Cartographic Projections

Dr. Martn E. Candanedo G.

 Cartography
It is technic to represent in a
conventional form the surface
(curved) of the earth over a piece
of paper (plane) using a projection
system and proportionally
relationship (scale) between the
ground and the map.
Cartography is being supported by
sciences such as Geodesy,
Photogrammetry and Remote
Sensing.
Its a combination of art, science
and technology

Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo

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 What is a map?
It is a conventional graphical representation, generally a
plane with geographical positions and concrete or concrete
phenomena localized on the earth surface or any place in the
universe preserving the relative or global position.

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 Elements of a Map
Title

North
Reference Grid

Legend

Scale
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 Why a Projection?
Normally our planet is represented by a sphere (its a circle
in revolution)
It is no possible to represent the curved surface of the
earth on a flat (map) surface
A source of light is used to project lines from the center of
the sphere, at the extreme of the sphere or at position in
the infinite
The sphere can not be directly represented over a plane
and because of that a 3DBody or unfold surface has to be
used, there are there developed surfaces known: plane,
cylindrical and conical.
The 3dBodies (plane, cylinder and cone) can be developed
to represent the area of interest.

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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Why map projection is not exact?
In order to develop a curved surface over a plane
it is necessary to stretch some areas more than
other which will end up on deformations and
distortions.
The deformations and distortions will affect the
shape, distance and areas represented on a plane
(map) from the surface of the earth(curve).
The developed surfaces will offer a mechanism of
control for deformation and distortions which are
naturally found on a flat representation of the
curvature of the earth.

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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Projections
This is a process that will generate distortions of the
original surface (curvature) in 3D to become onto a
flat surface of 2D

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Cartographic Projections
By definition, a cartographic projection is a
mathematical transformation of the surface of
earth (3D) to a flat surface (2D)

Each point on the

earth has
geographical
coordinates

A point is transferred to
the coordinate system 8
How Does One chose a Map Projection
First, it is needed to defined the extension and location
of the zone to be represented in the map.
One has to determine the geometrical characteristic of
the projection that is most suitable to preserve and
which is not.
It is important to identify which projection will
preserve angles, distances or area. The geographical
characteristics needed to be used controlling the
distortion and deformation aspects to enhance the
best and most important geographical features.

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 Type of Projections
Based on the developing surface
1. Planes or Azimuthal
2. Conical
3. Cylindrical
Based on the source of light
1. Gnomonic or Central
2. Stereographical
3. Orthographical
Based on the position (angle of the rotation axis and the revolution axis)
1. Normal
2. Transversal
3. Oblique
Based on the preserved characteristic
1. Conformed (preserve the shape and angle)
2. Equivalent (preserve the area)
3. Equidistant (preserve the distance)

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 Types of Projections
Based on the developed surface
Planes Cylindrical Conical

Normal
Based on the position

Transversal

Oblique

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 Cylindrical Projections
This projection
considers the
surface of the map
as a cylinder that
goes around the
planet earth and
its in contact with
the equator.

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 Cylindrical Projections
The meridians and parallels are straight lines that will
intersect each other
The resulting map will represent the earth surface as a
rectangle with parallel lines of longitude with equidistant
distances and parallel lines of latitude with no equal
separation.
The meridians will take deformation at high latitudes because
they are equidistant; due to the curvature of the earth.
The parallels of latitude closer to the poles will show or look
like less separated, less distance among them.
The shapes of the area will go distorting along as one gets
closer to the poles, this kind of projection will be used
normally between intertropical zones such as 40n and 40 S.
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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Cylindrical Projections
Cylindrical Projection
Meridians Parallels

Parallels

Meridians

1. Proyeccin Construida a partir de un cilindro donde los paralelos y meridianos son

rectos
2. Permiten representar toda la tierra
3. El Sector con menos deformacin es el sector de la lnea ecuatorial

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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Conics Projections
They are
obtained by
projecting the
spherical surface
of the earth
(curve) over a
tangential cone
or secant cone to
the sphere.
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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Conics Projections
They are cartographic projections that better represent the
zones of the tropics and polar circles.
Theses projections can not represent the whole planet
earth
When the cone is tangential to the globe in one or various
parallels, the resulting maps is very precise along those
base parallels and the closer areas but the distortion will
increase progressively as long as one move away to the
base parallels
This kind of projections is very adequate for maps of great
extention on the latitude direction. One example of the
conformed projection is called Lambert, which uses two
standard parallels and it is use frequently to map Europe or
Australia.
Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo 16
 Conical Projection
Conical Projection

Parallels Parallels
Meridians

Meridians

1. This map projection is constructed from a Cone where the meridian are straight lines
that will converge to a point and the parallels will be curved
2. Very useful to represent medium latitudes, there is controlled deformation along
the standard parallel that is in contact with the globe and the areas close to the
standard parallel.
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 Azimuthal or Plane Projection
One can get an azimuthal
projection by projecting the
spherical surface onto a
plane.
These projections are
mostly used to represent
the polar areas.
Only can represent one
hemisphere.
The deformation will
increase as we get further
from the point of tangency.

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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Proyecciones Planas
Azimuthal Projection

Meridians Parallels
Parallels Meridians

1. Built from a plane. Represents one hemisphere and the external line is a circle.
2. The meridian are lines that converge to a point (contact point) and the parallels are
concentric circles to the point of contact. The distance between the circles will
decrease when one approaches the contact point.

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 Gnomonical Projections

The source of
light is in the
center of the
sphere.
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 Projection Stereographic
The source of light is in the counter position
(diametrical) to the point of interest

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 Conformed Projection
Preserve the shape and angle

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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo
 Equivalent Projection
Preserve Area

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 Equidistant Projection
Preserve distance

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Map Projections Dr. Martn Candanedo