Topographic Maps and Map Scale

Scale

• Scale is the relationship between distance on the ground and distance on the map

• Map scale is usually given as a fraction or a ratio 1/10,000 or 1:10,000 and is often accompanied by a visual scale in a bar form– One unit on the map is equal to 10,000 on the

ground• One inch or centimeter on the map is equal to ten

thousand inches or centimeters on the ground

Map Scale

• Map scale is the opposite of what it looks like

• Big numbers mean small scale– Small scale covers a larger area and has less

detail

• Little numbers mean large scale– Large scale covers a smaller area and has a

lot of detail

This is a large scale topographicMap of the VVC campus. It’s Scale is 1:24,000 which meansThat one inch on the map isEqual to one inch on the ground.Notice that it shows a lot of detail.The black dots represent buildings.

This map is a medium scale map.Its scale is smaller than the last map,Even though the number is larger.The scale of this map is 1:50,000.Notice that it also shows a lot ofDetail, but not as much as the lastMap.

This is a small scale map. ItsScale is smaller than both of theMaps before even though itsNumber is bigger. It is a1:250,000 scale map. NoticeThat this map covers a much Larger area, but you have lostMuch of the detail such as Houses, minor streets, andEven the names of major streets.

The scale on this map is even Smaller than the last evenThough the area covered isObviously much larger. ThisIs a 1:500,000 map.

The scale on this map is the Smallest of all the maps.It is a 1:1,000,000 map.

It covers the most area of allThe maps we have seen.

Notice that even some Communities are lost to this Map in order to present this Large area.

Large Area=Small ScaleSmall Area=Large Scale