Map Projections

By Shakir Abbas

Projections

Map Projection
Any method used to represent curved surface of the earth on a plane. Means of representing geographic coordinates as Cartesian coordinates

Projection

Geographic Coordinate Systems

Projected Coordinate Systems

Globe(3-D) Preserves areas, scales, distances and directions. Expensive to produce Difficult to reproduce Cumbersome to handle Awkward to store Difficult to measure Half of the globe is visible at one time.

Map(2-D) Causes distortions in shape, area and size More compact and easier to store Viewed easily on computer displays Facilitate measuring properties Show large portion of earth at once Cheaper to produce and transport Useful traits of map motivate the development of map projections

A surface that can be unfolded or unrolled into a flat plane or sheet without stretching, tearing or shrinking is called a developable surface. Sphere and ellipsoid are undevelopable surfaces Any projection that attempts to project a sphere on a flat sheet will distort the image

 Cylindrical Conical Zenithal

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Lines of latitude and longitude are parallel intersecting at 90 degrees Meridians are equidistant Forms a rectangular map Scale along the equator or standard parallels (lines of tangency) is true Can have the properties of equidistance, conformality or equal area The poles are represented as lines

Tend to be Conformal Globe is projected onto a cylinder tangent at equator (typically) Low distortion at equator Higher distortion approaching poles A good choice for use in equatorial and tropical regions, e.g., Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS Lines of latitude and longitude are intersecting at 90 degrees Meridians are straight lines Parallels are concentric circular arcs Scale along the standard parallel is true Can have the properties of equidistance, conformality or equal area The pole is represented as an arc or a point

Tend to be Equal Area Surface of globe projected onto cone tangent at standard parallel Distorts N & S of standard parallel(s) Normally shows just one semi-hemisphere in middle latitudes The polyconic is used in geological survey sheets. Topographical sheets of Pakistan prepared by Survey of Pakistan.

General Characteristics Lines of latitude and longitude are intersecting at 90 degrees Meridians are straight lines Parallels are concentric circles Forms a circular map Scale near the centre is true Can have the properites of equidistance, conformality or equal area The pole is represented as a point

Planar or Polar Projection -- Conformal

Conformal

Surface of globe is projected onto a plane tangent at only one point (frequently N or S pole)
Usually only one hemisphere shown (often centered on N or S pole) Works well to highlight an area Sometimes used by airports Shows true bearing and distance to other points from center/point of tangency

 Homolographic or equal area (Preservation of areas) Orthomorphic or conformal (Preservation of shape) Equidistant (Distance preservation) Azimuthal (Direction preservation

Orthographic (Light placed at infinity) Gnomonic (Light placed at the centre of the globe) Stereographic (Light placed at the antipode)

Orthographi c

Conformal

(The Great Debate)

OR

vs.

Equal-area

Preserve true shapes Preserve angles Exaggerate areas Graticules

perpendicular

Show true size (area) Distorts shapes, angles and/or scale (squish/stretch shapes) Graticules not perpendicular

 Once a choice is made between projecting onto a cylinder, cone or plane, the orientation of the shape must be chosen. The orientation is how the shape is placed with respect to the globe. The orientation of the surface may be: Normal (in line with the earth axis) Transverse (in respect to normal rotated by 90) Oblique (any angle in between the normal and the transverse case) Tangent (developable surface touches the globe along one line) Secant (developable surface touches the globe along two lines)

 The extent of the area to be represented The purpose for which the map is mainly required