The term multiscale representations refers to versions of a data set that are derived from the original compilation and designed for use at mapping scales other than the original compilation scale. Generally, the derived mapping scales are smaller scales than the compilation, but in current practice, it is accepted convention to derive multiscale representations for mapping at slightly larger scales as well. Taken as a group, the originally compiled version and the derived versions are stored in the database and make up the set of multiscale representations.

Creation of multiscale representations is a GIS process that relates mapping scale to data resolution in order to adjust data resolution to fit a particular mapping scale. Scale is defined here as the ratio between map distance and ground ...