An exhaustive description and history of map projections and related con cepts. Lecture 2 map projections and gis coordinate systems. The lambert azimuthal equalarea projection is mathematically based on a plane tangent to the earth. Flattening the earth is the first detailed history of map projections. Applications and history where s wl is the scale of the map along the equator. One of the foremost of these topics has been that of map projections. He published a map of the world in 1569 based on this projection. Mathematical mapping from mercator to the millennium robert osserman mathematical sciences research institute. The mercator projection is a cylindrical projection that was developed for navigation purposes.
It was not until the early 16th century that the first world maps began to appear, gerardus mercator from belgium was the leading cartographer of the mid16th century. Maps have been one of the most important human inventions for millennia. Simply, it is placing the spherical earth onto a plane flat surface. In cartography, a map projection is a way to flatten a globes surface into a plane in order to. Advances in smallscale map projection research openedition. Unlike all other projections, professor robinson did not develop this projection by developing new geometric formulas to convert latitude and longitude coordinates from the surface of the model of the earth to locations on the map. Map projections in the renaissance the university of chicago press. A great variety of map projections has been devised to provide for the various properties that may be desired in maps.
Hundreds of map projections have been invented since. Elements of map projection with applications to map and chart construction by deetz, charles henry. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. Every projection has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Proponents of the peters projection map claim that their map is an accurate, fair, and unbiased depiction of the world when comparing theirs to the almostdefunct mercator map, which features enlarged depictions of eurocentric countries and continents. Map projections have developed concurrently with development of map production and cartography in general. The study of the contents of the maps of the xvth and xvith centuries and their significance for the historical development of the worldpicture has overshadow ed. People have created and used maps to help them define, explain, and navigate their way through the world. Map projections a map projection is used to portray all or part of the round earth on a flat surface. Planar, azimuthal or zenithal projection conic projection cylindrical projection mathematical or conventional projection. Maps have always changed for humans throughout history, we are one of the few you have seen images of it, in real life. Most map projections can not be interpreted in a simple geometrical or physical manner and they are defined by mathematical formulae. Maps record the geographical information that is fundamental to reconstructing past places, whether town, region, or nation.
In addition, the problem of the state map projection selection, which is. Scale increases perpendicular to the radii toward the periphery. This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for. Yet of the hundreds of existing projections, and the infinite number that are theoretically possible, none is perfectly accurate. Studying map projections yields those distortions characteristics. Coast survey publication that provides a detailed treatment of map projections was an annual report by superintendent alexander bache 1853.
It is the only projection that can accurately represent both areas and true direction from the center of the projection. The best known map projection is named for its inventor, gerardus mercator, who developed it in 1569. Map projections are a systematic transformation of longitudes and latitudes of a location on the surface of the sphere. A map projection is a systematic transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of locations on the surface of a sphere or an ellipsoid into locations on a plane.
Learn what a map projection is, why they are used and what impact they have on maps gis systems. Email tweet share share on facebook pin pocket whatsapp telegram life of cartographer is not easy how to map phenomena on the earth which are 3 dimensional and often dynamic 4d on the flat surface of a map. Estimates of the map projection employed for an ancient map is a prerequisite for a variety of other studies. In the end each and every map projection has a place, and there is no limit to the amount of projections that can be created. Because earth has a curving, notquite sphericial shape, planar maps. In an article concerning the value of the peters projection map, the map has been accused by a student of eric gutsetein, an eighth grade math teacher, of being some sort of propaganda with false information. To solve this problem mapmakers have created hundreds of map projections, mathematical methods for drawing the round earth on a flat surface. Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume will appear in this. Handbook on geographic information systems and digital.
All map projections distort the surface in some fashion. The mercator projection was used for its portrayal of direction and. The study of ancient maps provides one of the fascinating aspects of historical geography. This report focused in particular on the polyconic projection, which had been introduced approximately in 1820 by. History of cartography map projection distortion grid abstract old maps are increasingly used as a source for historical research. A cylindrical projection is a map constructed as follows. The map scale may be expressed in three ways and the pictorial representation of these three types is shown in the figure. The fascination, however, attendant upon the problems of getting the round earth on flat paper, to use a title by chamberlin. A map projection is a way to flatten a globe s surface into a plane in order to make a map. R tobler university of michigan, ann arbor abstract. This is a summary of map projections that have articles of their own on wikipedia or that are otherwise notable. If you would like to have the most accurate map ever you would have to carry. There are many different ways of display the geography of the world, with the robinson and mercator projections amongst the most popular.
Map projections explained a beginners guide youtube. Major breakthroughs in the history of map projections were prompted by various external factors like, for example, the increasing geographical knowledge during. Request pdf short history on map projections map projections appeared more than two millennia ago, when ancient greek scientists started applying. Types of map projections many types of map projections are being used for map making.
The map of massachusetts in unprojected decimal degrees of longitude and latitude note the proportion of the lines and the circle. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Geological survey professional paper 1453, by john p. Earths size and shape in time and space claudius ptolemy 90170 ad earths size and shape in time and space, by lance nelson the following are notes were prepared by lance nelson for the seminar in map projections.
This requires a systematic transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of locations from the surface of the globe into locations on a plane. See also the what is the directory structure for the texts. If for some reason you need your map to be rectangular, a reasonable choice is the miller. Ive also made equalarea maps for wikipedia here and here. All map projections compared and visualized geoawesomeness. Traditionally, the role of maps in the census has been to support enumeration and to present aggregate census results in cartographic form. In the 15th century, nicholas germanus invented the donis map projection with equidistant parallels and meridians that converged toward the poles. Map projections distortions projection refers to the notion of shining light through the earth surface and projecting latitudes, longitudes and geographic features onto a developable surface. Map projection a map projection is a systematic transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of locations on the surface of a sphere or an ellipsoid into locations on a plane. The purpose of this publication is to assist countries by providing a reference document that focuses on digital mapping aspect when conducting population and housing censuses. A tutorial on map projections and geographic coordinate systems. All projections of a sphere on a plane necessarily distort the surface in some way and to some extent. The mapmaker must select the one best suited to the needs, reducing distortion of the most important.
As before, this study of map projections is intended to be useful to both the reader interested in the philosophy or history of the projections and. Map projections seventh 7th grade social studies standards. The history of geographical map projections until 1600 taylor. Mercator map enthusiasts defend the ease of navigation of their map. Cartography, the art and science of graphically representing a geographical area, usually on a flat surface such as a map or chart.
Maps were more a form of artistic expression, or a way of declaring ones fiefdom. European commission joint research centre 2001 eur 20120 en institute for environment and sustainability map projections for europe edited by. The history of cartography traces the development of cartography, or mapmaking technology, in human history. An illustrated history of projection mapping its one of those overnight successes that involves lots of gifted and determined people working all night for forty years. Map projections appeared more than two millennia ago, when ancient greek scientists started applying mathematical principles to studying and representing the celestial sphere. The robinson projection is unquestionably the name of choice. We will taker a closer look at the popular mercator projection and examine how the projection. This is a consequence of the increased availability of old maps in digital form, of the emergence of userfriendly geographical information. They are basically classified into four groups in accordance with the map projection theory or the types of surfaces that are tangent with the globe. The circle gives the impression that worcester is approximately the same distance from boston as new hampshire, and that the state is nearly five times longer, east to west, as it is northtosouth.
Because there is no limit to the number of possible map projections, there can be no comprehensive list. It may involve the superimposition of political, cultural, or other nongeographical divisions onto the representation of a geographical area. The choice of figures is also intended to supplement sny ders book. Map projections this lesson emphasizes map projections and has students consider the different types of map projections and the most appropriate projections for various uses. Mathematical mapping from mercator to the millennium. The preliminary evaluation presented here has yielded empirical equations for the hereford map and illustrated the. Modern maps maps became increasingly accurate and factual during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries with the application of scientific methods. Each map projection provides an image distorted in a different. However, the oldest known maps are preserved on babylonian clay tablets from about 2300 b. Old maps have been part of human history for thousands of years, and are said to date back as early as 16,500 b. In effect, a projection is a systematic method of drawing the earths meridians and parallels on a flat surface. In the process of projection the earth is represented by a model an ellipsoid. Short history on map projections request pdf researchgate. Map projections page 3 introduction to map projections although earth images and map data that you use are typically rendered onto flat surfaces such as your computer screen or a sheet of paper, the earths surface obviously is not flat.
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