INTRODUCTION

TO
MAPS
OUTLINE

MAP SCALE
 MAP SCALE

The scale transformation

1:400M

The real world A representation of the world

 MAP SCALE
This is the relationship between the map distance and
the actual distance on the ground .It is the
representation of the ground distance on a map.

Map scale commonly expressed in three different

ways.

 Statement
 Arithmetic
 Linear
 Types of Map Scale
1. Statement Scale
This states the map distance and the ground distance
it represents in a statement or sentence.
Example
Two (2) centimeters (cm) on the map represents one
(1) kilometre (km) on the ground

Two (2) centimetres (cm) to one kilometre (km).

Five (5) millimeters to nine hundred (900) meters
 Types of Map Scale
2. Arithmetically Expressed scale
a) Ratio scale
This is the ratio of the map distance to the ground
distance.
It is important to note that both distances must be in
the same units
Example 1:50,000
this implies that 1 unit on the map represents 50,000
units on the ground.
 Types of Map Scale
b) Representative Fraction scale (RF).
This is the map distance expressed as a fraction of
the ground distance

Example 1/50,000
This implies that the distance on the map is 1/50,000
the distance on the ground.
 Types of Scale
3. Linear scale/ scale bar
It takes the form of the bar or a line which is
marked off into the several divisions or segments and
each segment or division representing a certain
ground distance indicated against it.

 Used for direct measurements on the map

 Enlargement or Reduction does not affect it
 Can show different units, e.g. miles and kilometers
Measuring Distance on Maps (Statement Scale)
1. Rule a line between two points of interest
2. Measure the distance between the two points (Map
distance
3. Multiply the scale of the map by the distance on the map

A Map scale:
Two (2) centimetres (cm)
to one kilometre (km)

B MD=10cm

GD=5km
 Measuring Distance on Maps (Scale Bar)
1. Rule a line between two points of interest
2. Measure the distance between the two points (Map
distance)
3. Transfer the MD to the scale bar.

A MD=10cm
GD=150km

B
 Scale Factor
The formula

RF = GD / MD
=150/10
=15

Thus 1:15
1.Find the distance between Nsutem and
Bankyease?

2.What is the linear distance from

Agrave to Asomdwee?

3.What is the distance by road from

Gyankobo and Abrafo?

4.The distance from Twifo Heman to

Abrafo is ………km by road?

5.What will a crow cover to move from

Dadietem to Adubiase

Crow flies: Euclidean distance is a

straight line from one point to another
with the assumption that there is no
obstacle in space
 Measuring Area on Maps
1. Draw a series of regular grids with same size over the
feature

2. Calculate the area of a grid per the scale of the map

3. Count the number of complete grids and multiply it by

area of grid

4. Count the number of uncomplete grids, divide by two and

multiply by area of grid

5. Add the area of the complete and uncomplete grids

 Measuring Area on Maps

Area of grid on map=Length x Width

Area of grid on ground=Area*scale

Area of complete grids=

No.of complete grids x grid area

Area of uncompleted grids=

No.of complete grids x grid area

Total Area= Area of complete grids + Area of

uncompleted grids
Find the area of Lake Bosomtwe
 MAP REDUCTION AND ENLARGEMENT
Map Enlargement is redrawing the same map but
proportionally larger than the original map

Map Reduction is redrawing the same map but proportionally

smaller than the original map

The scale factor is the constant amount that all dimensions of

an object are multiplied by to draw an enlargement or
reduction.

A scale factor greater than 1 indicates an enlargement.

A scale factor less than 1 indicates a reduction.
MAP REDUCTION AND ENLARGEMENT
Methods of Map Reduction and Enlargement

Grid System
Using Pantograph

Digital method (Stretching map using software’s)

Stretch the map by the diagonals
Stretch the map by the aspect
 MAP REDUCTION AND ENLARGEMENT
Grid System
 Determine the scale of the map
 Measure the length and width of the map
 Know by what proportion the map is going to be enlarged or
reduced
 Divide the length and width if you are asked to reduced or
Multiply the length and width if map is to be enlarged
 Create a grid on the original map
 Use the grid of the original map to proportional redraw the
map
 When you have finished drawing remember to write its title
and the new horizontal scale.
 ENLARGEMENT

2cm
0.5cm
2cm

Enlarge the figure twice its size

 ENLARGEMENT

4cm

1cm

4cm
 REDUCTION

6cm

Reduce three times its size

3cm
4cm
2cm

1.33cm 1cm
MAP REDUCTION AND ENLARGEMENT

With map reduction the scale reduces

Original 1:50000
Reduced map 1: 100000
Scale factor= 50000/100000=1/2
Meaning reduce map by 2

With map enlargement the scale increases

Original map: 1:200000
Enlarged map: 1: 50000
Scale factor= 200000/50000=4
Meaning enlarge the original map by 4x
Measuring Area on Maps

MAP REDUCED