ASF Cave Survey and Map Standards

New and Changed ASF Cave Map Symbols

Ken Grimes, June 1999 ASF Survey Commission

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Map Symbols

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Introduction

Towards the end of 1998, the International Union of Speleology (UIS) member countries voted to adopt an International Standard set of symbols for use in cave maps. This was the end point of several years of debate and refinement of the proposed standards, part of which was documented on this web site. The vote was strongly in favour of the final set of symbols. Australia abstained because of some perceived inconsistencies among the UIS symbols, and conflicts with our existing ASF symbols. However, there are obvious advantages in modifying the ASF standard to conform as closely as possible with the new UIS standard.

Following discussions at surveying workshops at the ASF conferences at Quorn (1997) and Rockhampton (1999) it was decided to adopt some of the new UIS symbols in place of the existing ASF symbols, to retain some ASF symbols where we preferred them to the new new UIS symbols, and to adopt some other changes and new symbols proposed by Ken Grimes (convenor of the ASF Cave Survey and Map Standards Commission).

This web page lists, with discussion, all the changed or new symbols and also those ASF symbols which we decided to keep even though they did not conform with the new UIS symbols. This page is intended to elaborate on the main ASF Survey Standards document and symbol lists.

The UIS Symbol List

The full the UIS Map Symbol List, as accepted in 1998, can be viewed at the SSS server: www.speleo.ch or under the direct address: www.karto.ethz.ch/neumann-cgi/cave_symbol.pl

For additional information on the UIS symbols please contact Praezis (Philipp Haeuselmann), who is Chairman of the UIS Cave Survey & Mapping Working Group, at  praezis@mpi.unibe.ch.
or via snail-mail at:
     Philipp Haeuselmann.
     Haldenstr. 32
     3014 Bern, Switzerland.

Retained ASF symbols that differ from UIS symbols.

In several cases we have decided to retain the existing ASF symbol, even though this differs from the UIS symbol.

ASF 4.5: Ceiling Form (Roof Step)

The UIS symbol differs from the ASF symbol, being similar to that used for a floor step - but has a dashed base-line with tics rather than a continuous line with tics. I argued against this as I felt that the UIS symbol is too similar to the symbol for a floor step - which could cause confusion. At the 1999 Rockhampton ASF Conference there was a strong agreement to stick with the existing ASF symbol. The ASF symbol 7.6 for a roof canyon has been changed to bring it into conformity with the roof step.

ASF 5.4, 5.5, 5.8: Clastic Sediments - Sand, Mud, Vegetable debris

The UIS standard uses a single symbol (a pattern of dots) for all types of sediments. The ASF in contrast has three symbols: Sand (ASF 5.4), Silt/mud/clay (ASF 5.5) and Vegetable debris (ASF 5.8). This is a useful distinction, and one that can be easily made by non-geologists. At the 1999 ASF Conference we agreed to retain the three ASF symbols.

ASF 6.3: Flowstone

The UIS symbol (a set of dashed lines) is similar to that commonly used for a silt or mud floor in Australia - and is also the standard symbol used for that material on geological maps and diagrams. At the ASF 1999 conference we agreed to retain the existing ASF symbol, shown below.

ASF 6.3:

ASF 6.9: Moonmilk

The current ASF symbol is similar to the UIS one, but differs slightly, and is probably better as it is less likely to be confused with our symbol for flowstone. I suggest that we keep the existing ASF symbol.

ASF 6.9:

New UIS symbols that replace the old ASF symbols.

NB: For symbols dealing with the floor and roof outlines of a cave, the proposed symbol is followed by a side view to illustrate the nature of the feature.

ASF 4.10 & 4.11: Roof Height and Water Depth

The new UIS symbol for passage height is a number (metres) inside a circle. Probably best placed outside a narrow passage, but in a big chamber several symbols can be scattered about inside it to show variations.

ASF 4.10: Roof height

The UIS does not define a symbol for water depth, but the common usage overseas is a number inside a semi-circle, as show below.

ASF 4.11: Water depth and Roof height above water.
The final version shows the two symbols combined - one above the other. Where the water depth fluctuates a date could be added (yyyy.mm.dd).

ASF 5.6: Tree Roots

The UIS has no symbol for tree roots, but unfortunately the old ASF symbol clashes with the new UIS symbol for a stalactites, so had to be changed. At the 1999 ASF Conference several suggestions were made, and we settled on the symbol shown here. It can be drawn vertically for hanging roots, or horizontally for root mats on the floor.

NEW ASF 5.6 :

ASF 5.7: Guano

The new UIS symbol is shown below (I think it is a "gamma" character):

NEW ASF 5.7:

ASF 6.4, 6.5, 6.6: Stalagmites, Stalactites, Columns

This is a major change. The UIS standard uses a set of three conformable symbols shown below. They make a logical set, and one that is much simpler than the existing ASF symbol set. But note that the stalactite symbol is similar to that previously used by ASF for Tree roots so there could be some confusion when using old maps. At the 1999 ASF conference it was suggested that the stalagmite symbol be made more squat than the stalactite symbol. Large stalagmites and columns can still be drawn to actual scale and shape using the prior ASF symbols.

ASF 7.1, 7.2, 7.3: Flowing Water, Pool, and Sump.

The UIS system uses a diagonal hatch for both flowing streams and standing pools, differentiating them by adding an arrow for streams. It uses a diagonal cross-hatch for sumps. This differs from the old ASF symbols only in the orientation of the hatch lines. We decided to adopt the new UIS symbols, but retain the ASF 7.4 wiggly arrow for intermittent streams.

ASF 7.7: Current Scallops & Flutes in general.

The new UIS symbols have an advantage over the old ASF one in that they add a version for the case where the flow direction is not obvious. See also ASF 7.11 for a new symbol for deduced flow directions derived from ANY information.
NEW ASF 7.7 (Directional Scallops & Non-directional Flutes):

ASF 7.8: Direction of air flow.

The new UIS proposal uses the standard meteorological wind arrow, but always has two tails. This seems more consistent than the old ASF 7.8 arrow. The UIS suggests that the date should be in dd.mm.yyyy format - but gives no suggestion for time of day. It would seem better to give both date and time in "international" format yyyy.mm.dd.hh.mm.

NEW ASF 7.8:

New ASF 7.11: Paleo-current direction (NEW Symbol)

The UIS and ASF symbol lists both have symbols for current scallops, which indicate direction of the deduced water flow. But we saw a need for a general symbol for all old flow directions, which is not linked to a single method. This could be used for flows deduced from scallops, flutes, imbricated gravels, rippled sediments, etc. and even for flow directions of lava in volcanic caves! The basis for the deduction could be indicated by a text annotation, or (better) discussed in the accompanying report. Unless there is ample room, the symbol is best placed outside the passage wall.

New, ASF 7.11:

Other New or Modified Symbols for the ASF list.

In addition to the changes to provide conformity with the UIS standard, several other changes were debated at the 1999 ASF Conference.
NB: For symbols dealing with the wall, floor and roof features of a cave, the proposed symbol is followed by a side view to illustrate the nature of the feature.

ASF 4.2: Convex and concave changes in slope of floor (deleted).

Current symbol:  
Nobody seems to be using these. The symbol (a) for Convex Change could be confused with ASF 6.2 (rimstone) and ASF 6.3 (flowstone). In most cases a simple slope arrow (ASF 4.8) would do, perhaps coupled with a line to mark the actual break-of-slope. So at the 1999 ASF conference we decided to remove them from the ASF list. See also discussion of ASF 4.6 which has also been removed.

ASF 4.3 and 4.4: Entrances (Horizontal and Vertical)

The UIS symbol for a vertical entrance differs only slightly from the ASF one (4.3) for horizontal entrances, but in addition the UIS adds a solid triangular arrow as shown above.. However the UIS symbol for a horizontal entrance is quite different to the ASF symbol (it is essentually just a "roof step" symbol at the drip line) and gives no indication of the cliff-line or doline outside. I see no reason for two quite different symbols when we can just modify the vertical entrance symbol to indicate a lack of cliff on one side for a horizontal entrance.

However, those of you that have visited this site before will know that I was also unhappy with the existing ASF symbols and was proposing a change to them. At the 1999 ASF Conference that modification was accepted. The new ASF symbol is the right-hand one in each of the above lines of diagrams.

The new ASF symbol uses a cliff symbol to outline the vertical face of the entrance coupled with a roof step symbol to indicate the "drip-line" where the cave passage takes off. To distinguish an entrance from a shaft connecting two levels (ASF 4.7) or any other situation that uses cliff or floor step symbols a heavier line thickness is used for the entrance cliff line (one that is even heavier than the cave wall lines). For example, in my own maps I generally use 0.2mm line width for detail, 0.35mm for walls and 0.5mm for entrances. The solid triangular arrow used by the UIS is left as an option as with a thick line it becomes less necessary. If used, this black arrow could point to the tag (if any) and be labelled with the ASF Cave Number.

ASF 4.6: Change in slope of roof (deleted).

Current symbol:  
As with ASF 4.2, these do not seem to get much use, and could be confused with floor detail or formation symbols. The UIS proposal does not have specific symbols for these situations. At the 1999 ASF conference we decided to discontinue these symbols.

ASF 7.6: Roof Canyon

The ASF symbol 7.6 for a roof canyon has been changed to bring it into conformity with the roof step symbol. Wide canyons are shown with the standard symbol (ASF 4.5, line with dots on low side) but narrow canyons are shown as a single central line with dots on both sides.

New ASF 7.6:

Roof canyon: New ASF version - uses a variant of the ASF Roof step symbol (ASF 4.5)

ASF 9.1: Degraded doline.

The old ASF version is:  
This conflicts with the old (and new) symbols for a doline entrance! (ASF 4.3 & 4.4). It is not covered by the UIS standard. The new symbol, as discussed at the 1999 ASF Conference, uses standard slope arrows, with an optional dashed line for the upper break-in-slope where that is well defined. For very small hollows, where there is no room for arrows, use the dashed line on its own.

ASF 9.2: Cliffed doline.

The old version is:  
This conflicts with the old (and new) symbols for a doline + cave entrance! (ASF 4.3 & 4.4). The new version uses the standard cliff symbol of topographic maps.

ASF 9.3: Cliff line.

The old version is: 
This is not in conformity with most topographic maps, which use a symbol similar to ASF 4.1 (floor step). The new version uses the standard topographic symbol: a line with ticks on the lower side.

Copyright © 1962, 1978, 1985, 1999 Australian Speleological Federation Inc. May be reproduced for non-commercial use provided this copyright notice is retained in full.

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