Vertical Exaggeration Calculator

How to Use the Calculator

1. Enter the map scale in the format "1:N" (e.g., "1:25000") where N is the denominator of the scale.
2. Enter the field scale in the format "1:N" (e.g., "1:5000") where N is the denominator of the scale.
3. Click the "Calculate" button to compute the vertical exaggeration factor.
4. The result will be displayed in the "Vertical Exaggeration Factor (VEF)" field.

Understanding Vertical Exaggeration

Vertical exaggeration (VEF) is the ratio between the vertical scale of a map and the horizontal scale. It is used to determine how much the vertical features of the terrain are amplified on the map compared to the actual terrain.

For example, if a map has a scale of 1:25000 and the field measurements were taken with a scale of 1:5000, the vertical exaggeration factor would be 2. This means that the vertical features on the map are twice as tall as they would be in reality.

Applications

Vertical exaggeration is commonly used in topographic mapping, especially in areas with steep terrain. It helps to clearly display elevation changes that would otherwise be too subtle to notice at a standard map scale.

However, it's important to be aware of the exaggeration factor when interpreting maps, as it can distort the perception of the terrain's actual relief.