Map Projections and Coordinate Systems

Map Projections

•A map projection is a
systematic rendering
of locations from the
curved Earth surface
onto a flat map
•Distortions are
unavoidable
–Some areas will be
compressed others will
be stretched
Bolstad 2002
Map Projections

• Most map projections are based on a

developable surface
– Cones (conic)
– Cylinders (cylindrical)
– Planes (azimuthal)
• Some projections are not based on
developable surfaces
– Use a direct mathematical projection
– Pseudocylindrical, Mollweide, Goode
homolosine are examples
 Coordinate units

• Projecting changes the x-y values

• Often changes the x-y units as well
• Same location will have different x-y
values in different coordinate systems.

Wells.shp Wells.shp
-103.567,44.628 Project
445678,654321
-103.678,44.653 445021,650001
-103.765,44.732 444823,649200
… …

Units in decimal degrees Units in meters

Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H.
Price 3-5
Inevitable Distortions

• A projection is a compromise in
juggling the following distortions
– Distance
– Direction
– Scale
– Area
Developable Surfaces

Bolstad 2002
Common Map Projections

• Two of the more common projections

are:
– Lambert conformal conic
– Transverse Mercator
• These two types are common in GIS
and applicable for North America and
much of the world
 Cylindrical projections

Transverse
Cylindrical cylindrical

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Price 3-9
Bolstad 2002
 Common cylindrical projections

Mercator Miller Cylindrical

Transverse Mercator

Cylindrical Equal Area Equirectangular

Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H.
Price 3-11
 Conic projections
Common conic projections:
Lambert Conformal Conic
Transverse Mercator
Standard
parallels

Tangent conic Secant conic

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Price 3-12
Bolstad 2002
 Common conic projections

Lambert Conformal Conic

Equidistant Conic

Albers Equal Area

Conic
Polyconic
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Price 3-14
State Plane Coordinate System

• A standard set of projections used in

the United States
– Relies on a Cartesian coordinate system
based over several large counties or a
small state
• This coordinate system is based on the
Lambert conformal conic and
transverse Mercator projections
– Which factors of state shape would
determine the projection we would use?
 State Plane System

• States divided into one or more zones

• A projection and parameters are
established for each zone to achieve
desired accuracy
– Transverse Mercator, Lambert Conformal
Conic, and Oblique Mercator are standard
projections used
• Several varieties in common use
– State Plane NAD 1927 uses feet
– State Plane NAD 1983 uses meters
– Some choose to use NAD 1983 (feet)
Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H.
Price 3-16
 State Plane Zones

N-S zones
usually
Transvers
e
Mercator

East-west zones
typically Lambert
Conformal Conic

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Price 3-17
UTM Coordinate System

• Used as a global coordinate system

based on the transverse Mercator
projection
– Divides the earth into zones that are 6
degrees of longitude wide.
• This system is used for study areas
spanning large regions
 Universal Transverse Mercator

South
Dakota

Zone 16

• Based on Transverse Mercator (cylindrical)

projection
• Distortion is minimal within each zone
• Maps of different areas use best zone
Copyright © 2006 by Maribeth H.
Price 3-19
 UTM Coordinate System

Bolstad 2002
Global Projections

• As with other projections, selection is

based on distortion of resultant map
– Distortions of angle, distance, or area are
unavoidable
• Several projections are common for
world maps
– Mercator, Goode, Mollweide and Miller
• Projection surface can be uncut or
interrupted
How Different are these map projections?