Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Akre University of Applied Sciences

Akre Technical Institute
Surveying Department

Fundamentals of Surveying

by: Bakhtiyar Q. Khawaja

Lecture 3: Mapping & Scale

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 Surveying Mapping & scale
The objective of measurements is to show relative positions of various objects on
paper; therefore, the representation on paper is called plan or map .
A plan :
The graphical representation of the features on, near or below the surface of the earth as
projected on a horizontal plane to a suitable scale.
Scale :
The scale is the ratio between the distance on a map to the distance on the earth.
Map distance M.D
Scale = =
Ground distance G.D
The selection of scale is one of the most important considerations during mapping. It is
decided on the basis of :-
1. Purpose of the map;
2. Nature of terrain to be mapped;
3. The size of the final sheet;
4. Availability of resources to get it prepared and printed 2
 Surveying Mapping & scale
Type of scales:-
A. Numerical scale
B. Graphical scale

A. Numerical scale
Numerical scales are two types:
1 1
1. Relative scale: For example (1:100), (1:500), ( ), ( ).
100 500
2. Engineering scale: One (unit) measured from the drawing is equivalent to the same
number of the meters on the ground.
1 cm = 1 m
1 cm = 5 m
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 Surveying Mapping & scale
❖ Different between large and small scales
Large Scale Small Scale
1/100 or 1:100 1:50 000
1/200 or 1:200 1:100 000
1/500 or 1:500 1:500 000
1/1000 or 1:1000 1:1000 000

❖ Different between large and small scales

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 Surveying Mapping & scale
❖ Different between large and small scales

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 Surveying Mapping & scale
B. Graphical scale:-
Graphical scale is used sometimes because of the expansion and contraction happen to
the drawing or a map as a result of different weather condition, the numerical scale
standard may not be appropriate and does not give accurate results when measuring the
dimensions of any of the drawing (or map) and the dimensions of the original interview
in nature.

There are many benefits to using a graphic scale.

1. It is a straight forward easy way to determine scale and distance on maps.
2. If a size of map is enlarged or decreased the scale is also enlarged or reduced. This
mean that it is still at the same accuracy.

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 Surveying Mapping & scale

Types of graphical scales: 1- Linear scale 2- Diagonal scale

Linear scale:-
It is a straight line drawn on the map of suitable length and is divided into assumed equal
divisions, each division represents a certain distance on the surface of the earth and there
single line, double line and triple line 5m

5km
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Surveying Scale
Table 3.1 Suggested scales for different types of survey

Serial No Purpose of Survey Scale Scale

1 Land Survey 1 cm = 5 m to 50 m 1:500 to 1:5000

2 Topographical Survey 1 cm = 0.25 km to 2.5 km 1:25,000 to 1:250,000

3 Building Site 1 cm = 10 m 1:1000

4 Houses 1 cm = 1 m 1:100

5 Route Survey 1 cm = 100 m 1:10,000

6 Town Planning 1 cm = 100 m 1:10,000

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 Surveying Scale
Example 1
Find the relative scale of the map on which 1mm is equal to 5m on the ground?
Sol.
Relative scale = distance on plan / distance on the ground
Relative scale = 1 mm / 5 m = 1 mm / 5000 mm = 1 / 5000

Example 2
Find the relative scale of the map on which 1cm is equal to 1km on the ground?
Sol.
Relative scale = distance on plan / distance on the ground
Relative scale = 1 cm / 1 km = 1 cm / 100000 cm = 1 / 100000
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 Surveying Scale
Example 3
What is the map scale if the distance between two points on the map equals 5 cm and
the same distance on the ground equals 5000 m?

Sol.
M.D 5 cm 0.05 m 1
Scale = = = =
G.D 5000 m 5000 m 100 000

Example 4
What is the scale map in x and y direction of an area (10*10) km2 drawn on a sheet
(40x60) cm?
Sol.

1 km = 1000 m ; 1 m = 100 cm ; 1 km = 100 000 cm

10 km 1 10 km 1
40 cm
∗ 100 000 = 25000 = 25000
, 60 cm
∗ 100 000 = 16667 = 16667 10
 Surveying Scale
Example 5
1
construct a plain scale of R.F = and the least division is 1m, shows 23m on it.
500

Sol.
1 cm = 5 m, 2 mm = 1m
Main value of scale = 5m
main value of scale
Number of division = require accuracy of scale

Number of division = 5 m = 5 division

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 Surveying Scale
Example 6
Draw a simple linear scale (of double lines) for a map which scale is (1/50000) and of
accuracy up to (100m) and show the readings (2.5 and 5.3) km on it.
Sol.
1 cm = 50000 cm
1 cm = 500m = 0.5 km
the value of the main part of the scale 500
Total number of parts = = (100) = 5 parts
accurate of the scale required

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 Surveying Scale
Example 7
If the distance between two cities on the map of scale (1/100 000) is equal to (4
cm) and the distance between the same two cities on another map of unknown
scale = (5 cm), find the unknown scale of the second map.
Sol.
1
The unknown scale = X

5 * X= 4 * 100000
4∗100 000
X= ( )= 80000
5

Then the drawing Scale is (1/80000).

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 Surveying Scale
Example 8
Draw a simple linear scale (1 / 2500) which accuracy is up to (5 m) and show the
readings (55,75,25) m.
Sol.
1 cm = 2500 cm
1 cm = 25 m
the value of the main part of the scale 25
Total number of parts = = ( 5 ) = 5 parts
accuracy required

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 Surveying Scale
Example 9
A piece of land of area (6750 m2) is drawn on a paper by the scale of (1:1500). Find its
area on the map?
Sol.
1 cm = 1500 cm
1 cm = 15 m
1 cm2 = 15 * 15 = 225 m2
1 cm2 = 225 m2
Suppose area on the map = X
Area on the map (cm2) Area on the Ground (m2)
1 225
X 6750
1∗6750
Area on the map = X = = 30 cm2
225
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 Surveying Scale
Example 10
Find a suitable scale for drawing an rectangular area which dimensions (300 * 150 m) on
a paper of (50 * 30 cm) dimensions?
Sol.
distance on plan
Relative scale =
distance on the ground
50 1
Scale for each unit of length = 300∗100 = 600
30 1
Scale for each unit of width = =
150∗100 500
1 1
We know that 600 <
500
1
So the Scale must be = 600
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 Surveying Mapping & scale
H.W. 3
1. What is the length in cm on the map that scale is 1:25000 which represented 5 km
on the ground?

2. A piece of land was plotted on a map having a scale = 1:2000. Its area on this Map =
100 cm2 . What would be the area on a map having a scale 1:1000?

3. How many map sheets of size 1x1m require to plot a 20x20 km city using a scales
1 1 1
of , , ?
500 1000 10000

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▪ Questions
1. What is surveying? State its objects and uses
2. Distinguish between Geodetic and plain surveying
3. Explain the terms topographical surveying and cadastral surveying
4. What are the fundamental principles of surveying? Explain briefly
5. Distinguish between plan and map.

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