Map scales and map text

Sources (Elements of cartography

six edition)

PHM 2305 Cartography 1

Recap: What is a map

• Maps are efficient and effective means

to communicate geo-spatial
information.
• “A good map may say more than 1000
How to communicate what to
whom
• In cartography, communication is
effectuated by using graphic symbols.
• How? By using the grammatical rules of
the language of cartographic symbols.
• What? The information to be
transferred to the map user
• Whom? The expected map user(s)
Map scale
• Scale is the means which enables us to
reduce the whole or part of the earth to
size which is not only convenient and
handy but also logical and scientific.
• A general definition of scale is that it is a
ratio or proportion between
measurements on a map and the
corresponding distance on the earth
which vary from place to place.
• It is important to note that the scale of a
map does not show the ratio of actual
distance between the corresponding
points
Map scale cont.
• Scale represents a ratio = Map
Distance / Ground Distance
•
• E.g., If one unit of map distance is
equal to 1000 units of ground
distance, the scale of the map is:
•
• Map Distance/ Ground Distance =
1/1000 = 1: 1,000 map scale
Different ways of showing the
scale
• Statement of the scale:
• This is the way of expressing
scale to make a simple statement
giving the number of map units as
a fraction of corresponding.
• One cm to one km or 1cm = 1km

1. Representative fraction (RF) =

Map Distance/ Ground Distance
RF 1:1,000
Cont.

2. Verbal Statement:
• This is a statement of meaningful map
distance in relation to meaningful earth
distance. giving the number of map
units as a fraction of corresponding.
• One centimeter represents one
Kilometer
Cont.
3. Graphical or Bar Scale

• This is a line symbol subdivided to show

map lengths of earth distance units. One
end of the bar scale is usually divided
further allowing someone to measure
distance more precisely.
• They can be used directly without the
preliminary conversion needed in
representative fraction. Furthermore, they
are more convenient to use if a map is to
be reduced or enlarged photographically
since the graphic scale notation
automatically conforms to the change in
the map.
Cont.
4. Area Scale
• The area scale refers to the ratio areas on the map to those on the
earth. Example is when the sphere is transformed to plane so that
all area proportions on the earth are correctly represented, the
result is an equal area projection.

• On such a projection, one unit of the area (square centimeters,

square inches) is proportional to a particular number of the same
square units on the earth. If the area scale were expressed as an
RF, it would be shown, for example, as 1:1,000,000 ².

• The denominator of the map scale is squared which is assumed

and not shown. The area scale can also be shown graphically by
a square representing a stated number of squares representing a
stated number of square kilometers or square miles.
Scale Factor (SF)
• The Scale Factor is computed by the
following formula
• SF = Actual RF/Principal RF

• Reference globe is a hypothetical globe

where is assumed that the earth has
been mapped on a globe reduced to the
size(scale) chosen for the flat map.
Principle Scale is representative fraction
(RF) of reference globe
Scale Factor (SF) Cont.
• Example

a. Actual scale = 1:15,000,000 and Principal scale = 1:30,000,000

• SF = 2

a. Actual scale = 1:60,000,000 and principal scale = 1: 30,000,000

• SF = 0.5

• The above example is for small scale maps. On large scale maps,
the SF at various places will vary only slightly from one (unity).

• On large scale maps using the Transverse Mercator projection, SF

magnitude within a 6 ° longitude zone may vary only from 0.99960
1.00158 SF. The tolerance depends on the map objective.
Factors in scale choice:
• Purpose of the map
• Needs of the map user
• Complexity of the map contents
• Wanted map and map content accuracy
• Size of the area to be mapped
• Maximum size of the map related to
output medium/ media
 Determining the scale of the map
• Estimate map scale along a line by
measuring map distance between two
points that are known earth distance
apart and then computing the scale.
• Certain known distance is easy to use,
such as the lengths of degrees of
latitude or longitude.
• Be sure to take the measurement in
the direction the scale is to be used;
frequently the distance scale of the
map will not be the same in all
directions from a point
Determining the scale of the map
• Determine map scale using area
measurements. To do so, one must first find
a region of known size. Then compute the
area of that region on the map, then
determine the proportional relation between
map area and earth area.
• Scale based on the relation between areas
are conventionally expressed as the square
root of the number of the units on the right
of the ratio. Example; one square unit on a
map represents 25,000,000,000,000 of the
same square units of the earth. The RF
would be recorded as the square root,
1:5,000,000 (approximate linear scale)
 Transforming the map scale
• Transforming occur when one change
map size by either reducing or
enlarging it using different methods.
Example method is transforming one
type of scale to another (refer to the
sheet, hard copy)
Scale of Measurement
• Nominal scale: attribute values are
different in nature, without one aspect
being more important than another.
• Example; When mapping population we
look at;
• Gender, Male or Female
• Political preferences , Independent,
Democrat or Republican
• Place of residence ; Suburbs, City or
Town
Scale of Measurement
• Ordinal Scale; Attribute values are
different from each other, but there is
one side way to order them, as some
are more important/intense than
others.
• Example, Mapping grades , Very
unsatisfied, Unsatisfied, Neural,
Satisfied and very Satisfied
Scale of Measurement
• Interval Scale: Attribute values are
different, can be ordered and the
distance between individual
measurements can be determined.
• Example Temperature, because the
respective zero-points of their
measurement scales have been selected
at a random. It is impossible to say that
for instance a temperature of 64degree
F is twice 32 degree F
Scale of Measurement
• Ratio Scale; Attribute values are
different and can be ordered. Distances
between individual measurements can
be determined, and these individual
measurements can be related to each
other. Example;
• Mapping income per capita, e.g. Kenya
is &500 per annum and in Rwanda is
&200
 Map Text
• Map graphics are often augmented with text,
either on the map itself (as in map labels), or in
the margins (titles, legends, etc.). Give an
example of topographic maps.
• As shown in a topographic map, good label
design often employs different colours, font
styles, sizing, and more. Map labels play an
important role in mapping—not only by
labelling symbols, but also by serving as
symbols themselves.
• Unlike topographic maps, thematic mapping,
text is employed not just to identify places, but
to explain data. Text is used in the making of
map legends, scale bars, and other more.
A general purpose map without labels
The map with labels applied
Map Text
• As shown above, good label design often
employs different colors, font styles, sizing, and
more. Map labels play an important role in
mapping—not only by labeling symbols, but
also by serving as symbols themselves.
• Text on maps, above, often refers to place
names. The study of geographic names is its
own subject of study
• Particularly in thematic mapping, text is
employed not just to identify places, but to
explain data. In Figure below, text is used in
the making of map legends, scale bars, and so
on. Despite this map’s careful color and layout
design, without text—it would be unusable.
Figure 2.1.3 A map layout with
significant accompanying text.