Mapping Projections in Cartography

Study Notes

Mapping Projections

What is a Mapping Projection?

A mapping projection is a way to represent the curved surface of the Earth on a 2D map
It's a mathematical method to transform 3D geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) into 2D Cartesian coordinates (x and y)

Types of Mapping Projections

Cylindrical Projections
- Examples: Mercator, Gall-Peters, and Plate Carrée
- Characteristics:
  - Preserve shape and size well at the equator
  - Distort shape and size near the poles
Conical Projections
- Examples: Albers and Lambert Conformal Conic
- Characteristics:
  - Preserve shape and size well at standard parallels
  - Distort shape and size away from standard parallels
Azimuthal Projections
- Examples: Azimuthal Equidistant and Stereographic
- Characteristics:
  - Preserve distances and directions from the center
  - Distort shape and size away from the center

Important Projection Properties

Conformality: Preserves angles and shapes well
Equidistance: Preserves distances from the center
Equivalence: Preserves area and shape
Azimuthality: Preserves directions from the center

Common Mapping Projections

Mercator Projection: Popular for navigation, but distorts shape and size near the poles
Gall-Peters Projection: Attempts to preserve area and shape, but distorts near the poles
Winkel Tripel Projection: Compromises between shape, size, and direction, making it a popular choice for general-purpose mapping

Key Takeaways

Each mapping projection has its strengths and weaknesses
Choosing the right projection depends on the specific mapping application and the importance of preserving certain properties (shape, size, direction, or area)

Description

Understand the different types of mapping projections, their characteristics, and properties. Learn about conformality, equidistance, equivalence, and azimuthality. Discover the strengths and weaknesses of popular projections like Mercator, Gall-Peters, and Winkel Tripel.