Vertical exaggeration

Vertical exaggeration (VE) is a scale that is used in raised-relief maps, plans and technical drawings (cross section perspectives). The exaggeration is used to emphasize vertical features, which might be too small to identify relative to the horizontal scale.

Vertical exaggeration is given as a number; for example 5× means that vertical measurements are 5 times greater than horizontal measurements. A value of 1× indicates that horizontal and vertical scales are identical, and is regarded as having "no vertical exaggeration." Vertical exaggerations less than 1 are not common, but indicate a horizontal exaggeration.