[Mapserver-users] Set map scale rather than extent

[Doug]

 From PHP-Mapscript, how would you specify a Map's scale in miles, 
rather than extent in coordinates?  We want to specify, ideally, a 
center point, then something like "show me a mile on each side this 
point".  In some of the archives I see references to specifying a 
"buffer" region, but I can't find that capability, nor the ability to 
translated geo coordinates to distance measurements.

Thanks,
Doug