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Map Projections and Coordinate Systems: Jan-Van Sickle Khang-Tsung Chang Esri Using Arcmap

This document discusses different types of map projections including conformal, equal area, equidistant, and azimuthal projections. It provides examples of specific projections like polar, secant, conic, cylindrical and transverse mercator projections. The key aspects that different projections preserve, like shape, area, scale or direction, are explained. Distortions increase the further the points are from the standard parallels or central meridians. Reprojection allows integrating data from maps with different underlying projections.

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54 views32 pages

Map Projections and Coordinate Systems: Jan-Van Sickle Khang-Tsung Chang Esri Using Arcmap

This document discusses different types of map projections including conformal, equal area, equidistant, and azimuthal projections. It provides examples of specific projections like polar, secant, conic, cylindrical and transverse mercator projections. The key aspects that different projections preserve, like shape, area, scale or direction, are explained. Distortions increase the further the points are from the standard parallels or central meridians. Reprojection allows integrating data from maps with different underlying projections.

Uploaded by

sam13scribd
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Map Projections and Coordinate Systems

Jan-Van Sickle Khang-tsung Chang ESRI Using ArcMap

Basic Map projection Types


Conformal: preserves local shapes and angles Equivalent/equal area: represents areas in correct relative size (shapes not preserved) Equidistant: preserves consistency of scale along certain lines Azimuthal: preserves accurate directions (e.g., angles preserved, but length of lines is not) Property is often included in name (e.g., Lambert conformal conic projection) Map can have more than one property, but conformal and equivalent are mutually exclusive

Conformal projections
Conformal projections preserve local shape. To preserve individual angles describing the spatial relationships, a conformal projection must show the perpendicular graticule lines intersecting at 90-degree angles on the map.

Equal area projections


Equal area projections preserve the area of displayed features. To do this, the other propertiesshape, angle, and scaleare distorted. In equal area projections, the meridians and parallels may not intersect at right angles.

Equidistant projections
Scale is not maintained correctly by any projection throughout an entire map; however, there are, in most cases, one or more lines on a map along which scale is maintained correctly. Most equidistant projections have one or more lines for which the length of the line on a map is the same length (at map scale) as the same line on the globe.

True-direction or Azimuthal projections


True-direction,or azimuthal, projections give the directions or azimuths of all points on the map correctly with respect to the center. Some truedirection projections are also conformal, equal area, or equidistant.

Examples
Planer Projections
Polar Map Projections

Secant Map Projections Simple Conic Projections


Lambert Conic Projection

Cylindrical Projections
Universe Transverse Mercator

Planar Projections

Plane Polar Map Projections


One tangent plane A plane touching the globe at a single point

Question
Is the Polar Projection an Azimuthal Projection?

Answer
YES: Direction of any line from the central tangent point on the map to any other point represents the actual direction of the line. Preserves accurate directions (e.g., angles preserved, but length of lines is not)

1 - Stereographic
Imaginary light source on the opposite point of tangency

Question
Is the stereographic projection a Conformal projection (i.e., preserves shapes)?

Answer
Conformal: preserves local shapes and angles

Question

Where is the no distortion (of scale) zone on the map?

Answer

Center of map

Question

Where on the map does distortion increase?

Answer

Away from the Center

Rule
The point (standard point) or the line (standard line) where a map & a globe touch are the only locations on the map where there are no distortions

2 - Gnomonic
Imaginary light source at the center of the globe Conformal: preserves local shapes and angles

Modifications to Decrease Distortions


Basis: Decrease the distance between the map projection surface and the ellipsoidal surface

Secant Projection
Surface cuts the ellipsoid The area where distortion is in acceptable range is increased

Simple Conic Projections

The most simple conic projection is tangent to the globe along a line of latitude. This line is called the standard parallel. Straight converging lines (meridians) and concentric circular arcs (parallels). Central meridian center of map.

Question
For Simple Conic Projections
Distortion increases as you move
away (E or W) from the Central Meridian away from the standard parallel (approach pole) Conic projections are used for mid-latitude zones that have an EW orientation (True or False)

Answer
Distortion increases as you approach the poles Conic projections are used for midlatitude zones that have an EW orientation

Secant Conic Projections

More complex conic projections that contact the global surface at two locations.

Cylindrical Projections

Universe Transverse Mercator Projection


Cartesian coordinates For each zone, the enclosing cylinder is rotated so that a particular central meridian (longitude) is touched.

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)

Special Case: State Plane


Really a meta-projection Each state has one or more projections, with one or more zones.

Data from maps of varying projections can not be integrated

Solution: Projection and Reprojection


Projection: Converts from a geographic coordinate system to projected coordinate system Re-projection: Projects from one type of projected coordinates to another type

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