Scale matters: a survey of the concepts of scale used in spatial disciplines

Scale is a critical factor when studying patterns and the processes that cause them. A variety of approaches have been used to define the concept of scale but confusion and ambiguities remain regarding scale types and their definitions. The objectives of this study were therefore (1) to review existing types and definitions of scale, and (2) to systematically investigate the ambiguities in scale definitions and to determine the applicability of the various scale types and definitions. Through a comprehensive literature review, we identified seven types of scales and designed a survey for the seven definitions of scale and interviewed 150 scientists. The results show that the more cartography related types of scale are relatively well known while the more abstract dimensions are less known and are most ambiguous. Based on graphical examples, participants were asked which spatial scales are most relevant for their work. Surprisingly, composite objects such as a forest stand were most relevant followed by individual objects such as single trees and, lastly, more generalized categorizes or meta-objects such as “forested area”. We have drawn some conclusions that will help to clarify the different types of scale in regard to their practical use.