INTRODUCTION TO GIS

3. SCALE
PRESENTED BY:
SUMAN SINGH THAKURI
SCALE

• The fixed ratio that every distance on the map bears to corresponding distance on the ground

On the basis of scales

(a) Small Scale Maps:
• These represent large areas, e.g., maps having scales of 1 cm = 400 km or 1 inch = 50 miles can
be considered as small scale maps like country maps and maps in school atlas.
(b) Large Scale Maps:
• These maps represent small areas, e.g., maps with scales 1cm=2 metres. Town plans, cadastral
maps showing boundaries of landed properties etc. are large scale maps.
• Scale can get confusing because a "small scale" map covers a large area and a "large
scale" map covers a small area. The larger the number (the denominator of the fraction),
the smaller the scale - and vice versa (an easy way to remember this).
• 1:500 = Larger scale map
• 1:5000= Smaller scale map

1:5000
1:2000
1:500
SMALL SCALE MAP VS LARGE SCALE MAP
GENERALIZATION

• The process of reducing the amount the information/detail in a map in a meaningful way is
called generalization
• The process of generalization is normally executed when the map scale has to be reduced
• Generalization is scale related
 On large scale map, the real world can be represented with large detail. Such map require
only little generalization
 However, the smaller the scale of the map, less detail can be represented, the more
important generalization become.
Large scale,
more details, Small scale,
less less details,
generalization more
generalization
Large scale Small scale
More details Less details
TYPES OF SCALE

• Numerical scale Engineer Scale

Representative Fraction
• Graphical scale Plain Scale
Diagonal scale
• Engineer’s Scale:

One cm on he map represents some whole number of meters on the ground, such as 1cm = 10m etc
• Representative fraction (RF):
• One unit of length on the map represents some number of same units of length on the ground
such as 1/1000 etc. This ration is called representative fraction (RF)
• The representative fraction can be easily found for a given engineer’s scale. For eg, if the scale is
1cm = 50 m
R.F. = 1/50*1000 = 1/5000
• Graphical scale:
An another way of representing scale is to draw on the map a graphical scale. A graphical
scale is a line sub divided into map distance corresponding to units of length on the ground
These scales are always drawn on all survey maps because with time sheet or paper may
shrink and the scale will also shrink proportionately and distances can be found accurately.
Graphical scale is also known as bar scale, scale bar, graphic scale and linear scale.
• Plain scale:
A plain scale is one scale which can helps to measure two dimensions only such as meter
and decimeter; unit and tenth.
• Diagonal scale:
A scale which consist of a set of parallel lines with other lines crossing them obliquely or
slanting which can measure three dimensions such as meters, decimeters and centimeters;
units tenths and hundredths; yards, feet and inches.
FACTOR AFFECTING SELECTION OF MAP SCALE

• Objective of the map

• Area to be mapped
• Cost of the project (available financial resources)
• Time Available
• Physical feature to be shown and nature of the terrain
• Objective/Purpose of map:
The scale of the map should be selected according to the purpose of the map. For making atlas map showing
district boundries small-scale maps are adequate, but for detailed information of road network of a municipality,
large-scale maps would be required
• Area to be mapped
Small area large scale, large area small scale
• Time and Cost of the project
The time and cost of preparation of map increases rapidly with an increase in scale
• Physical feature to be shown and nature of the terrain