Map Projections

Map Projections
Projections
• Goal: translate places on the Earth (3D)
to Cartesian coordinates (2D)
Map Projections
• The systematic transformation of
points on the Earth’s surface to
corresponding points on a plane
surface.
– Map projections always introduce some type
of distortion
– selection of a projection is done to minimize
distortion for the particular application
Why do we need a projection?
Creating maps
– we must choose an appropriate projection for the
map to communicate effectively
– part of good cartographic design
Sharing/receiving geographic data

– along with datum, coordinate system, we must know
the map projection in which the data are stored
– Then we’re able to overlay maps from originally
different projections
Types or Classes of projections
Planar or Cylindrical Conical

Azimuthal
Views of projected surfaces
Cylindrical projections
You cut the cylinder along any meridian and unroll it to

produce your base map.
Note: the meridian running down the center of the map is
called the central meridian (the red line).
Cylindrical projections (Cont.)
The light source's origin for the map projection is also the origin of the
spherical coordinate system, so simply extending the degree lines until
they reach the cylinder creates the map projection. The poles cannot be
displayed on the map projection because the projected 90 degree latitude
will never contact the cylinder. (ESRI Press)
Tangent vs. Secant Projections
Standard line
Standard line
Standard line
Standard Lines or Point
standard point/lines: on a projected map, the

location(s) free of all distortion at the exact point
or lines where the surface (cylinder, cone, plane)
touches the globe.
Projection Aspects or Projection Cases:
cylindrical
conical
planar
Normal Transverse Oblique

Preservation of Properties
• Map projections always introduce some

sort of distortion. How to deal with it?
• Choose a map projection that preserves the globe
properties appropriate for the application
• Note: The preservation of properties offers an alternative --

perhaps more meaningful -- way to categorize projections
Map projections distortion
Projections cause distortion. The projection process will
distort one or more of the four spatial properties listed below.
Distortion of these spatial properties is inherent in any map.
Shape
Area
Distance
Direction
Preservation of properties
Conformal projections
• -preserve shape
• shape preserved for local (small) areas
(angular relationships are preserved at each point)
• sacrifices preservation of area away from standard
point/lines
Equivalent/Equal-Area projections
• -preserve area
• all areas are correctly sized relative to one another
• sacrifices preservation of shape away from standard
point/lines
Equidistant projections
• -preserve distance
• scale is correct from one to all other points on the
map, or along all meridians
• however, between other points on map, scale is
incorrect
Azimuthal projections
• -preserve direction
• azimuths (lines of true direction) from the center point
of the projection to all other points are correct
Famous (and frequent) projection issue...
Mercator
(conformal)
why not use other (many)

more appropriate
projections?
e.g., Molleweide
(equal area)
3-11 Map projections distortion (Cont.)
The Mercator
projection maintains
shape and direction.
The Sinusoidal and
Equal-Area Cylindrical
projections both
maintain area, but look
quite different from
each other. The
Robinson projection
does not enforce any
specific properties but
is widely used because
it makes the earth’s
surface and its features
"look right.“ (ESRI
Press)
Tissot’s Indicatrix
The Tissot indicatrix is a figure that shows how a projection changes the geometry.
It does so in a simple manner: by showing what a circle would look like on the map.
This is an equal area projection.
Blue circles are the projected

circles (here, ellipses).
Grey circles are reference circles.
Radii are for reference regarding

distance distortion.
Area scale
An indicator of distortion on projected maps.

s = "area scale" = product of semi-axes of circle/ellipse.
Conformal vs. Equal-area projections
Examples of projections
• Do the following examples clear up some
myths we have grown to believe?
Conformal example
Stereographic
projection
- planar with transverse

aspect
Myth:
Antarctica’s shape
Equal-area example
Albers Equal Area
projection
- conic with two

standard lines
Population density map

Equidistant example
Azimuthal Equidistant
projection
- Oblique planar with

standard point
centered on North
Korea
True direction
Gnomonic
- planar with standard

point located at NYC
...compare with Mercator projection:
myth: transatlantic flights go “out of their way”

Compromise projections
• ...don’t perserve any properties completely,
but achieve compromise between them
Example: Robinson projection - designed for world maps
Projections in Perspective
S = 200km
chord c = ???
θ = s/R x180/π
R = 6371007m
c2 = 2R2 – 2R2cosθ
θ Plot 200km on 25cm
= 2R2(1-cosθ)
Scale = 1 : 800 000
c = 199 991.79m
8.21m plots as 0.00001m = 0.01mm
Diff = - 8.21m

Map Projections

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Map Projections

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Map Projections

Sharing/receiving geographic data

Planar or Cylindrical Conical

You cut the cylinder along any meridian and unroll it to

standard point/lines: on a projected map, the

Normal Transverse Oblique

• Map projections always introduce some

• Note: The preservation of properties offers an alternative --

why not use other (many)

This is an equal area projection.

Blue circles are the projected

Grey circles are reference circles.

Radii are for reference regarding

An indicator of distortion on projected maps.

- planar with transverse

- conic with two

Population density map

- Oblique planar with

- planar with standard

...compare with Mercator projection:

myth: transatlantic flights go “out of their way”

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