Scale factor represents distortion from a mapping system since the Earth is mapped into a flat surface, but the actual surface is in curvature. Figure 1 illustrates a scale factor with a reference location of the Earth’s surface. If the location is above the map projection plan, the scale factor will be less than 1.0. However, if the location is below the mapping projection, the scale factor will be more than 1.0. A scale factor less than 1 means that the actual distance on the Earth’s surface is longer than the actual distance on the map. Whereas, the scale factor of more than 1 demonstrates that the actual distance on the Earth is shorter than the map distance.
Figure 1 – Scale Factor
For UTM, the central meridian (CM) has a scale factor of 0.9996. The locations where the scale factor is one are 320,000m E and 680,000 E (Figure 2).
Figure 2 – Scale Factor Depending on Location for each UTM zone
Example:
This example demonstrates how to use the scale factor to calculate the distance projected in the map.
The surface location is located in UTM 30N. The location coordination is 400,000 E and 6,900,000 N. and the target is located at 401,000 E and 6,899,500N and the UTM zone is 30N. The scale factor at the location is 0.999685. The surface and the target for this can be illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 3- Surface and Target Location
Distance from Surface Location to Target
ΔN = 6,899,500 – 6,900,000 = – 500 m
ΔE = 401,000 – 400,000 = 1,000 m
Map Distance = 1118.034 m
Figure 4 – Distance from surface to the target illustration
True Distance
This distance must be applied to the scale factor in order to get the true distance.
True Distance (m) = Map Distance ÷ scale factor
True Distance (m) = 1118.034 ÷ 0.999685 = 1118.3863 m
The true distance is the horizontal displacement referencing from the surface location to the target.
Target Azimuth
The target in reference to the surface location is located in 2nd quadrant; therefore the target azimuth is calculated by the following relationship;
Target AZI = 90 + tan-1(ΔN÷ΔE)
Target AZI = 90 + tan-1((500) ÷ (1000))
Target AZI = 116.565 degree
References
Adam Bourgoyne, 2014. Directional Drilling and Deviation Control: Definitions and Reasons for Directional Drilling. 1st Edition.
French Oil & Gas Industry Association, 1990. Directional Drilling and Deviation Control. Edition. Technip Editions.
Tom Inglis, 1988. Directional Drilling (Petroleum Engineering and Development Studies) (v. 2). 1987 Edition. Springer.
