1.2.9-1 Feature Identification

Significant features of a map should be labeled directly on the display unless cluttering or obscuring of other information would result.

Additional Information:
Labels on a map should be positioned consistently in relation to the displayed features they designate. For example, equipment names might always be placed immediately above the corresponding symbols showing their locations. As a practical matter, map displays can get very crowded. It may not always prove feasible to maintain a consistent placement for labels, with the result that designers will be tempted to put labels wherever they will fit. In such a crowded display, labels may obscure map features, and vice versa. Locating and reading labels will be slowed, particularly when map features are displayed closely adjacent to the beginning of labels. Under these circumstances, some other approach to map labeling should be considered to avoid crowding.