Map Projections

Introduction

The transformation of the three dimensional (usually spherical or elliptical) shape of a planet in to a plane sheet of paper (or a plane screen) is called a "projection". This name originates from the very first map projection that were geometric constructions using rays that start at some point in space, cross the globe and end at some point of the drawing plane.

There is no "one size fits all" map projection. Each one has distinct mathematical properties which makes it suitable for a certain application, but often completely unusable for some other applications. The widely used Mercator projection, for example, is perfect for navigating ships across the ocean, but should never be used to plot political maps, especially not in times of cold war. In the descriptions below, I therefore give lists of the specific prorties of the map projections to allow the user to choose the most appropriate one.

Map Projection Overview

The Locsmith Mapping Module currently supports the following map projections:

In the following section, an example map is given for each projection, showing earth topography and a 10° grid. Projection properties are given according to the book by Schröder (1988).


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