FUTURE CITY COMPETITION

The use and application of SCALES

for design and construction of a model

What is a Scale? Mathematical RATIO (3D) Exact RELATIONSHIP True REPRESENTATION

(at a smaller or larger size from the original)

Exact PROPORTION between two objects

Example: Chrysler Building 405 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY

How are Scales Used?

To communicate VISUALLY To DETAIL critical aspects To easily MEASURE distances To QUICKLY determine distances To ACCURATELY determine distances (can

be done to 1/10th of 1 % or better) To RECORD events To visualize GEOGRAPHIC relationships

TYPES OF SCALES

ENGINEERING ARCHITECTURAL METRIC MAP SCALES (mix of units) – Use

projections from spherical to 2D LOGARITHMIC (used for large

differences in order of magnitude) OTHER

Sizes and Shapes

Standard Engineering Scales 1”=10’* (also 1”=100’, 1”=1,000’, etc.) 1”=20’ (also 1”=200’, etc.) 1”=30’ (also 1”=300’, etc.) 1”=40’ (Same as above) 1”=50’ (SAA) 1”=60’ (SAA)

* Commonly expressed as “10 foot scale”

Note: 1”=10’ 1/120th of original

Engineering Scales

Engineering, Continued

Engineering, Continued

• Height to the top of its spire is 1,048 feet

• Scale is 7.5 inches

1048 / 7.5 = 139.7, use 140 >>> Scale: 1”=140’

Standard Architectural Scales 1”=1’-0” * ½”=1’-0” ¼”=1’-0” 1/8”=1’-0” 1/16”=1’-0” 1/32”=1’-0”

* Commonly referred to as “One-inch scale”

Note: 1”=1’-0” 1/12th of original

3”=1’-0” 1-½”=1’-0” 3/4”=1’-0” 3/8”=1’-0” 3/16”=1’-0” 3/32”=1’=0”

Architectural Scales

Architectural, Continued

Common Metric Scales 1:100 * (also 1:1,000, etc) 1:125 1:150 1:200 1:250 1:300 1:400 1:500 1:600 1:750

* Expressed as “100 meter scale” Careful: 1:100 can mean 1/100 or 1/10,000

Metric Scale, Continued

• Height to the top of its spire is 1,048 feet = 301 meters

• Scale is 18.9 cm = 0.189 m

301 / 0.189 = 1592, use 1600 >>> Scale: 1 : 1,600

Common Map Scales 1”=1 mile, 1.5 mile, 5.3 miles, etc. 1”= approx. 45 miles, 130 miles 1”=1.3 nautical mile * 1:24,000 (USGS 7.5 minute series) 1:1,000,000 (photogrammetry) Mercator Projection (variable scale) Other Projections: Cylindrical,

Conical, etc.

* 1 Nautical mile = 1.15 statute miles

Which Scale to Use?

Any of the above. • 6 engineering • 12 architectural • 6 metric

None of the above

What Scale to use for the Model? You decide .

Selecting a Scale 1. Determine the dimensions of the city section that

will be displayed (consider all 3 dimensions) • DECIDE HOW LARGE AND HOW SMALL AREA OF YOUR CITY YOU WILL

WANT TO DISPLAY. • FIND THE HEIGHT OF THE TALLEST BUILDING OR LAND FEATURE WITHIN

THAT AREA AND ITS HEIGHT.

2. Size of the presentation model (and determine the most critical dimension)

• 30” W x 60” H x 24” H; example: you need to fit 2,000’ into 24” high. • Do your math: 2000/24=83.33. Try a 1”=100’ scale. The building will be

2000/100=20, or 20” high. With the base of the model, will that be <24”?

3. Confirm that all of the dimensions work and you will not be able to show all that you want or need, and that none of the model dimensions will be exceeded.

Your Future City Scale Work with your Mentor Ask your Mentor to suggest 2 or 3 scales for you to

try on your model Don’t be afraid to use a non-conventional scale

(such as 1’=333 ft) But be consistent in your selection If one component of your model doesn’t fit…don’t

worry too much. Always display your scale on your Model (use the

4” x 6” card) For extra points, show a GRAPHIC scale

GOOD LUCK !!!

AND BEST WISHES IN YOUR ENGINEERING ENDEAVORS

© Rod Rodriguez (2003-2014)