Pituusasteviiva

Pituusasteviiva is a Finnish term that translates roughly to “length‑scale line” in English. It refers to a graphical element used in technical drawings, maps, and diagrams that shows a linear scale of distance or length. Typically the line is drawn next to a horizontal or vertical axis, containing a sequence of evenly spaced marks. Each mark on the line corresponds to a specific unit of measurement, such as millimetres, centimetres, or inches, and may be labeled with the equivalent numerical value.

In architectural and engineering drawings the pituusasteviiva is often included on the margin to provide a quick visual reference for the viewer. It allows the reader to estimate distances on the drawing without performing a full measurement calculation, thereby improving efficiency in design review and construction supervision. When used in cartography, the line may represent a geographic scale, indicating the proportional relationship between the distance on the map and the real‑world distance.

The construction of a pituusasteviiva follows standard drafting conventions: the line is usually a straight, thin stroke, with equally spaced tick marks at regular intervals. The tick marks may vary in length to denote major and minor units, and accompanying text can give the scale in the form “1 : 1000” or “1 cm = 10 m.” Modern computer‑aided design (CAD) software often includes shortcut tools to insert a pre‑formatted pituusasteviiva into a project file.

Because the symbol is purely visual and does not carry legal force, its design may vary slightly between industries and geographic regions. However, its purpose—providing a quick visual measure of length or scale—remains consistent across disciplines.