missorigan.com - OS Maps & Aerial Photos

OS Maps & Aerial Photos - Key Videos

I recommend clicking the above link and revising the key videos, especially sketch mapping.

The 2023 & 2024 Map and Photo Questions are uploaded below. For extra practice, I recommend going back and clicking into the Past Papers section, where you’ll find map and photo questions from the last 10 years.

You only need to focus on the map questions relevant to the sections of the paper that you intend covering. I strongly encourage you to practise these—especially sketch maps. They're an easy way to pick up marks if you can draw them quickly and accurately.

The below sample questions on Tourism, Industry & Renewables are from the Economic Elective.

Tourism on OS Maps

Bullet Notes: Factors Impacting the Development of Tourism

Accessibility

Tourists are more likely to visit areas that are easy to reach.
Motorways and national primary roads help access.
Good public transport (bus, rail) is important.
Airports, ports, bike trails, walking trails also boost accessibility.
Example: Wild Atlantic Way promotes car hire and self-driving.

Services

Accommodation: Hotels, B&Bs, hostels, campsites, caravan parks.
Facilities: Cafés, restaurants, shops, pubs, tourist information centres.
Info centres help tourists plan (e.g., local tours and events).
Urban areas usually offer a wider range of services.

Attractions

Natural beauty (beaches, lakes, rivers, mountains) attracts tourists.
Activities: Swimming, surfing, hiking, biking, fishing, golf.
Heritage: Ancient sites, castles, monuments attract historians.
Events in stadiums or sports facilities also draw in visitors.

What To Do – Exam Question Guide

Question: Using the OS map, discuss tourism potential in terms of:

Accessibility
Attractions
Services (excluding transport)

1. Use Map Evidence

Mention specific grid references or named features from the OS map (e.g., “National primary road in A12” or “hotel symbol at B15”).

2. Structure Your Answer by Heading

Write under three headings:
➤ Accessibility
➤ Attractions
➤ Services
Each heading = 10 marks:
- 2 marks for map evidence
- 4 SRPs (Significant Relevant Points) for discussion (1 mark each)

3. Link Back to Tourism

Always explain how the feature attracts tourists or supports tourism.
Example: “A campsite at C34 provides affordable accommodation for visitors exploring the nearby national park.”

4. Mention Different Transport Types

Don’t forget roads, railways, rivers, or ports.

5. Stick to Services (Not Transport) for Services Section

Talk about accommodation and food, not transport in this part.

Industry on OS Maps

Bullet Notes – Location of a Factory or Industrial Estate

🔹 Site

Flat, low-lying land is ideal – reduces building costs.
Greenfield sites = large, open fields on town outskirts (cheap, spacious, room to expand).
Avoid floodplains – high risk, planning permission unlikely.
Avoid building near tourist attractions or antiquities – conflict with locals, added costs.
Brownfield sites = old industrial land (may be contaminated, smaller, expensive, but planning more likely).

🔹 Situation

Factors that influence the area surrounding the site:

Labour Force

Close to large urban centres = more skilled/unskilled workers.
Good public transport = easier worker commute.
Nearby housing = easier to attract staff.

Educational Services

Colleges/universities nearby provide skilled workers.
Access to research & innovation – helps industries stay competitive.

Transport Links

Access to motorways, dual carriageways, ports helps move raw materials and goods.
Roads > Ireland’s main transport method.
Ports suit heavy industries (e.g., Shannon Estuary & Aughinish Alumina).

What To Do – Exam Question Guide (2021 Q8C)

📌 Question Breakdown:

(i) Give TWO reasons why a multinational company would locate in this area (map evidence needed).
(ii) Give ONE reason why a multinational company would not locate in this area (map evidence needed).

➤ Structure per Reason:

State the reason → 2 marks
Map evidence → 2 marks (grid reference or named feature)
Explanation → 3 SRPs (Significant Relevant Points)

➤ (i) Choose 2 reasons why they would locate:

Good transport links (road/rail/port)
Flat greenfield site suitable for building
Close to urban centre = strong labour supply
Near university or IT = access to skilled workers and research
Presence of industrial estate (e.g., IDA site)

✅ Note: Max 2 transport points allowed!

➤ (ii) Choose 1 reason why they would NOT locate:

Area prone to flooding
No motorway access
Lack of housing nearby for workers
Too rural/remote, far from services
Conflict with tourism/antiquities
Brownfield site may be contaminated or small

Renewable Energy on OS Maps

Bullet Points – Location of Renewable Energy Production

⚡️ Main Renewable Energy Types in Ireland

Wind energy
Hydroelectric power (HEP)

🌬 Wind Energy

Wind farms must be built on upland, coastal, open plains, or valleys – exposed to strong, consistent wind (25 km/h+).
Turbine spacing: 180–600m apart; need large sites.
Must be 500m away from housing + 4 times height of turbine.
Need good road access for machinery and maintenance.
Offshore wind farms = higher, more consistent output.

❌ Objections to Wind Farms:

Noise pollution (wind turbine syndrome)
Visual pollution – visible over long distances
Impact on tourism and scenic areas
Concerns about mental health and sleep

💧 Hydroelectric Power (HEP)

Built on steep, fast-flowing rivers (upper course).
Narrow valleys and rocky slopes allow reservoir formation.
Storage reservoirs needed to build water pressure.
Need access roads for maintenance and monitoring.
Can also use tidal inlets (coastal HEP).

❌ Objections to HEP:

Flooding of farmland (compulsory purchase)
Loss of natural flow = less fertile floodplains
Erosion downstream
Visual pollution
Destroys natural habitats and fishing grounds
Safety concerns (dam collapse risk)

What To Do – Answering the 2018 Q9C Exam Question

(i) Name 2 renewable energy sources + map/photo reference (8 marks)

2m each for naming: wind + HEP
2m each for grid ref or location on aerial photo
💡 Example:
Wind turbines in upland area at A231
HEP at river valley at B276

(ii) Explain advantages of one energy type/location (7 marks)

Choose 1 energy source from above
Give 7 SRPs explaining why that site is ideal
💡 Example (wind farm):
Strong consistent wind (upland/coastal)
Far from homes = less disturbance
Road access for maintenance
Large open land for turbine spacing
No height obstructions
Remote = fewer objections
High electricity output (especially offshore)

(iii) Explain 1 reason locals might object (4 marks)

4 SRPs on one valid objection
💡 Examples:
Noise (wind farms)
Visual pollution
Loss of farmland (HEP)
Flood risk or erosion
Disruption to wildlife or tourism

2024 Questions, Map & Photo

2024 Maps Questions.pdf

2024 Maps Questions with marking-scheme.pdf

2024 map.pdf

2023 Questions, Map & Photo

2023 exam Maps Questions.pdf

2023 exam Maps Questions with marking-scheme.pdf

2023 map.pdf

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