Scaling Maps

Learn how to scale maps in Hamina Network Planner.

One of the most important parts of wireless network design is setting an accurate scale. Hamina Network Planner uses distance to predict how far signal will travel from each access point, eNodeB, and gNodeB. How signal travels through open space (and through Attenuating Objects) is tied directly to distance, so an accurate scale is very important for the accuracy of the design.

When a map is uploaded, Hamina Network Planner will attempt to detect and apply a scale automatically using machine learning. This article covers how that automatic scale works, the manual methods for finding an accurate scale yourself, and how floors in a building share a scale once they're linked together.

Automatic Scale

When an eligible map (such as a JPEG, PNG, or PDF of an indoor floorplan) is uploaded, Hamina Network Planner uses machine learning to detect and apply a scale without any input from you.

1. After uploading a map, the scale marker shows an Analyzing Scale... message while Hamina checks the map.

2. If a scale is found, it's applied automatically, and the scale marker gains a robot emoji 🤖, indicating the scale is automatic and still unconfirmed.

An automatic scale is a starting point, not a final answer. It remains unconfirmed until you open the Scale tool and confirm or replace it. Designing against an unconfirmed scale is risky — a small error in the automatic detection compounds across the whole map and throws off signal predictions everywhere.

Not every map is eligible for automatic scale. Outdoor maps, stadiums, and low-quality or non-architectural maps (like fire escape diagrams) usually require a manual scale.

Confirming or Replacing an Automatic Scale

Even when the automatic scale looks correct, Hamina strongly recommends verifying it with one of the manual methods below (a long measurement, a built-in scale, or Google Earth). This matters most on large maps, warehouses, and campuses, where small errors compound into large signal-prediction problems.

1. Click the Scale tool in the toolbar, or press 3.

2. Determine the correct distance using one of the manual scaling methods below.

3. If the automatic scale matches, you're done. If it doesn't, set the scale manually to overwrite it.

Getting the Scale of a Map

Whether you're scaling a map without an automatic scale, or double-checking one that was applied automatically, there are several manual ways to get an accurate scale:

1. Using the built-in scale on the map

2. Taking a measurement (long wall, large room, or long hallway)

3. Measuring the length of the building in Google Earth

The key to a good scale is to use as long of an object as possible. Using short objects is dangerous, as being a few pixels off can cause exponential scale problems on large maps.

Avoid using short distances like doorways! Using a short distance to set the scale can cause the scale to drift over larger distances. Hamina strongly recommends using longer objects like the length of the building, a long hallway, or a gymnasium-sized room to set the scale.

Using the Built-in Scale

In some cases, image-based maps (such as JPEG's, PNG's, and PDF's) may have a scale marker built-in. If this is true on your map, then congratulations! You have won the network design lottery, and can easily scale your map.

When using a CAD file (such as a DXF or DWG), there is usually a built-in scale that will be applied as soon as you upload the CAD file.

It's always a good idea to double-check a CAD file scale with the Scale tool to make sure it is accurate. You don't need to measure a real wall to find out - just use the Scale tool to measure part of the map, and see if it seems reasonably accurate. CAD files do not always include accurate scales, so be careful!

Taking a Measurement

If the map doesn't include a built-in scale (which is very common), then take a measurement of a long wall, long hallway, or length of a large room to find the scale. Most wireless network engineers carry a laser range finder for this task. Hold it up against the wall, point it to the other side of the long room or hallway, and activate the range finger to measure the distance. Once you have the distance, you can proceed to setting the scale.

Google Earth

If you can't easily get on site to take a measurement, then Google Earth is a great alternative.

1. Navigate to https://earth.google.com/web/.

2. Use the Search tool to locate the building.

3. Use Google Earth's camera controls to center the building. Selecting 2D in the lower right can be helpful.

4. Select the Measure distance and area tool.

5. On the building, choose two points that are opposite of each other to measure. It is always a good idea to use the longest part of the building to get the most accurate scale.

6. Click on the first point, then the second point. The Distance measurement window will appear, showing the distance in meters.

7. Click Done to capture the distance, It will remain on-screen in Google Earth until you take further action.

8. You can now proceed to Setting the Scale in Hamina.

Setting the Scale

Whether you're setting a scale for the first time, or replacing an automatic scale, the steps are the same:

1. Click the Scale tool in the toolbar on the left

2. Alternatively, click the blue Add scale button in the lower right.

3. Left-click on the map, where the first point of the measurement was taken. A blue line will appear that follows the mouse pointer.

4. Left-click on the map again, where the second point of the measurement was taken. The blue line will snap between the two points, and the length setting popup will appear.

5. Press the Enter key, or click the Set button to set the scale.

Scale in Multi-Floor Buildings

When maps are arranged into floors within a building using Floor Alignment, their scales become linked. Since every floor needs to agree spatially with the others (for elevators, stairwells, and RF propagation between floors), changing the scale on any one floor updates the scale for every floor in the building.

Confirm the scale on at least one floor with a manual method — not just an unconfirmed automatic scale — before adding floors to a building. Once floors are linked, that scale propagates to the whole building, so an uncorrected error on one floor becomes an error on every floor.

If you need to correct the scale after floors are already linked, set the scale on any floor in the building, and the change will apply to every other floor automatically.

Measuring Distances in Hamina

Once the scale is set, the Scale tool in Hamina can be used to take various measurements in the design. For example, you can use it to see how wide a room is, or see how far apart access points are from each other.