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Mapping Software and GIS Glossary

DEFINITION

What is a Map Scale?

A map scale is the relationship between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the earth. Map scale may be expressed as an equivalence, usually by different units (e.g., 1inch = 1mile or 1:63,360); or graphically, as a bar scale. Large scale maps make each feature look larger, and show a smaller geographic area. Small scale maps make each feature look smaller, and show a larger geographic area.

What is a map scale/Map scale definition: Large and small map scale examples created with Maptitude mapping software

What is map scale? The map on the left is a large scale map of New York City where every map feature is drawn 1/63,360 the actual size on the earth. The map on the right is a smaller scale map of New York where every map feature is 1/12,672,000 the actual size on the earth.

There are three common ways to depict a map's scale:

  • Bar scales: Bar scales use a graphic format. The length of the bar scale shows what that length represents in real world units. In the maps above, the line scales show the map distance that corresponds to one mile and 300 miles respectively
  • Ratio or “Representative Fraction” (RF): A scale of 1:1,000 means that every feature on the map is shown at one thousandth of its actual size
  • Map units per unit or “Verbal Scale”: A scale of one inch = 100 miles means that every inch on the map corresponds to 100 miles on the earth

GIS Software for Maps at Any Scale

Maptitude Mapping Software gives you all of the tools, maps, and data you need to analyze and understand how geography affects you and your business. Maptitude can be used to make maps at any scale.

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