPRINT ORIENTEERING MAPS
1 INTRODUCTION
The sprint orienteering format has been defined by the IOF as follows:
Sprint orienteering is a fast, visible, easy-to-understand format, allowing orienteering to be staged within areas
of significant population. The sprint profile is high speed. Sprint is built on very high speed running in very
runnable parks, streets or forests.
• It is based on the ISOM 2017-2; but competitors and mapmakers must understand that sprint maps are
special maps.
• Many of the requirements in ISOM 2017-2 will also apply to sprint maps.
• The most important difference between ISOM 2017-2 and this specification is that thick black lines are
only used for uncrossable features.
Sprint orienteering differs from the longer established forms of foot orienteering. Whilst foot orienteering
events traditionally have been staged mainly in forested areas, sprint events can be staged in any type of
terrain. The use of parks and urban terrain in particular has important advantages: it brings the sport to where
people are, and offers opportunities for increasing public and media awareness of orienteering, in accordance
with the objectives of the Leibnitz Convention.
To achieve fairness, it is necessary for mapmakers and course planners to collaborate more closely than for
other disciplines. The correct mapping of reduced running speed, both to degree and extent, is extremely
important for sprint orienteering because of the short winning times.
In urban areas, it is not unusual to find multilevel areas. ISSprOM allows for the representation of simple
underpasses and overpasses.
1.1 Conventions
Several words are used to signify the requirements in this specification:
3
2 PRINCIPLES
2.1 Map legibility
Map legibility depends on the chosen map scale and a well-chosen set of symbols as well as the application
of generalisation rules. The ideal representation would be realised if every feature could be represented in
true shape. Obviously, this is impossible, and an effort to draw each feature true to scale would result in a
map impossible to read. Depending on the chosen map scale, some symbols must represent features and be
exaggerated in size, often far beyond the actual ground limits of the feature represented. In addition, not all
features are essential for the purpose of the map.
Features that are important for navigation indicate runnability, or which are uncrossable in sprint orienteering,
have been listed in Chapter 4. Features that are not important for a competitor taking part in a sprint orien-
teering event should not be mapped. Examples of this are waste baskets, fire hydrants, parking meters and
individual street lights.
• Barriers, such as high walls, high fences and high rock faces, affect route choices and shall be repre-
sented unambiguously. Therefore, these features shall be represented with a prominent thick black line.
• Obstacles which can be crossed, such as fences and small rock faces, are represented with a signifi-
cantly thinner black line than the barrier features.
• Features which can be crossed very easily, such as steps and edges of paved areas, are represented
with a very thin black line.
This principle makes it impossible to use the road and track symbols of ISOM 2017-2 in an unmodified form.
The large scale of sprint orienteering maps makes it possible for roads and vehicle tracks to be represented
in their true shape. Areas or objects that are forbidden to enter or cross are listed in section 17 of competition
rules for orienteering events. Also national rules have to be considered.
See the document Guidelines for mapping and course planning in complex urban structures on sprint orienteering
maps for more details.
4
3 BASIC ELEMENTS
3.1 Scale
The map scale shall be 1:4 000. The IOF competition rules regulate the use of map enlargements for IOF
events. When a map is enlarged, all lines, symbols and screens shall be enlarged proportionally. This also
applies to the course planning symbols.
For older age groups where reading fine lines and small symbols may cause problems due to deteriorating
vision, enlarged maps are recommended for all formats. Enlargement to the scale 1:3 000 is always recom-
mended for the youngest age groups where the capacity of reading complex maps is not fully developed.
Dimensions in this book are given at the printed scale of 1:4 000.
All line widths and symbol dimensions must be kept strictly to their specified value. Certain minimum dimen-
sions must also be observed. These are based on both printing technology and the need for legibility.
min. 0.40
Minimum gaps and dimensions
• Passages between symbols representing uncrossable features should be 0.4 mm
• Gap between two line symbols of the same colour: 0.15 mm min. 0.15 min. 0.15
• Gap between line symbols and area symbols of the same colour: 0.15 mm
OK
ø 1.5 mm
• Opening of fences, hedges and walls: 1.0 mm 5 dots
• Smallest area enclosed by a dotted line: 1.5 mm (diameter) with 5 dots
5
Smallest area of colour Blue, green or yellow full colour: 0.5 mm²
Black dot screen: 0.5 mm²
Blue, brown, green or yellow dot screen: 1.0 mm²
All features smaller than the dimensions above must be either exaggerated or omitted, depending on whether
or not they are of significance to the competitor. When a feature is enlarged, neighbouring features must be
displaced so that the correct relative positions are maintained.
Screens
Vegetation, open areas, marshes, etc. are shown with dot or line screens. The table on next page lists the
permissible combinations of screens.
6
407 Vegetation: slow running, good visibility
308 Marsh
213 Open sandy ground use 401
7
4 DEFINITION OF SYMBOLS
Definitions of features to be mapped and specifications of map symbols are given in the following sections.
Symbols are classified into seven categories:
Note: dimensions are gap or infill between two lines
specified in mm at line thickness
Landforms (brown) distance
the scale of 1:4 000.
Rock and boulders (black+grey) All drawings are at double ø diameter
Water and marsh (blue) scale for clarity only.
symbol orientated to north
Vegetation (green+yellow)
Type of symbols: (OM) = Outside measure
Man-made features (black) P . ................ Point (IM) = Inside measure
Technical symbols (black+blue) L . ................ Line (CC) = Centre to centre
Course planning symbols (purple) A . ................ Area
T . ................ Text
Most of the symbols in this specification shall be orientated to north. That a symbol is to be orientated to north
is indicated with an arrow pointing upward beside the symbol. When a symbol shall be orientated to north,
it means that it shall be orientated to magnetic north and hence relative to the edges of the paper and the
magnetic north lines.
For area symbols, colour percentages are given in the text (“green 50%”) and the illustrations (“50%”).
Detailed graphical definitions for some of the symbols are provided in section 4.8 Precise definitions of sym-
bols.
4.1 Landforms
8
102 Index contour (L, T)
375 1.52 mm Every fifth contour shall be drawn with a thicker line. This is an aid to the
= 6 pt quick assessment of height difference and the overall shape of the terrain
surface. Where an index contour coincides with an area of much detail, it may
be shown with symbol Contour (101).
0.75 (OM) Contour values may be included to aid assessment of large height differences.
0.21
The labels shall be orientated so that the top of the label is on the higher side
of the contour. They are inserted in the index contours in positions where other
0.30
detail is not obscured.
Colour: brown.
105.2 Retaining earth wall seen only from one side (L)
1.9 (CC)
A retaining earth wall is an abrupt change in ground level which can be clearly
0.27
distinguished from its surroundings used for minor peat edges and cultivation
ø 0.7
terraces. If such a feature is higher than 1 m, it should be drawn with the
min. symbol Earth bank (104).
Minimum height: 0.5 m.
Minimum length (isolated): 1.4 mm (footprint 5.6 m).
9
107 Erosion gully (L)
min. 0.37
An erosion gully which is too small to be represented with the symbol Earth
bank (104), Contour (101), Index contour (102) or Form line (103) is represent-
0.75 ed by a single line. The end of the line is pointed. Contour lines may be broken
around this symbol for better readability.
min. Minimum depth: 1 m.
Minimum length: 2.0 mm (footprint 8 m).
Colour: brown.
10
112 Pit or hole (P)
1.1 (OM)
A pit or hole with distinct steep sides which cannot be represented to scale
1.25 (OM)
with the symbol Earth bank (104). The symbol is orientated to north.
0.25 Minimum depth: 0.5 m.
Minimum width: 1 m .
Footprint: 4.4 m x 5.0 m.
Colour: brown.
11
202 Passable rock face (L)
0.30
A passable cliff or quarry.
0.30 0.75 A small vertical rock face may be shown without tags. If the direction of fall of
0.18 0.75 (CC) the rock face is not apparent from the contours, or to improve legibility, short
tags should be drawn in the direction of the fall. For non-vertical cliffs, the tags
min. 0.75
should be drawn to show the full horizontal extent. For passable rock faces
min. 1.1 (OM)
shown without tags the end of the line must be rounded to improve legibility.
Minimum height: 0.6 m.
Minimum length: 1.1 mm (footprint 4.4 m).
Colour: black.
12
207 Boulder cluster (P)
1.2 1.2
A distinct group of boulders so closely clustered together that they cannot be
1.2 marked individually. A boulder cluster must be easily identifiable as a group of
max. 2.0 (CC) boulders. To be able to show the distinction between neighbouring (maximum
(1.44) 8 m apart), boulder clusters with significant difference in boulder size, it is
permitted to enlarge this symbol by 20% (edge length 1.44 mm) for some of
the boulder clusters. The symbol is orientated to north.
Footprint: 4.8 m x 4.0 m
Colour: black.
13
4.3 Water and marsh
301 Uncrossable body of water (A)
min. 0.3 (IM)
An area of deep water such as a lake, pond, river or fountain which may con-
100% (70%) stitute a danger to the competitor. The dark blue colour and the bordering
0.18
black line indicate that the feature cannot be crossed.
Minimum width: 0.3 mm
Minimum area (inside): 0.5 mm² (footprint 8 m²)
Colour: black (outline), blue 100% or 70% for dominant areas.
14
308 Marsh (A)
0.38
A crossable marsh, usually with a distinct edge. The symbol shall be combined
0.12 with vegetation symbols to show runnability and openness. At least two blue
lines shall be clearly visible. The symbol is orientated to north.
min. Minimum area: 2 lines.
Colour: blue.
15
4.4 Vegetation
The representation of vegetation is important to the competitor because it affects runnability and visibility and
it also provides features for map reading.
100 speed in typically
Colour and Runnability
runnabilty (%)
open forest
The basic principle is as follows: 80
• white represents typical open forest,
60
• yellow represents open areas divided into
several categories,
• green represents the density of the forest and
undergrowth according to its runnability and is 20
distance covered in 4 min.
divided into several categories
200 600 800 1000 m
The runnability depends on the nature of the vegetation (density of trees / scrub and undergrowth: bracken,
brambles, nettles, etc.), but runnability is also affected by marshes, stony ground, etc. which are shown by
separate symbols.
16
403 Rough open land (A)
An area of heath or moorland, a felled area, a newly planted area (trees lower
50%
than ca. 1 m) or other generally open land with rough ground vegetation, i.e.
heather or tall grass. This symbol may be combined with symbols Vegetation:
min. slow running, good visibility (407) and Vegetation: walk, good visibility (409) to
show reduced runnability.
Minimum width: 0.4 mm
Minimum area: 1 mm² (footprint 16 m²).
Colour: yellow 50%.
17
407 Vegetation: slow running, good visibility (A)
An area of good visibility and reduced runnability due to, for instance, under-
growth (brambles, heather, low bushes, cut branches, etc.). Running speed is
reduced to about 60-80% of normal speed. This symbol shall not be combined
0.12 0.84 (CC) with the symbol Vegetation: slow running (406) or Vegetation: walk (408).
min. Minimum width: 2 lines.
Colour: green.
18
412 Cultivated land (A)
Cultivated land, normally used for growing crops. Runnability may vary ac-
cording to the type of crops grown and the time of year. Since the runnability
may vary, such areas should be avoided when setting courses. The symbol is
ø 0.2 0.8 (CC) combined with symbol Out-of-bounds area (709) to show cultivated land that
shall not be entered. The symbol is orientated to north.
min.
Minimum width: 3 mm.
Minimum area: 9 mm² (footprint 144 m²).
Colour: yellow, black.
19
417 Prominent large tree (P)
1.2 (OM)
A prominent large single tree.
0.25 White mask is used under the green circle, to improve readability in yellow and
1.4 (OM) green (OM 1.4 mm).
Footprint: 4.8 m in diameter (OM 5.6 m).
Colour: green, white.
20
501.2 Step or edge of paved area at lower level (L)
0.7 0.2
0.1 This symbol shall only be used in large areas with two levels, when it is nec-
essary for orientation. A cartographic gap of 0.15 mm shall apply at both ends
min.
of the line.
Colour: black
21
509.2 Tramway (L)
0.08
A tramway is a public vehicle running regularly along certain streets, usually
0.3
on rails. The track can be easily crossed by the competitor. Tramways are
generally not represented. However, if they serve navigation or orientation,
they can be represented.
Colour: black.
22
darker colour
512.3 Area runnable at lower level (A)
45º Upper part of a two-level structure which can be passed at two levels (except
0.6
the symbols Uncrossable body of water (301), Area that shall not be entered
213 x
(520) and Building (521)). The angle of the pattern is approximately 45° to the
214
301 direction of the axis of the described area.
302 x Combinations possible with the symbols Open sandy ground (213) (replaced
401 with symbol Open land (401) within striped area), Bare rock (214), Uncross-
402
403 x
able body of water (301), Shallow body of water (302) (replaced with symbol
404 x Uncrossable body of water (301) within striped area), Open land (401), Open
405 land with scattered trees (402) (replaced with symbol Open land (401) within
406 x
408
striped area), Rough open land (403) (replaced with symbol Open land (401)
410 within striped area), Rough open land with scattered trees (404) (replaced with
411 symbol Open land (401) within striped area), Vegetation: slow running (406)
412
(replaced with symbol Vegetation: walk (408) within striped area), Vegetation:
413
414 walk (408), Vegetation: fight (410), Uncrossable vegetation (411), Cultivated
501 x land (412) (replaced with symbol Open land (401) within striped area), Or-
501 chard (413) and Vineyard or similar (414) (replaced with symbol Open land
501.3 x
520
(401) within striped area), Paved area (501), Paved area with scattered trees
521 (501.3) (replaced with symbol Paved area (501) within striped area), Area that
522 shall not be entered (520), Building (521), Canopy (522), Out-of-bounds area
709
(709) (replaced with colour 100% upper purple within striped area), Temporary
714 x
0.3 construction or closed area (714) (replaced with colour 100% upper purple
within striped area) in the striped area.
Colour: white
23
515 Uncrossable wall (L)
min. 0.4 An uncrossable wall or retaining wall is a wall, which fulfil the function of an
min. enclosure or solid barrier. It shall not be crossed, because it may constitute
a danger to the competitor due to its height or due to the risk of damage to
private property or the wall itself. Very wide uncrossable walls shall be drawn
in plan shape and represented with the symbol Building (521).
Minimum length: 1 mm (footprint 4 m).
Colour: black.
24
520 Area that shall not be entered (A)
An area that shall not be entered such as a private area, a flower bed, a
railway area etc. No feature shall be represented in this area, except very
prominent features such as railways, large buildings, or very large trees. Road
YELLOW GREEN entrances shall be represented clearly.
100% 50% Paths and roads which are not allowed to run shall not be mapped.
min.
Areas that shall not be entered totally contained within buildings shall be
mapped as being a part of the building.
The area shall always be delineated by a boundary line (at least 0.1 mm in
width).
The area shall be discontinued where a path goes through and white colour is
used as background with overlap 0.15 mm on both sides.
Minimum width: 0.25 mm (footprint 1 m).
Minimum area: 0.25 mm² (footprint 4 m²).
Colour: yellow 100%, green 50%.
25
524 High tower (P)
2.1
A high tower or large pylon. Very large towers shall be represented in plan
0.25
shape with the symbol Building (521). The symbol is orientated to north.
ø 1.2
Footprint: 8.4 m in diameter.
Colour: black.
26
531 Prominent man-made feature – x (P)
1.2 (OM)
Location is at the centre of gravity of the symbol, and the symbol is orientated
1.2 (OM) to north.
0.22
The definition of the symbol must be given on the map.
Footprint: 4.8 m x 4.8 m.
Colour: black.
27
4.7 Course planning symbols
The dimensions of the course planning symbols are specified in mm at the printed scale of 1:4 000. For larger
map scales the symbols shall be enlarged proportionally (to 133% for 1:3 000). They shall not mask out map
detail of at least black, brown and blue 100%. Drawings in this section are at 1:4 000.
28
708 Out-of-bounds boundary (L)
1.0 An out-of-bounds boundary shall not be crossed. It shall be used for temporary
uncrossable boundaries used for the course setting.
min. Colour: purple (lower purple).
29
4.8 Precise definition of symbols
419 512.1
0.7 0.7
1.2
0.7
0.5 1.2 0.25
30
105.2 513.2
0.27 0.11 0.21 0.09
0.7 0.6
1.9 1.9
516 518
3.75 3.75
0.21 0.4
60° 60°
0.75 0.75
0.14 0.14
0.9
528 529
3.75 3.75
0.21 0.4
45° 45°
0.75 0.14 0.75 0.14
0.9
1.5
2.1
31
Errata (changes to the document):
701
20.01.2020 Course planning symbols Precise definition of colour: upper and lower purple.
-714
Correction of the symbol for exaggeration from Open Land
(401) to Paved area (501); Complementing 50% to the
17.05.2020 501.3 Paved area with scattered trees
colour brown;
Correction of the percentage in the graphic: 30% (50%).
Adding Stairway (532) as a symbol, where contour lines
17.05.2020 101 Contour
shall be cut out for better legibility.
Correction of dimensioning corresponding to the precise
02.01.2022 104 Earth bank
definition of symbols.
02.01.2022 108 Small erosion gully Change of minimum number: 3 --> 2 dots.
02.01.2022 501.2 Step or edge of paved area at lower level New symbol.
02.01.2022 505 Unpaved footpath or track Change of line width: 0.1 --> 0.12 mm.
02.01.2022 529 Prominent uncrossable line feature Change of the name of the symbol.
701
02.01.2022 Course planning symbols Graphics of the symbols are drawn at the scale of 1:4 000
- 714
Change of line width of cross hatch: 0.25 --> 0.2 mm;
02.01.2022 709 Out of bounds area Change of gap of cross hatch: 0.8 --> 1.2 mm;
Change of minimum sizes,
710.1
02.01.2022 Crossing point, crossing section ..., they may be emphasized ....
710.2
32
Date Nr Symbol Description
201
15.02.2022 Uncrossable cliff, passable rock face Correction of minimum sizes.
202
01.02.2024 101 Contour Change of text: Contours shall be adapted or broken ...
01.02.2024 107 Erosion gully Deletion of trench in the name and the text of the symbol.
01.02.2024 210 Stony ground Change of graphic: ø 0.2 - 0.25 mm --> ø 0.25 mm.
01.02.2024 302 Shallow body of water Change of the name of the symbol.
01.02.2024 403 Rough open land Adding to text: minimum width: 0.4 mm.
01.02.2024 404 Rough open land with scattered trees Change of dot size: 0.8 mm --> 0.7 mm.
01.02.2024 415 Distinct cultivation boundary Change of line width: 0.1 mm --> 0.15 mm.
33
Date Nr Symbol Description
01.02.2024 501 Paved area Adding to text and graphic: minimum width: 0.35 mm (IM).
01.02.2024 709 Out-of-bounds area Change of line width: 0.25 mm --> 0.4 mm.
105.2
01.02.2024 Precise definition of symbols New symbols.
513.2
34
35