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MAPPING - SCALES...

 

Introduction

 

To be useful the map has to show features in real life proportionately smaller than they really are, else you would end up with a life-size map and that would be a waste of time! The proportion that is chosen for the map is called its scale..

 

It is important to know how to read a map when you are camping, or in the wilderness, so you do not get lost. Camping gear will sometimes provide a compass, but the real Scout leader will know how to read and use a map.

 

Scale

 

The scale indicates the relationship between a certain distance on the map and the distance in real-life. The scale is usually found on the edge of the map and in the legend box (the part which explains all the details of the map and defines the symbols shown on the map). .

 

Sometimes the scale may be spoken of in terms of a representative fraction (RF). It is just a ratio..

 

For example a scale of 1/10 000 or 1:10 000 means that one centimetre on the map actually represents 10 000 centimetres in real life..

 

The unit (e.g. cm or metres or inches) you choose to measure in does not matter although modern maps almost always use metric units. I suggest you get used to metric units..

 

You will often find the scale expressed in words too. Something like.

 

 

"One centimetre equals ten kilometres".

 

Large scale maps usually refer to a very detailed map covering a small area. Below are some of the common Ordnance Survey (UK) maps that are used..

Orienteering 1: 15 000 so 1 cm = 150 m (Useful for detailed information on the local area)

Outdoor Leisure/Explorer 1:25 000 so 1 cm = 250 m (Very similar to Landranger showing more detail of tourist information. Gives a more 'zoomed in' look at the area. Useful for local hikes.)

Landranger 1:50 000 so 1 cm = 500 m (All purpose maps covering an area of 40 km by 40 km)

Travel Master 1:250 000 and 1:625 000 so 1 cm = 2 500 m (useful for planning (road) routes from town to town. It only takes nine of them cover almost the whole of Britain. Useful for car journeys)

Touring 1:63 360 or 1:158 400 or 1:100 000 or 1:500 000 (Cover popular holiday and tourist areas. Places to see on a day out for example.)

Maps of the world may have scales like 1: 100 million so 1 cm = 10 km

 

So for instance, and Explorer map would show more detail than a Landranger map because 1 cm on the Explorer map covers a much smaller area in real life so you don't 'waste' information by having to squash it all into a little box, the information is more 'spread out'..

 

You have to be very careful in using the scale on the map. It would be pointless knowing the ratio if you are looking at a portion of a photocopied map. What happens if the photocopy had been enlarged or shrunk? Perhaps one cm on the photocopy is not the same as 1 cm on the map. There are several ways round this. If the photocopy shows the grid lines clearly then you will know that on a Landranger Map each grid square represents a 1 km by 1 km area of land. This is equivalent to having a graphical scale..

 

If you look at the bottom of the map and in the legend you will find a graphical scale. It looks like several rulers laid together. On most Ordnance Survey maps it will consist of two lines. One line has intervals marked in km and one line has intervals marked in miles..

 

To use this graphical scale choose which one you are going to use first. Now take a ruler and measure the distance between the two places you are interested in on the map. (If the distance is curved e.g. how long a road is, then trace out the route using a find piece of string and mark the ends. Then straighten your string out like a ruler and continue). Now take the ruler and compare it with the graphical scale by laying it alongside. You should be able to tell the true length in real life..

 

Indeed if you know the stated scale (e.g. 2 cm = 1 km) then simply look at your ruler and change it into the 'real life' distance. If you have measure the distance between two peaks as being 3 cm then this would correspond to a distance of 1.5 km in real life. Beware that this will not work if the map scale has changed (e.g. if the map has been reproduced to a different size) which is why the graphical method is so useful..

 

I suggest that whenever you reproduce a map you ensure that the graphical scale is reproduced too. Make sure you photocopy the scale at the same time.

RETURN TO SCOUTING SKILLS

Sharing your information

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Young people and other data subjects

We will normally only share personal information with adult volunteers holding an appointment in the 22nd Wimbledon Scout Group.

 

Adult volunteers

We will normally only share personal information with adult volunteers holding appropriate appointments within the line management structure of The Scout Association for the 22nd Wimbledon Scout Group as well as with The Scout Association Headquarters as independent data controllers.

 

All data subjects

We will however share your personal information with others outside of 22nd Wimbledon Scout Group where we need meet a legal obligation. This may include The Scout Association and its insurance subsidiary (Unity Insurance Services), local authority services and law enforcement.  We will only share your personal information to the extent needed for those purposes.

 

We will only share your data with third parties outside of the organisation where there is a legitimate reason to do so.

 

We will never sell your personal information to any third party.

 

Sometimes we may nominate a member for national awards, (such as Scouting awards or Duke of Edinburgh awards) such nominations may require us to provide contact details and award nomination details, such as citations to that organisation. We may also share data on award nominees for National Honours Awards, including the same data as above.

 

Where personal data is shared with third parties, we will seek assurances that your personal data will be kept confidential and that the third party fully complies with the GDPR and DPA 2018.

 

How we store your personal data

We generally store personal information in the following ways:

 

The online membership system of The Scout Association. This system is used for the collection and storage of adult volunteer personal data and training.

 

Online Scout Manager - is the online membership system of Online Youth Manager, this system is used for the collection and storage of youth member personal data.  https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/security.html

 

Google Drive – shared drive which can be accessed by all section team members in the group this is used for storing Risk Assessments, programme information, camps and section information. https://policies.google.com/privacy

 

Dropbox – controlled by the Group Lead Volunteer and used for storage of photos and electronic file backup. https://www.dropbox.com/en_GB/privacy

 

In addition, adult volunteers may hold some personal data on local spreadsheets/databases.

 

Printed records and data held while attending events - paper is sometimes used to capture and retain some data for example:

  • Gift Aid administration

  • Event registration

  • Health and contact records forms (for events)

  • Events coordination with event organisers

Paper records for events may be used rather than relying on secure digital systems, as often the events are held where internet and digital access will not be available.  We will minimise the use of paper to only what is required for the event.

 

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Further processing

If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, not covered by this Data Protection Notice, then we will provide you with a new notice explaining this new use prior to commencing the processing and setting out the relevant purposes and processing conditions.  Where and whenever necessary, we will seek your prior consent to the new processing.

 

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How we provide this privacy notice

A link to this website page is provided to those whose data is being processed by us.  A printed version is also available on request.

 

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Your rights

As a Data Subject, you have the right to object to how we process your personal information.  You also have the right to access, correct, sometimes delete and restrict the personal information we use.  In addition, you have a right to complain to us and to the Information Commissioner’s Office (www.ico.org.uk).

 

Unless subject to an exemption under the GDPR and DPA 2018, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

  • The right to be informed – you have a right to know how your data will be used by us.

  • The right to access your personal data – you can ask us to share with you the data we have about you. This is a Data Subject Access Request.

  • The right to rectification – this just means you can update your data if it’s inaccurate or if something is missing.  Adult members will be able to edit and update some information directly on The Scout Association’s adult membership system.

  • The right to erasure – this means that you have the right to request that we delete any personal data we have about you. There are some exceptions, for example, some information will be held by The Scout Association for legal reasons.

  • The right to restrict processing – if you think that we are not processing your data in line with this privacy notice then you have the right to restrict any further use of that data until the issue is resolved.

  • The right to data portability – this means that if you ask us we will have to share your data with you in a way that can be read digitally – such as a pdf. This makes it easier to share information with others.

  • The right to object – you can object to the ways your data is being used.

  • Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling – this protects you in cases where decision are being made about you based entirely on automated processes rather than a human input, it’s highly unlikely that this will be used by us.

 

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Website Cookies

 

Forms related cookies

When you submit data through a form such as those found on our contact pages or comment forms, cookies may be set to remember you your user details for future correspondence.

 

Third Party Cookies

In some special cases we also use cookies provided by trusted third parties.  The following section details which third party cookies you might encounter through this site.

 

This site uses Google Analytics which is one of the most widespread and trusted analytics solutions on the web for helping us to understand how you use the site and ways that we can improve your experience.  These cookies may track things such as how long you spend on the site and the pages that you visit so we can continue to produce engaging content.

 

For more information on Google Analytics cookies, see the official Google Privacy information page.

 

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Who to contact

If you have any queries relating to this Privacy Notice or our use of your personal data, please contact us by emailing the Group Lead Volunteer, Graham Fairclough at gsl@22nd.org.uk

 

Version number and date of the last review

Version 1 January 2025

 

 

 

All logos are © Copyright The Scout Association 2024. All Rights Reserved.
Charity numbers: 306101 (England and Wales) and SC038437 (Scotland).
Registered address: The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London, England E4 7QW

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