6/18/12

Linear scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linear scale
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linear scale from a large-scale NOAA nautical chart. The longer bar, representing one nautical mile (1,852 m or 72,913
inches), is 185 mm (7.29 inches) long on the paper chart, 1/10,000 of the distance it represents.

A linear scale, also called a bar scale, scale bar, graphic scale, or
graphical scale, is a means of visually showing the scale of a map,
nautical chart, engineering drawing, or architectural drawing.
On large scale maps and charts, those covering a small area, and
engineering and architectural drawings, the linear scale can be very
simple, a line marked at intervals to show the distance on the earth or
object which the distance on the scale represents. A person using the
map can use a pair of dividers (or, less precisely, two fingers) to measure
a distance by comparing it to the linear scale. The length of the line on the
linear scale is equal to the distance represented on the earth multiplied by
the map or chart's scale.
Drawing of a palintone, a type of
catapult, showing a very simple linear
scale in metres.

In most projections, scale varies with latitude, so on small scale maps,

covering large areas and a wide range of latitudes, the linear scale must
show the scale for the range of latitudes covered by the map. One of
these is shown below.

Since most nautical charts are constructed using the Mercator projection whose scale varies substantially with
latitude, linear scales are not used on charts with scales smaller than approximately 1/80,000.[1][2] Mariners
generally use the nautical mile, which, because a nautical mile is approximately equal to a minute of latitude, can be
measured against the latitude scale at the sides of the chart.
While linear scales are used on architectural and engineering drawings, particularly those that are drawn after the
subject has been built, many such drawings do not have a linear scale and are marked "Do Not Scale Drawing" in
recognition of the fact that paper size changes with environmental changes and only dimensions that are specifically
shown on the drawing can be used reliably in precise manufacturing.[3]

Nomenclature
The terms "bar scale", "graphic scale", "graphical scale", "linear scale", and "scale" are all used. Bowditch defined
only "bar scale" in its 1962 Glossary,[4], but added a reference to "graphic scale" by its 2002 edition.[5] Dutton
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_scale

1/3

6/18/12

Linear scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

used both terms in 1978.[2] The International Hydrographic Organization's Chart No. 1 uses only "linear scale".[6]
The British Admiralty's Mariner's Handbook uses "scale" to describe a linear scale and avoids confusion by using
"natural scale" for the fraction defined at scale (map).[7]

References
1. ^ Bowditch, Nathaniel, LLD; et
al. The American Practical
Navigator

Linear scale in both feet and metres in

the center of an engineering drawing.
The drawing was made 130 years
after the bridge was built.
(http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APN/Chapt03.pdf) (2002 ed.). Washington: National Imagery and Mapping Agency.
An architectural drawing with a
pp. 3435.
simple linear scale showing feet and
http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APN/Chapt-03.pdf.
half feet.
2. ^ a b Maloney, Elbert S. (1978). Dutton's Navigation & Piloting (13th ed.).
Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 523.
3. ^ Do a web search on "Do not scale drawing" to see many examples.
(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22do+not+scale+drawing%22)
4. ^ Bowditch, Nathaniel, LLD; et al. "Glossary". The American Practical Navigator (1962 ed.). Washington: U.S.
Navy Hydrographic Office.
5. ^ Bowditch, Nathaniel, LLD; et al. "Glossary"
(http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APN/Gloss-1.pdf) . The American Practical Navigator
(2002 ed.). Washington: National Imagery and Mapping Agency.
http://msi.nga.mil/MSISiteContent/StaticFiles/NAV_PUBS/APN/Gloss-1.pdf.
6. ^ Chart No. 1, Chart Number, Title, Marginal Notes (http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/chartno1.htm) .
Jointly by NOAA and Department of Commerce, USA. http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/chartno1.htm.
The cited book incorporates IHO Chart INT 1 and therefore represents the practice of the members of the IHO,
most of the seafaring nations.
7. ^ Lt. Cmdr. C.J. de C. Scott, R.N., ed. (1973). The Mariner's Handbook. Taunton: The Hydrographer of the
Navy. p. 33.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_scale

2/3

6/18/12

Linear scale - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The scale from a large world map, showing, graphically, the change of scale with latitude. Each unit on the map at the
equator represents the same distance on the earth as 5.9 units at 80 latitude.

See also
Engineer's scale
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Linear_scale&oldid=497511042"
Categories: Nautical terms Cartography Technical drawing
This page was last modified on 14 June 2012 at 06:33.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.
See Terms of use for details.
Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_scale

3/3