International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Structure of the presentation
History of ISSOM (development)
Main approaches if ISSOM (goals)
Lacks of ISSOM (intermediate stage)
Experiences of ISSOM in urban areas, Switzerland
Outlook of ISSOM
Discussion / open questions
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Introduction: History of ISSOM
August 2001: Decision of Extraordinary General
Assembly of IOF to integrate Sprint Orienteering as
new discipline in to the WOC
August 2001: Presentation of principles to generate
specifications for maps (9th ICOM, Tampere FIN)
 coloring, bright colors for large areas (example)
 scale and contour interval relationship
February 2002, Presentation of a working draft “Int.
specification for Orienteering maps in urban areas”
 No differentiation urban/forest  ISSOM must
cover all types of terrains
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Introduction: History of ISSOM
May 2002, start collaboration with the map makers
of WOC 2003
July 2002, First application of the 1. Draft ISSOM in
WC Lausanne, Switzerland (1. Test-Print; spot color
print)
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Introduction: History of ISSOM
2. Test-Print; spot color print, regional event in
Switzerland, Liestal
November 2002: Extraordinary MC-Meeting in
Budapest: Discussion of the 1. Draft of ISSOM 
Lack of time for WOC 2003  Focusing on the
definition and graphic implementation part, no
application and generalization part.
Serie of test print of “Compo-City”
10 Testprints
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Introduction: History of ISSOM
February 2003: Ordinary MC-Meeting in Helsinki:
Discussion of the 2. Draft of ISSOM,  still many
contradictory things  Lack of time for WOC 2003
 release of a final draft
March 2003: release of the final draft  to make the
specification available for map makers and elite
runners for WOC preparations (5 months)
Pdf-document and Web-Version
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Introduction: History of ISSOM
May 2003: application of the final draft of ISSOM for
the 1. Swiss Sprint Orienteering Champion Ship;
Mendrisio (3. Test-Print)
July 2003: regional event in Switzerland, Basel (4.
Test-Print)
June – July 2003: Applications of the final draft
ISSOM in different countries (Norway, Finland,
Hungary etc.)
5. August: Sprint final WOC
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Main approaches of ISSOM
Focus on urban areas, because of WOC 2003 in
Rapperswil and not mentioned very much in ISOM
2000
Focus on the most important problem: passable an
impassable features (walls, fences, private properties)
scale 1:4000 or 1:5000
contour interval 2 m or 2.5 m
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Main approaches of ISSOM
recommended map size A4, not larger than A3
the map must show a clear picture of the main level of
the terrain
(example)
the minimum dimension of a feature shown in a map is
2 x 2 m.
An object smaller than 2 x 2 m can be shown if it is
very visible or high.
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
A map with few well chosen features, will give a much
better map, than a map cluttered with many insignificant
features. (Eduard Imhof)
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Main approaches of ISSOM
Represent barriers and passages
Graphic implementation:
 overemphasize impassable fences, wall  black thick
line (0.35mm)
 reduce graphically passable features  gray line / thin
line (<0.1mm)
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Main approaches of ISSOM
Fairplay / Competition rules:
 declaring that impassable features are also
forbidden to pass  disqualifying competitors
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Main approaches of ISSOM
Fairplay / Competition rules:
 declaring that impassable features
are also forbidden to pass
 adapt this rule to all other features
(water body, vegetation features)
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps (ISSOM)
Lacks of ISSOM
2nd
Contradictory things
 Content minimum dimension 2m x 2m  for urban
areas o.k.  in forest  vegetation patches of 2m x
2m!
 Undergrowth (green line screen)  not suitable in
urban areas
 Flowerbeds corresponds to undergrowth
 to be consequent, passable cliffs must be
represented in gray
…
Application of ISSOM in forest terrain
Optimize
color setting
Rapperswil
no money for series of test
August
2003
10 ICOM,
prints (spot color prints)
th
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps
Experience of ISSOM in urban areas,
Switzerland
Strong
2nd
cooperation
between map
maker and
course setters is
very important
(open/close
doors, gates,
gaps)
Course setters
may not provoke
August
2003 actions of 10
unfair
th ICOM,
Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps
Outlook of ISSOM
Collect experience of ISSOM applications
Present the final recommendation
Start Hearing of Federation
Present the ISSOM
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
International Specification for Sprint
Orienteering maps
Experience of ISSOM in urban areas,
Switzerland
All reasonable measures must be considered to
prevent accidents with other human activities in urban
areas such as traffic, pedestrians, spectators, etc.
(Separate competitors, pedestrians and spectators by
the use of a cordon (tape) in crowded areas.)
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
Coloring
2nd August 2003
10th ICOM, Rapperswil

Line width
Classification: individual characteristics
grouped into classes for comprehension
and ease of representation
Comprehension:
0.05
0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35
2nd August 2003
0.4
0.5 0.6
0.7
0.8 0.1 0.13 0.18 0.25 0.35
10th ICOM, Rapperswil
0.5mm
