Scale

Maps
Introduction

– This presentation covers:

– an introduction to scale maps, what they are and how they are
made;
What is a scale map?

– A map drawn using measurement

– Shows a distance measured on the ground according to a
certain proportion
– Measures direction also
– Any point on the map has a relationship to any other point
according to a measured distance and direction
Basic elements of a scale map

– Symbols and a legend

– Scale
– Direction (indicated by the north arrow)
– Map grid or coordinate system
– About the map (date created, title, author, source
information)
Why use symbols on a map?

– Words alone would clutter the map.

– Symbols can help organise the information.
– Symbols can depict complex ideas or things.
– The legend or reference explains the symbols.
Types of maps

– Base maps show where something is in space.

– Thematic maps tell the story about the place.
Base maps

– Base maps are reference maps. They contain:

– reference features such as rivers, roads, terrain and
settlements;
– cartographic references such as a coordinate system, north
direction and scale.
Types of base maps

– Topographic maps
– Radar image maps
– Aerial photo maps
– Satellite image maps
– River maps
 Topographic maps
– Most common kind of base map
– Topography means shape and
elevation of the land
– Topography is shown with contour
lines
 Contour lines
– Indicate height or elevation of the land above
sea level
 Contour lines

– Pattern of the contour lines show the

shape of the land
– Note that contour lines:
– are never straight;
– never cross each other;
– always cross rivers.
 Contour interval

– The vertical distance between two

adjacent contour lines
– The same for all the contour lines on the
map
– Depends on the scale of the map
What does scale mean?

– Scale is about distance. How long? How far? How wide?

How far on the map and how far on the ground?
– A map drawn to scale means that the distance between
any two points on the drawing is in proportion to the
distance on the ground.
How is scale written?

– A fraction scale looks like this: 1:25,000.

– It is written or said like this: “one to twenty-five thousand
scale”.
– It is shown as a graph scale like this:
1:25,000 scale

– 1 centimetre (cm) on map = 25,000 cm on the ground

– 1 cm on the map = 250 metres (m) on the ground
– 4 cm on the map = 1 kilometre (km) on the ground
 Relative scale
– Maps may be small, medium or large
scale
– Large scale map: smaller area, more
detail, more specific
– Small scale map: larger area, less
detail, more general
 Direction on a map
– Why draw maps with north at the top?
It is a standard convention.
– Compasses are made to measure to
the magnetic north pole of the Earth.
Where is north?

– We are facing north when our left hand points west where
the sun sets and our right hand points east where the sun
rises.
– We use a compass to measure the location of north; the
magnetic needle always points to north.
 North on the map
– Magnetic north is measured by a compass.
– Grid north follows the grid lines of the coordinate
system the map is made on.
– True north corresponds to the Earth’s axis, the
North Pole.
Magnetic declination

– The difference or angle between magnetic north and true

north
– The calculation for the difference is shown on a
topographic map
– Adjust your compass accordingly
 Measure direction on a map
– Use a protractor or compass to
measure the degrees or angle from
the north line
– Both measure using a circle of 360
degrees
The map grid
– Imaginary lines crossing the globe
– Meridian lines are drawn north-south
– Parallel lines are drawn east-west
– Where the lines cross is a coordinate
point
Coordinate systems

– Two common coordinate systems are:

– the geographic coordinate system
– the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
Geographic coordinate system

– Latitude lines run east-west and are parallel.

– Longitude lines run north-south.
– Lines are numbered in degrees, minutes and seconds, like
reading a clock.
– Why degrees? Because angles are always measured in
degrees.
Latitude-Longitude
Universal Transverse Mercator
(UTM)

– On a global map, UTM lines are straight.

– UTM is a type of projection, calculated to make a flat map
of the round Earth.
– UTM zones are numbered east to west and lettered north
to south.
– Each zone is equivalent to 6o.
– The measurement unit is metres.
UTM
Strengths of scale maps

– Can measure distance, direction and area

– Made according to conventions so they have validity in the
eyes of officials
– Objective viewpoint leads to clear discussion between
community and “outsiders”
Limitations of scale maps

– Community members may not understand the map or the

process.
– It is difficult to draw the local perception of the land and
the subjective importance of things.
– Discussions with officials may get diverted to technology
and accuracy and away from the real issues.