Map Projection

Map Projection
and
Coordinate System
What is a coordinate system?
A coordinate system is a reference system used
to represent
 the locations of geographic features,
 imagery and
 observations, such as Global Positioning
System (GPS) locations
within a common geographic framework.
Types of Coordinate Systems
1. Global Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z) for the

whole earth
2. Geographic coordinates (f, l, z)
3. Projected coordinates (x, y, z) on a local
area of the earth’s surface
Global Cartesian Coordinates (x,y,z)
Z
Greenwich
Meridian
O
• Y
X
Equator
Geographic coordinate
systems
A geographic coordinate system (GCS) uses a three-
dimensional spherical surface to define locations on
the earth
A point is referenced by its
longitude and latitude
values
Longitude and latitude are

angles measured from the
earth's center to a point on
the earth's surface.
The angles often are

measured in degrees
In the spherical system, horizontal lines, or east–west
lines, are lines of equal latitude, or parallels
Vertical lines, or north–south lines, are lines of equal

longitude, or meridians
These lines encompass the globe and form a gridded

network called a graticule
Projected coordinate systems
A projected coordinate system (PCS) is defined on a
flat, two-dimensional surface.
Unlike a GCS, a PCS has constant lengths, angles, and

areas across the two dimensions
A PCS is always based on a GCS that is based on a

sphere or spheroid. In addition to the GCS, a PCS
includes a map projection
Map projections
A map projection is simply a method of showing the 3-
D planet Earth on a 2-D plane
In other words A map projection is a conversion

between geographic and planar coordinates based on
a method with its geometric properties
Projection Parameters
Linear parameters
 False easting - a linear value applied to the origin

of the x-coordinates
 False northing is a linear value applied to the

origin of the y-coordinates
False easting and northing values are usually

applied to ensure that all x- and y- values are
positive.
 Height defines the point of perspective above the

surface of the sphere or spheroid for the Vertical
Near-Side Perspective projection
Angular parameters
 Azimuth defines the centerline of a projection. The

rotation angle measures east from north
 Central meridian defines the origin of the x-

coordinates
 Longitude of origin defines the origin of the x-

coordinates. The central meridian and longitude of
origin parameters are synonymous
 Central parallel defines the origin of the y-

coordinates
 Latitude of origin defines the origin of the y-

Unitless parameters
Scale factor is a unitless value applied to the center

point or centerline of a map projection. The scale factor
is usually slightly less than one
Types of Map Projection
Classification based on geometrical model of
projection
 Cylindrical (Transverse Mercator) - good for North-
South land areas
 Conic (Albers Equal Area, Lambert Conformal

Conic) - good for East-West land areas
 Azimuthal (Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area) - good

for global views
Cylindrical Projection
Conic Projection
Types of Map Projection
Classification based on orientation
 Equatorial or normal
projection
 Transverse projection
 Oblique projection
Projections Preserve Some Earth
Properties
Area - correct earth surface area (Albers Equal Area)
important for mass balances
Shape - local angles are shown correctly (Lambert

Conformal Conic)
Direction - all directions are shown correctly relative

to the center (Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area)
Distance - preserved along particular lines

Albers Equal Area Conic Projection
This projection is best

suited for land masses
extending in an east-
to-west orientation
rather than those
lying north to south
All areas are

proportional to the
same areas on the
earth
Lambert Conformal Conic Projection
this projection is one of the

best for middle latitudes
it portrays shape more

accurately than area
Universal Transverse Mercator
 The UTM coordinate system is commonly used in GIS

for larger scale areas within a certain UTM zone
 The UTM projection is formed by using a transverse
cylindrical projection
 UTM divides the earth into pole-to-pole zones 6o of
longitude wide
 The first zone starts at the International Date Line
(180o east) and the last zone, 60, starts at 174o east
 Each zone has a Central Meridian (lo)
 Reference Latitude (fo), is the equator
 Because distortion becomes extreme at northern
latitudes, UTM is not normally used above 80o North
or South
Universal Transverse Mercator
Spatial References of Data
A spatial reference is a series of parameters that

define the coordinate system and other spatial
properties for each dataset in the geodatabase
Spatial Reference = Datum + Projection

+ Coordinate system
Spatial References of Data
A spatial reference includes the following:
 The coordinate system
 The coordinate precision with which coordinates

are stored (often referred to as the coordinate
resolution)
 Processing tolerances (such as the cluster

tolerance)
 The spatial extent covered by the dataset (often

referred to as the spatial domain)
Spatial Referencing in ArcGIS
ArcGIS terminology
Define projection. Specify the projection for

some data without changing the data
Project. Change the data from one projection to

another

Map Projection

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Map Projection

1. Global Cartesian coordinates (x,y,z) for the

Longitude and latitude are

The angles often are

Vertical lines, or north–south lines, are lines of equal

These lines encompass the globe and form a gridded

Unlike a GCS, a PCS has constant lengths, angles, and

A PCS is always based on a GCS that is based on a

In other words A map projection is a conversion

 False easting - a linear value applied to the origin

 False northing is a linear value applied to the

False easting and northing values are usually

 Height defines the point of perspective above the

 Azimuth defines the centerline of a projection. The

 Central meridian defines the origin of the x-

 Longitude of origin defines the origin of the x-

 Central parallel defines the origin of the y-

 Latitude of origin defines the origin of the y-

Scale factor is a unitless value applied to the center

 Conic (Albers Equal Area, Lambert Conformal

 Azimuthal (Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area) - good

Shape - local angles are shown correctly (Lambert

Direction - all directions are shown correctly relative

Distance - preserved along particular lines

This projection is best

All areas are

this projection is one of the

it portrays shape more

 The UTM coordinate system is commonly used in GIS

A spatial reference is a series of parameters that

Spatial Reference = Datum + Projection

A spatial reference includes the following:

 The coordinate system

 The coordinate precision with which coordinates

 Processing tolerances (such as the cluster

 The spatial extent covered by the dataset (often

Define projection. Specify the projection for

Project. Change the data from one projection to

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