1. Calculating the Area of a Feature
Mr Daly
16/01/2019 5:32 AM16/01/2019 5:32 AM
Calculating the Area of a Feature
A feature is an object on the map. The point of this exercise is to estimate the area it take up.
A Feature, lets say… a Pond.
A Feature, lets say… a Barn.
A Feature, lets say… a Forest.

2. Calculating the Area of a Feature
This is a lot of guess work and math, so lets go through it step by step
We want to know the area of the pond in Rivertown, shown here
200m
We want to find and look at the Scale, show here
200m
We now we now will roughly measure the pond
We now we now know that the pond is roughly smaller than 200m wide by 200m long
Area = Length x Width
Area = 200 x 200
40,000 m²

3. Calculating the Area of a Feature
We know the pond is less than 40,000 m²
Lets get more precise…
Next, divide the pond into segments.
Colour code them…
Red = Full
Yellow = (3/4) Three quarters
Full
Green = (1/2) Half Full
Blue = (1/4) A Quarters Full
Red = /1 squares
Yellow = /3 squares
Green = /2 squares
Green = /4 squares

4. Calculating the Area of a Feature
Red = /1 squares
We now enter our data into our table.
You can find the multiplier by converting the fraction into a decimal. (use a calculator)
Yellow = /3 squares
We then enter the multipliers. This will help us calculate the exact area of the pond
Green = /2 squares
Green = /4 squares
The multiplier should match the type of square it is, for example, ¾ = 0.75
Number of Squares
Multiplier
Calculation
Full squares 40
x 1.00
¾ Squares 9
x 0.75
6.75
½ Squares 8
x 0.50 4
¼ Squares 11
x 0.25
2.75
We then complete the table…
We then add the calculations together to figure out how many squares the pond is total… 40 +
6.75 + 4 +
2.75 =
53.5

5. Calculating the Area of a Feature
We know that the Grid Area is 40,000 m²
40,000 m²
40,000 divided by 100 squares equals
We know the Grid consists of 100 squares
1 square = 400m²
We know that the Pond Area is 53.5 squares
53.5 squares x 400m²
21,400 m²
We know the pond is approximately