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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conduct basic map reading 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
376900  Conduct basic map reading 
ORIGINATOR
Task Team - Forestry and Wood Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Forestry and Wood Technology 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2020-07-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2021-07-30   2024-07-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard is for people required to use forestry maps. Crew members and leaders in a fire control or suppression assignment have to make a number of quick decisions about the fire terrain they are involved with.

This requires that they are able to carry out simple map-based mathematical calculations about their terrain. Wild land fire fighters have to locate, interpret and respond to a fire risk through reference to a map. They are required to interpret the location and movement of fire and plot the movement of crew members and routes for despatching of equipment and resources using a map. A Global Positioning System (GPS) makes this possible.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Explain and apply basic mathematical concepts in relation to basic map reading.
  • Read and interpret different maps for wild land fire suppression and control.
  • Apply map reading skills for wild fire suppression and control.
  • Interpret fire risks from a map and explain response and or mitigations.
  • Operate a Global Positioning System (GPS) in the wild land/urban environment. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Communication and Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 2 or an equivalent. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Explain and apply basic mathematical concepts in relation to basic map reading. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Scale units are explained in map reading. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Distance is calculated by means of scale conversion. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Area is estimated by means of scale. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Read and interpret different maps for wild land fire suppression and control. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Maps include but are not limited to topocadastal, vegetation, plantation, and road maps. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Map is orientated in accordance with mapping standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Orientation includes but is not limited to North, points of compass, self orientation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Contour lines are interpreted and explained in accordance with mapping standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Horizontal distances are calculated and explained using the appropriate map scales. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Map scale: 1:500 to 1:50,000 meters.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Map symbols are interpreted and explained in accordance with mapping standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Different map types are identified and explained in accordance with mapping standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Road, fire protection, terrain, topocadastal, gis electronic.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply map reading skills for wild fire suppression and control. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Slope is calculated to determine accessibility, fire behaviour and escape route. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Horizontal distance is calculated to determine timelines. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Vertical distance calculated to determine accessibility and vegetation type. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Navigation skills are demonstrated to determine the appropriate routes between given points. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Map errors are identified and corrected in accordance with Industry standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Navigation skills are applied and explained in accordance with Industry standards. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Interpret fire risks from a map and explain response and/or mitigations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Access limitations are interpreted from a map. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Fire behaviour is interpreted from a map. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Escape routes and safety zones are interpreted from a map. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Rural urban interface risk areas are interpreted from a map. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Operate Global Positioning System (GPS) in the wild land or urban environment. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Position is determined by means of GPS. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Destination is achieved by GPS navigation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Resources are dispatched to position determined by GPS. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Fire-line is recorded making use of a GPS. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against the unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant Education, Training, Quality, Assurance (ETQA) Body, or by an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA, according to the ETQA`s policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation.
  • Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described in the associated unit standards.
  • Anyone wishing to be assessed against this qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Knowledge considered critical to the successful achievement of this unit standard is covered in the specific outcomes and assessment criteria. 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems related to fire situations making use of forestry maps. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others in explaining escape routes, safety zones, accessibility and vegetation types as illustrated in the map. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities when deciding upon the possible access and escape routes as interpreted from the map. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect and analyse information displayed on a forestry map. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with key role players using relevant modes of communication when explaining escape routes, access routes, safety zones, topography, and fuel types as per map reading. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and health and safety of others when using maps and GPS. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems when using maps and interpreting the impact of positioning and field terrain on fire fighting activities. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  79246   Further Education and Training Certificate: Wild Land Fire Fighting  Level 4  NQF Level 04  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2015-06-30  FPMSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
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    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.