{"id":1287,"date":"2022-06-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/advanced-map-scales\/"},"modified":"2024-06-07T10:45:01","modified_gmt":"2024-06-07T10:45:01","slug":"advanced-map-scales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/advanced-map-scales\/","title":{"rendered":"An advanced guide to understanding map scale"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<header id=\"block_a99df5cac85f6f49428b6fa96f7f9bd2\" class=\"SingleHero skip-lazy default\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"SingleHero__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/activities\/map-reading\/\" class=\"category\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMap Reading\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"SingleHero__title\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAn advanced guide to understanding map scale\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center align-items-center SingleHero__author\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Jonathan Elder\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"SingleHero__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPublished on \t\t\t\t\t\t<time datetime=\"2022-06-16T00:00:00+00:00\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">June 16, 2022<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t6 min read\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"SingleHero__thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"485\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg\" class=\"attachment-hd size-hd wp-post-image\" alt=\"understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0\" srcset=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-300x76.jpg 300w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1024x259.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-768x194.jpg 768w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1536x388.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0-1376x348.jpg 1376w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<article id=\"block_fee7c02a520153cf3e2e425168a87bbf\" class=\"Universal Universal--post c-small default \" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"InnerBlocks\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lead\"><\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How cartographers determine map scale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding map scales is vital to successfully using maps for planning and navigation. Boost your map reading skills with this advanced guide for understanding Ordnance Survey map scales and key features on each OS map.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ve already written about <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/understanding-map-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the beginners guide to map scales<\/a>. However, just understanding that a map shows features scaled down by the scale number is not the whole story. An important part is also understanding how cartographers create maps of different scales using a process called &#8216;generalisation&#8217;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally surveys are carried out and initial maps are made in a large scale, such as 1:1250. However, as discussed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/understanding-map-scales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">earlier article<\/a> these maps, while highly accurate, are not that useful for many purposes as they won&#8217;t show enough area. Cartographers take the large scale mapping information and change this to show small scale maps which are popular with walkers and cyclists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making a small scale map<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        \n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/2018champs\/Blog%20imagery\/Understanding_map_scales_map.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A small scale map of Britain with few features\">\n        \n        <p>A small scale map of Britain with few features<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To create an accurate picture of a landscape on paper everything has to be made much, much smaller. This is done by \u2018scaling down\u2019 the actual size of the land. This map shows Great Britain. The size of the island has been \u2018scaled down\u2019 to around 1: 6 000 000 (depending on your screen size!) so it will fit. The map is too small to contain a lot of detail, so only some cities and towns are shown, <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is especially noticeable on digital maps, like <a href=\"https:\/\/explore.osmaps.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OS Maps<\/a>, where the amount of detail shown will change as you zoom in and out, with roads, villages or even entire cities disappearing when there is no longer the space to show them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is important for interpreting scale, as cartographers don&#8217;t just reduce detail. Features that are important may be deliberately shown considerably larger than they are to ensure that they remain visible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is often most noticeable on road maps. If you measured the width of a road and scaled it exactly, it would appear very small on a map &#8211; probably too small to distinguish easily. To compensate, cartographers oversize the width of the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog-buttons\">\n    <a class=\"btn second map\" href=\"https:\/\/explore.osmaps.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">View map scales on digital OS Maps <i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some features most maps don&#8217;t show to scale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/maps\/paper-maps\/explorer-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow,noopener noopener\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/2018champs\/Blog%20imagery\/Understanding_map_scales_1%2025%20000.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"1: 50 000 scale on an OS Landranger map\">\n        <\/a>\n        <p>1: 50 000 scale on an OS Landranger map<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Roads<\/strong> tend to be marked in different colours depending on the type of road depicted. Roads on a map range from thick blue lines, showing motorways, to dashed lines, indicating an unfenced minor road. Roads of the same type are normally shown at a fixed width, and are often shown larger than the scale to ensure they are clearly visible.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Footpaths<\/strong> are marked on Ordnance Survey maps in various colours. On a 1:25 000 scale <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/maps\/paper-maps\/explorer-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OS Explorer map<\/a> the public rights of way are marked in green; on a 1:50 000 scale <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/maps\/paper-maps\/landranger-maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OS Landranger map<\/a> they are marked in magenta. On the ground a footpath can vary from as wide as a road down to a narrow squeeze, even changing throughout the year as vegetation grows and dies back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Buildings<\/strong> are marked by small brown squares outlined in black to the approximate size and shape of the building. However, some particular buildings have their own special symbols, such as churches and windmills, which are useful landmarks are often shown with a special symbol larger than normal scale. Other smaller buildings, especially sheds and outhouses may be missing altogether if they are too small to show clearly.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rivers and streams<\/strong> are shown as blue lines. The width of the line is representative of the watercourse width, but may not be exactly to scale to ensure smaller watercourses are still shown. A river more than 8 metres wide it is shown as two blue lines with a light blue area between. Of course, most waterways will change size depending on local rainfall.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/apps\/os-maps-subscriptions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow,noopener noopener\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/Understanding_map_scales_OSMaps.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"OS Maps app\">\n        <\/a>\n        <p>OS Maps app<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other cartographic tricks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Selection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>All maps have an element of selection in them, where only relevant features are included. This is especially obvious on specialist maps where many of the usual features may be absent altogether to allow for room for more detail on others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Combination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Two features that are close together may be combined at smaller scales into a single object. For example, named suburbs of cities may be merged into a single block with the city name where there is not room to show them individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Displacement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes there are several features that are important and that need to appear on the map, but are so close to each other that they would overlap. One or more of the features can be displaced, or moved slightly into a clear area. While this may not show the correct position, it is usually close enough for the purposes the map is intended for. On some maps, a displaced map symbol may be shown with a small line showing the true position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smoothing and Simplification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, complex shapes may be smoothed or simplified to make them easier to represent on a map, or to give a clearer shape. This can often apply to paths or roads, where the representation on the map is changed deliberately to make junctions or crossings clearer, or to smooth out sharp corners for a more pleasing visual effect. Multiple small changes to a path may be smoothed to make it easier to follow, but at the cost of being less accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"images-with-captions\">\n    <div class=\"image-with-caption\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/maps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow,noopener noopener\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/site\/uploads\/images\/2018champs\/Blog%20imagery\/Understanding_map_scales_compass.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Measuring distances to scale\">\n        <\/a>\n        <p>Measuring distances to scale<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Measuring distances to scale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Being able to accurately measure distances on a map will help while route planning. Here&#8217;s three methods\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a ruler <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.osmaps.com\/os-romer-map-tool\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(or romer)<\/a> directly on the map. With a ruler, you will need to multiply by the map scale (tip: the text version of the scale &#8216;4 cm on the map equals 1 km&#8217; is often easier to use). A romer is a special ruler which shows distances already converted for a specific scale, often found on the edge of a compass. Measure short sections in straight lines and add together to get the total distance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With a bit of string, carefully place the string on the route, then measure the amount of string you needed and multiply up by the scale. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With a mechanical or digital map measurer, run the measurer along the route on the map, and then read the results to get the true distance. Map measurers will generally have a range of scales to choose from, so ensure you use one that matches the map scale<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A measurement on a flat map does not take into account elevation changes. You may be covering more ground, especially if the slopes are steep. While it is possible to allow for this in your calculations, it is often far easier to add an approximation, so if a slope is 20 degrees, you would add about 2% to the distance.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The local terrain will also have an effect on the total distance, especially on footpaths, where the exact route can vary over time due to streams changing course, detours to avoid mud, vegetation growth and rockfalls. Your map will give an indication of the path, but it&#8217;s a good idea to allow 5 &#8211; 10% extra distance or time, especially on rougher terrain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog-buttons\">\n    <a class=\"btn\" href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/beginners-guide-to-measuring-distance-on-a-map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Measuring distance on a map <i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This advanced guide to understanding map scales is part of our collection of <a href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/map-reading-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free Map Reading Guides<\/a> celebrating National Map Reading Week, which encourages everyone to improve their map reading skills and discover new adventures. <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"MetaShare\">\n\n\t\t\t<button id=\"likeButton\" data-nonce=\"3a030de084\" data-postid=\"1287\" class=\"Button Button--default Button--icon likeButton\"><span class=\"likeButtonText\">Like this guide<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"20\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 20\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.4947 3.09742C8.5448 1.39335 5.66108 1.04464 3.42166 2.95804C0.999337 5.02773 0.647396 8.5134 2.56291 10.9783C3.29002 11.9139 4.70917 13.3196 6.07302 14.6069C7.45283 15.9092 8.82946 17.1399 9.50834 17.7411C9.51258 17.7449 9.51691 17.7487 9.5213 17.7526C9.58512 17.8092 9.66457 17.8796 9.74074 17.937C9.83194 18.0057 9.96286 18.0909 10.1377 18.1431C10.3701 18.2124 10.62 18.2124 10.8524 18.1431C11.0272 18.0909 11.1581 18.0057 11.2493 17.937C11.3255 17.8796 11.405 17.8092 11.4688 17.7526C11.4732 17.7487 11.4775 17.7449 11.4817 17.7411C12.1606 17.1399 13.5373 15.9092 14.9171 14.6069C16.2809 13.3196 17.7001 11.9139 18.4272 10.9783C20.3353 8.52288 20.0377 5.01032 17.5597 2.95074C15.2954 1.06872 12.4424 1.3927 10.4947 3.09742Z\" fill=\"#186571\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row justify-content-center MetaShareSocial\" aria-label=\"Share\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"X\" class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--x\" id=\"share-twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-173 238)\"><path d=\"M18.9.75h3.68l-8.04,9.213L24,22.5H16.594l-5.8-7.6L4.156,22.5H.474l8.6-9.854L0,.75H7.594L12.837,7.7ZM17.61,20.291h2.039L6.486,2.843H4.3Z\" transform=\"translate(173 -237.625)\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-auto\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"  class=\"Button Button--default MetaShareSocial__button MetaShareSocial__button--f\" id=\"share-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><g transform=\"translate(-89 238)\"><path d=\"M14.186,24V13.2h3.279L18,8.4H14.186V6.062c0-1.236.032-2.462,1.759-2.462h1.749V.168A19.34,19.34,0,0,0,14.671,0C11.5,0,9.508,1.989,9.508,5.64V8.4H6v4.8H9.508V24Z\" transform=\"translate(89 -238)\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"likeCount\" class=\"likeCount\">Liked by <span id=\"likeCountValue\">14<\/span> users<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<hr class=\"MetaShare__hr\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"MetaShareAuthor\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MetaShareAuthor__name\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBy Jonathan Elder\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"MetaShareAuthor__desc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Jonathan helps run the OS Shop and GetOutside, and in his free time can be found walking, playing computer games or, in the winter, falling off mountains with a plank of wood strapped to his feet.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/article>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Understanding map scales is vital to successfully using maps for planning and navigation. Boost your map reading skills with this advanced guide for understanding Ordnance Survey map scales and key features on each OS map.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1286,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"activities":[36],"locations":[],"class_list":["post-1287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","activities-map-reading"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How cartographers determine map scale | OS GetOutside<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/advanced-map-scales\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How cartographers determine map scale | OS GetOutside\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Understanding map scales is vital to successfully using maps for planning and navigation. Boost your map reading skills with this advanced guide for understanding Ordnance Survey map scales and key features on each OS map.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/guides\/advanced-map-scales\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"OS Maps Discover\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/osmapping\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-06-16T00:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-06-07T10:45:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/osmaps.com\/discover\/blobgetoutside5db8a681d3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/understanding_map_scales_hero.d635ad0f1f03d16ac80ae9884a3c9df0.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"485\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"midasiak\" 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