Map interpretation involves the study of factors that explain the causal relationship among several cultural and natural features shown on the map. For example, the distribution of urban and rural settlements can be examined in association with the levels of transport and communication network and the nature of topography. The following steps will help in map interpretation:
(i)Number of the topographical sheet give an idea about the location of the area in India and general characteristics of the major and minor physiographic divisions of the area.
(ii)Trace out the features likes major landforms, drainage, water features, land use, settlement and transport and communication pattern, etc.
(iii)Superimpose topographical sheets to understand the relationship between the two patterns. For example, if a contour map is superimposed over a settlement map, it provides the relationship between the degree of slope and the pattern of the settlement.