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Convert Length from Us Survey Foot to Mile (ft-us to mi)
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US Survey Foot to Mile Conversion Formula
To convert from US Survey Foot (ft-us) to Mile (mi), use the following formula:
Example
Let's convert 5 US Survey Foot (ft-us) to Mile (mi).
Using the formula:
Therefore, 5 US Survey Foot (ft-us) is equal to Mile (mi).
What is a US Survey Foot (ft-us)?
The US Survey Foot is a unit of length historically used for land surveying in the United States.
It is very close in length to the international foot, equaling approximately 1.000002 international feet (ft). The plural form is US Survey Feet.
Where Did the US Survey Foot Come From?
The origin of the US Survey Foot dates back to the Mendenhall Order of 1893. This order defined the relationship between the meter and US customary units.
It established that 1 meter is precisely equal to 39.37 inches. From this relationship, the US Survey Foot was derived, defined as 1200/3937 meters.
This definition differs slightly from the international foot, which was established in 1959 and is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters.
Why Was the US Survey Foot Replaced?
To simplify measurements and prevent confusion, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) made a critical change.
They officially retired the U.S. Survey Foot on December 31, 2022.
Surveying and mapping applications in the United States will now use the international foot. This critical change helps unify the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and prevents costly errors in large-scale projects.
Why Did This Small Difference Cause Big Problems?
While the difference between a US Survey Foot and an international foot is minuscule—only about two parts per million—it becomes significant over large distances.
For every mile, the discrepancy adds up to approximately 1/8 inch.
This minor error may not be significant for a backyard fence. However, for massive construction projects and infrastructure development, such as bridges that cross state lines, the accumulated error can lead to severe misalignments and costly mistakes.
What is a Mile (mi)?
A mile (mi) is a common unit of length used in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement.
The official definition of a mile is 5,280 feet (ft). The plural form is miles.
Where Did the Word "Mile" Come From?
The word "mile" has ancient roots, originating from the Latin phrase "mille passus," which translates to "a thousand paces."
In ancient Rome, one pace was measured as two steps (one left and one right). The Roman mile was therefore 1,000 paces, which equals approximately 4,850 feet—slightly shorter than the modern mile.
What's the Difference Between a Statute Mile and a Nautical Mile?
Not all miles are created equal. While most people are familiar with the land mile, there is also a separate measurement used for air and sea travel.
The Statute Mile (Land Mile)
The commonly used mile on land is the statute mile, which is officially defined as 5,280 feet. This measurement is used for driving distances and most other land-based activities in the imperial system.
The Nautical Mile (Air and Sea)
The nautical mile is used for navigation in aviation and maritime settings. It is based on the Earth's circumference and is equal to one minute of arc of latitude. A nautical mile is longer than a statute mile.
Here's a quick comparison:
- 1 Statute Mile = 5,280 feet
- 1 Nautical Mile = approximately 6,076 feet (or about 1.15 statute miles)
Why Are There 5,280 Feet in a Mile?
The seemingly random number of 5,280 feet in a mile comes from English history. In 1593, the English Parliament, under Queen Elizabeth I, passed a statute to standardize units of measurement.
The statute defined the official length of a mile as being equal to 8 furlongs. Since one furlong was already established as 660 feet, the calculation was simple:
- 8 furlongs × 660 feet = 5,280 feet
This decision solidified the length of the statute mile that we still use today in countries that follow the imperial system.
What is the imperial system?
US Survey Foot to Mile Conversion Table
Here are some quick reference conversions from US Survey Foot (ft-us) to Mile (mi):
| US Survey Feet | Miles |
|---|---|
| 0.000001 ft-us | mi |
| 0.001 ft-us | mi |
| 0.1 ft-us | mi |
| 1 ft-us | mi |
| 2 ft-us | mi |
| 3 ft-us | mi |
| 4 ft-us | mi |
| 5 ft-us | mi |
| 6 ft-us | mi |
| 7 ft-us | mi |
| 8 ft-us | mi |
| 9 ft-us | mi |
| 10 ft-us | mi |
| 20 ft-us | mi |
| 30 ft-us | mi |
| 40 ft-us | mi |
| 50 ft-us | mi |
| 100 ft-us | mi |
| 1000 ft-us | mi |
| 10000 ft-us | mi |
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