What is a chain (US survey)?

A US survey chain is a traditional unit of length equal to 66 US survey feet, used historically in land surveying and cadastral work.

Why convert chain to dekameter?

Converting chain to dekameter helps translate historical survey measurements into modern metric units suitable for mapping and GIS.

Is the dekameter commonly used?

Dekameter is an SI-derived length unit used mainly for expressing distances in tens of meters, often in topographic and meteorological applications.

Converting Chain (US survey) to Dekameter: A Step-by-Step Guide

Easily convert measurements from the US survey chain unit to dekameters using this straightforward online length converter. Ideal for land surveying, GIS, and topographic mapping.

Chain (US survey) [ch]

Dekameter [dam]

Please check your input. It must be a valid numeric value.

Chain (US survey) [ch] to Dekameter [dam] Conversion Table

Chain (US survey) [ch]	Dekameter [dam]

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

Enter the ending number (positive decimal or integer > Start Value). Example: 10, 50, 100.

Interval

Enter the step size (positive decimal > 0 and < End Value – Start Value). Example: 1.0, 2.5.

Chain (US survey) [ch] to Dekameter [dam] Conversion Table
Chain (US survey) [ch]	Dekameter [dam]

Explore More Length Units Converter

What Is This Tool?

This converter allows users to transform length measurements from the traditional US survey chain unit to the SI-derived dekameter unit, facilitating interpretation of historical survey data and modern spatial analysis.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value in chain (US survey) units
Select the input unit as chain (US survey) [ch]
Choose the output unit as dekameter [dam]
Click the convert button to see the equivalent length in dekameters

Key Features

Converts length values from chain (US survey) to dekameter instantly
Supports historical land surveying and cadastral measurement interpretations
Browser-based, easy to use with no installation required
Displays results compatible with modern metric mapping and GIS systems

Examples

5 chain (US survey) converts to approximately 10.06 dekameters
0.5 chain (US survey) converts to approximately 1.01 dekameters

Common Use Cases

Interpreting distances recorded in historical US land surveys and cadastral deeds
Converting legacy survey measurements into metric units for GIS and mapping
Expressing medium-scale distances like property boundaries and right-of-way descriptions
Applying measurements in topographic and meteorological contexts requiring decameter units

Tips & Best Practices

Use this converter to modernize legacy data for contemporary mapping needs
Be aware that the chain is based on the US survey foot which may differ slightly from the international foot
Utilize dekameter units for describing distances in tens of meters for clarity in local-scale mapping
Cross-check converted values when precise land measurements are critical due to small rounding differences

Limitations

The chain (US survey) is mostly obsolete and used primarily for legacy documents
Small rounding discrepancies may occur because of the US survey foot definition
Dekameter units are less commonly recognized for everyday use compared to meters or kilometers

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a chain (US survey)?: A US survey chain is a traditional unit of length equal to 66 US survey feet, used historically in land surveying and cadastral work.
Why convert chain to dekameter?: Converting chain to dekameter helps translate historical survey measurements into modern metric units suitable for mapping and GIS.
Is the dekameter commonly used?: Dekameter is an SI-derived length unit used mainly for expressing distances in tens of meters, often in topographic and meteorological applications.

Key Terminology

Chain (US survey): A traditional length unit equal to 66 US survey feet, historically used in US land surveying and cadastral mapping.
Dekameter [dam]: An SI-derived unit of length equal to 10 meters, used to express medium-scale distances typically in topography and meteorology.
Cadastral Surveys: Surveys that document property boundaries and land ownership details, often using legacy units like the US survey chain.

Quick Knowledge Check

What does one US survey chain equal in dekameters?

Approximately 2.01 dekameters

Exactly 10 dekameters

About 0.66 dekameters

Which unit is traditionally used in US land surveying?

Dekameter

Chain (US survey)

Meter

For what kind of mapping is the dekameter useful?

Large-scale continental mapping

Medium-scale topographic and meteorological mapping

Microscopic measurements

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