Map Projections

By Ghulam Mohyyu Ddin

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

REPRESENTATION OF THE EARTH

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

DEVELOPABLE AND UNDEVELOPABLE SURFACE

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

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF DEVELOPABLE SURFACE

Cylindrical Conical Zenithal

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF DESIRED ATTRIBUTES Homolographic or equal area (Preservation of areas) Orthomorphic or conformal (Preservation of shape) Equidistant (Distance preservation) Azimuthal (Direction preservation

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF VIEW POINT OR LIGHT SOURCE LOCATION Gnomonic (Light placed at the centre of the globe) Stereographic (Light placed at the antipode) Orthographic (Light placed at infinity)

MAP PROJECTIONS - CYLINDRICAL

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

MAP PROJECTIONS - CONIC

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

MAP PROJECTIONS PLANAR OR POLAR

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

MAP PROJECTIONS DISTORTION

Conformal vs. Equal-area (The Great Debate)

Preserve true shapes Preserve angles Exaggerate areas Graticules perpendicular

OR

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

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF ORIENTATION OF THE SHAPE

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)

CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF ORIENTATION OF THE SHAPE

CHOICE OF MAP PROJECTIONS

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