A good example for the use of scale models is building a park or a garden. Before spending a huge amount of money, you really want to know how your project will come up in reality. A map is always 2D. You only have the birds perspective. You can advance by using sketches of different perspectives. But drawings are always limited. A model will give you all angles of view and a unique feeling for material and texture.
If you want to preserve or reconstruct a special piece of landscape. A model is a great way to go. Bringing historical places to life and catching viewers attention will be guaranteed.
A scale model is a great piece of craftsmanship which give every design idea an enormous amount of expressive power. It can cast a spell on everyone in a unique way.
Best regards,
Philipp Preiser