Maps’ Scale in Digital Cartography

The meaning of map scale increases in the digital environment, despite the fact that the maps can be visualized in different map scales. Three kinds of map scales are examined, which are relatively independent of the maps, visualized on the display:  Scale of the map field space – the current map scale, visualized on the screen.  Scale of the map content, which defines:  Particularity of the data the object quantity in each class, which are presented in the model and the number and the type of characteristics, with which they are described;  In-detail representation of the information depends on the distances between the object and it's sign, for instance, for the lines it depends on the degree of simplification of the outlines during generalization;  Geometric accuracy of the data as described by the precision of the data sources and by mistakes made during the data entry.  Scale of the signs space. The signs can have their own scale, different from the map scale. For example, the sign size can present some characteristics of the its object. The paper maps have one scale, because as described above three map scales are conditioned and connected. In the digital environment the value of each sign from the given map scales, must be defined, in order to receive a specific cartographic image. Several examples of mistakes in digital maps are shown, caused by the use of a unified map scale. The scale of the maps on a paper is strictly defined – it represents the ratio of the size of the map sheet to that of the mapped territory. Dependent upon it are the utmost representation in detail and particularity of the map, its maximum graphical loading as well as the accuracy with which we take the measurements. An impression is given in a digital environment that there is not any clearly defined scale because:  One digital map may form of different scale whether being it onto paper or on the display;  One works with the real and actual coordinates of the objects;  Practically unlimited number of objects and their characteristics may be represented in separate layers;  The accuracy of the measurements depends on the precision of the output data only, not on the scale.