MapInfo Pro
Version 12.5.1
User Guide
Elements of a Coordinate
System
In this section:
Projections and Their Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .428
For More Information on Projections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445
Projections and Their Parameters
Projections and Their Parameters
The next tables indicate the parameters applicable to each projection, which are listed in the order they
appear in the relevant coordinate system lines in the [Link] file (the first table lists the first six
parameters and the second table lists the next six parameters). The projection type is the equation or
equations used by a coordinate system. The following list names the projections MapInfo uses and gives
the number used to identify the projection in the [Link] file:
428
Projection
Name
Projection
Type
Datum
Units
Origin,
Longitude
Origin,
Latitude
Standard
Parallel 1
Albers
Equal-Area
Conic
Azimuthal
Equidistant
28
X*
Azimuthal
5
Equidistant
(polar
aspect only)
Cassini-Soldner 30
Cylindrical
Equal Area
Double
31
Stereographic
Eckert IV
14
Eckert VI
15
Equidistant
Conic
Equidistant
Cylindrical
33
Extended
Transverse
Mercator
34
Gall
17
Hotine
Oblique
Mercator
Krovak
Oblique
Conformal
Conic
(JTSKc)
32
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Projection
Name
Projection
Type
Datum
Units
Origin,
Longitude
Origin,
Latitude
Lambert
Azimuthal
Equal-Area
29
Lambert
4
Azimuthal
Equal-Area
(polar
aspect only)
Lambert
Conformal
Conic
Lambert
19
Conformal
Conic
(Modified
for Belgium
1972)
Longitude-Latitude 1
Mercator
10
Miller
11
Mollweide
13
New
Zealand
Map Grid
18
Polyconic
27
Regional
Mercator
26
Robinson
12
Sinusoidal
16
Stereographic 20
Swiss
Oblique
Mercator
25
Transverse
Mercator
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Danish
21
User Guide
Standard
Parallel 1
429
Projections and Their Parameters
Projection
Name
Projection
Type
Datum
Units
Origin,
Longitude
Origin,
Latitude
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Danish
System 34
Sjaelland)
22
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Danish
System 34
/45
Bornholm)
23
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Finnish
KKJ)
24
Standard
Parallel 1
System 34
Jylland-Fyn)
The following table is a continuation of the previous list.
Projection
Name
Standard
Parallel 2
Albers
Equal-Area
Conic
Azimuth
Scale Factor False
Easting
X
False
Northing
Range
Azimuthal
Equidistant
Azimuthal
Equidistant
(polar aspect
only)
Cassini-Soldner
Cylindrical
Equal Area
Double
Stereographic
Eckert IV
Eckert VI
430
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Projection
Name
Standard
Parallel 2
Equidistant
Conic
Azimuth
Scale Factor False
Easting
X
Equidistant
Cylindrical
Extended
Transverse
Mercator
False
Northing
Range
Gall
Hotine
Oblique
Mercator
Krovak
Oblique
Conformal
Conic
(JTSKc)
Lambert
Azimuthal
Equal-Area
Lambert
Azimuthal
Equal-Area
(polar
aspect only)
Lambert
Conformal
Conic
Lambert
X
Conformal
Conic
(Modified
for Belgium
1972)
New
Zealand
Map Grid
Polyconic
Longitude-Latitude
Mercator
Miller
Mollweide
User Guide
431
Projections and Their Parameters
Projection
Name
Standard
Parallel 2
Azimuth
Scale Factor False
Easting
False
Northing
Range
Regional
Mercator
Robinson
Sinusoidal
Stereographic
Swiss
Oblique
Mercator
Transverse
Mercator
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Danish
System 34
Jylland-Fyn)
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Danish
System 34
Sjaelland)
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Danish
System 34
/45
Bornholm)
Tranverse
Mercator,
(Modified
for Finnish
KKJ)
The Origin Latitude for the Azimuthal Equidistant projections must be either 90 or -90. An Oblique
Azimuthal Equidistant projection supports all Origin Latitudes, including the poles. A Lambert Azimuthal
Equal-Area projection has been added that also supports all Origin Latitudes, including the poles.
Projection Types List
The projection type is the equation or equations used by a coordinate system. The following list names
the projections MapInfo Pro uses and gives the number used to identify the projection in the
[Link] file:
432
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Number Projection Type
9 Albers Equal-Area Conic
28 Azimuthal Equidistant (all origin latitudes)
5 Azimuthal Equidistant (polar aspect only)
30 Cassini-Soldner
2 Cylindrical Equal-Area
31 Double Stereographic
14 Eckert IV
15 Eckert VI
6 Equidistant Conic, also known as Simple Conic
33 Equidistant Cylindrical
34 Extended Transverse Mercator
17 Gall
7 Hotine Oblique Mercator
32 Krovak Oblique Conformal Conic (JTSKc)
4 Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area (polar aspect only)
29 Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area
3 Lambert Conformal Conic
19 Lambert Conformal Conic (modified for Belgium 1972)
1 Longitude/Latitude
10 Mercator
11 Miller Cylindrical
13 Mollweide
18 New Zealand Map Grid
27 Polyconic
26 Regional Mercator
12 Robinson
16 Sinusoidal
20 Stereographic
25 Swiss Oblique Mercator
8 Transverse Mercator, (also known as Gauss-Kruger)
21 Transverse Mercator, (modified for Danish System 34 Jylland-Fyn)
User Guide
433
Projections and Their Parameters
Number Projection Type
22 Transverse Mercator, (modified for Danish System 34 Sjaelland)
23 Transverse Mercator, (modified for Danish System 34/45 Bornholm)
24 Transverse Mercator, (modified for Finnish KKJ)
Projection numbers in the [Link] may be modified by the addition of a constant value to the
base number listed in the Projection table, above. Valid values and their meanings are in the next table:
Constant Meaning
Parameters
1000 System has affine transformations
Affine units specifier and coefficients
appear after the regular parameters for
the system.
2000 System has explicit bounds
Bounds appear after the regular
parameters for the system.
3000 System with both affine and bounds
Affine parameters follow system's
parameters; bounds follow affine
parameters.
Example:
Assume you want to work with a simple system based on the Transverse Mercator projection and using
the NAD 1983 datum. You might have a line such as the following in your [Link] file:
"UTM Zone 1 (NAD 83)", 8, 74, 7, -177, 0, 0.9996, 500000, 0
Now let us say that you want a system based on this, but with an affine transformation specified by the
following parameters (see Affine Transformations in the Help System: Units=meters; A=0.5; B=-0.866;
C=0; D=0.866; E=0.5; and F=0. The required line in the [Link] file is:
"UTM Zone 1 (NAD 83) - rotated 60 degrees", 1008, 74, 7, -177, 0, 0.9996, 500000, 0, 7, 0.5, -0.866, 0,
0.866, 0.5, 0
Alternatively, if you want to bound the system to (x1, y1, x2, y2)=(-500000, 0, 500000, 1000000), the
required line is:
"UTM Zone 1 (NAD 83) - bounded", 2008, 74, 7, -177, 0, 0.9996, 500000, 0, -500000, 0, 500000, 1000000
To customize the system using both of these modifications, the line is:
"UTM Zone 1 (NAD 83) - rotated and bounded", 3008, 74, 7, -177, 0, 0.9996, 500000, 0, 7, 0.5, -0.866,
0, 0.866, 0.5, 0, -500000, 0, 500000, 1000000
Projection Datums
The datum is established by tying a reference ellipsoid to a particular point on the earth. The following
table lists these details for each datum.
The number used to identify the datum in the [Link] file.
The datum's name
The maps for which the datum is typically used
The datum's reference ellipsoid
434
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
1 Adindan
Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal,
Sudan
Clarke 1880
2 Afgooye
Somalia
Krassovsky
1007 AGD 66, 7 parameter
Australia, A.C.T.
Australian National
1008 AGD 66, 7 parameter
Australia, Tasmania
Australian National
1009 AGD 66, 7 parameter
Australia, Victoria/NSW
Australian National
1006 AGD 84, 7 parameter
Australia
Australian National
Bahrain Island
International
American Samoa Islands
Clarke 1866
Cocos Islands
Australian National
Antigua, Leeward Islands
Clarke 1880
3 Ain el Abd 1970
118 American Samoa
4 Anna 1 Astro 1965
119 Antigua Island Astro 1943
5 Arc 1950
Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Clarke 1880
Swaziland, Zaire, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
6 Arc 1960
Kenya, Tanzania
Clarke 1880
7 Ascension Island 1958
Ascension Island
International
9 Astro B4 Sorol Atoll
Tern Island
International
8 Astro Beacon "E"
Iwo Jima Island
International
10 Astro DOS 71/4
St. Helena Island
International
11 Astronomic Station 1952
Marcus Island
International
12 Australian Geodetic 1966
(AGD 66)
Australia and Tasmania
Island
Australian National
13 Australian Geodetic 1984
(AGD 84)
Australia and Tasmania
Island
Australian National
120 Ayabelle Lighthouse
Djibouti
Clarke 1880
154 Beijing 1954
China
Krassovsky (#3)
Belgium
International 1924
Belgium
International
14 Bellevue (IGN)
Efate and Erromango
Islands
International
15 Bermuda 1957
Bermuda Islands
Clarke 1866
16 Bogota Observatory
Colombia
International
1019 Belgian 1972 (7
parameters)
110 Belgium
User Guide
435
Projections and Their Parameters
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
Bangka and Belitung
Islands (Indonesia)
Bessel 1841
17 Campo Inchauspe
Argentina
International
18 Canton Astro 1966
Phoenix Islands
International
19 Cape
South Africa
Clarke 1880
20 Cape Canaveral
Florida and Bahama Islands Clarke 1866
121 Bukit Rimpah
1005 Cape, 7 parameter
South Africa
WGS 84
Tunisia
Clarke 1880
Switzerland
Bessel
22 Chatham 1971
Chatham Island (New
Zealand)
International
23 Chua Astro
Paraguay
International
21 Carthage
158 CH1903+ datum for
Switzerland
122 Coordinate System 1937 of Estonia
Estonia
24 Corrego Alegre
Brazil
International
123 Dabola
Guinea
Clarke 1880
156 Dealul Piscului 1970
Romania
Krassovsky
124 Deception Island
Deception Island, Antarctica Clarke 1880
1000 Deutsches
Hauptdreicksnetz (DHDN)
Potsdam/Rauenberg
Germany
Bessel
25 Djakarta (Batavia)
Sumatra Island (Indonesia) Bessel 1841
26 DOS 1968
Gizo Island (New Georgia
Islands)
International
27 Easter Island 1967
Easter Island
International
Europe
GRS 80
115 EUREF 89
28 European 1950 (ED 50)
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, International
Finland, France, Germany,
Gibraltar, Greece, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands,
Norway, Portugal, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland
29 European 1979 (ED 79)
Austria, Finland,
International
Netherlands, Norway,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
108 European 1987 (ED 87)
436
Bessel 1841
Europe
International
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Number Datum Name
125 Fort Thomas 1955
30 Gandajika Base
116 GDA 94
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
Nevis, St. Kitts, Leeward
Islands
Clarke 1880
Republic of Maldives
International
Australia
GRS 80
32 Geodetic Reference System Worldwide
1967 (GRS 67)
GRS 67
33 Geodetic Reference System Worldwide
1980 (GRS 80)
GRS 80
126 Graciosa Base SW 1948
Faial, Graciosa, Pico, Sao International 1924
Jorge, and Terceira Islands
(Azores)
34 Guam 1963
Guam Island
Clarke 1866
35 GUX 1 Astro
Guadalcanal Island
International
150 Hartbeesthoek 94
South Africa
WGS 84
127 Herat North
Afghanistan
International 1924
128 Hermannskogel
Yugoslavia (Prior to 1990), Bessel 1841
Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Serbia
153 HGRS87
36 Hito XVIII 1963
South Chile (near 53S)
International
37 Hjorsey 1955
Iceland
International
38 Hong Kong 1963
Hong Kong
International
Hungary
GRS 80
39 Hu-Tzu-Shan
Taiwan
International
40 Indian
Thailand and Vietnam
Everest (India 1830)
41 Indian
Bangladesh, India, Nepal
Everest (India 1830)
129 Indian
Pakistan
Everest (Pakistan)
130 Indian 1954
Thailand
Everest (India 1830)
131 Indian 1960
Vietnam
Everest (India 1830)
132 Indian 1975
Thailand
Everest (India 1830)
133 Indonesian 1974
Indonesia
Indonesian 1974
Ireland
Modified Airy
South Georgia Island
International 1924
1004 Hungarian Datum of 1972
(HD 72)
42 Ireland 1965
134 ISTS 061 Astro 1968
User Guide
GRS80 (#0)
437
Projections and Their Parameters
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
Diego Garcia
International
Japan
Bessel 1841
44 Johnston Island 1961
Johnston Island
International
45 Kandawala
Sri Lanka
Everest (India 1830)
46 Kerguelen Island
Kerguelen Island
International
47 Kertau 1948
West Malaysia and
Singapore
Everest (W. Malaysia and
Singapore 1948)
Finland
International
43 ISTS 073 Astro 1969
152 JGD2000
1016 KKJ
135 Kusaie Astro 1951
48 L.C. 5 Astro
Cayman Brac Island
Clarke 1866
Ghana
Clarke 1880
Liberia
Clarke 1880
155 Libya (LGD 2006)
Libya
International
113 Lisboa (DLx)
Portugal
International
Latvia, Lithuania
Krassovsky (#3)
50 Luzon
Philippines (excluding
Mindanao Island)
Clarke 1866
51 Luzon
Mindanao Island
Clarke 1866
Gabon
Clarke 1880
52 Mahe 1971
Mahe Island
Clarke 1880
53 Marco Astro
Salvage Islands
International
54 Massawa
Eritrea (Ethiopia)
Bessel 1841
Portugal
International
55 Merchich
Morocco
Clarke 1880
56 Midway Astro 1961
Midway Island
International
57 Minna
Nigeria
Clarke 1880
Montserrat, Leeward
Islands
Clarke 1880
58 Nahrwan
Masirah Island (Oman)
Clarke 1880
59 Nahrwan
United Arab Emirates
Clarke 1880
60 Nahrwan
Saudi Arabia
Clarke 1880
61 Naparima, BWI
Trinidad and Tobago
International
136 Leigon
49 Liberia 1964
1018 Lithuanian Pulkovo 1942
138 M'Poraloko
114 Melrica 1973 (D73)
137 Montserrat Island Astro
1958
438
Caroline Islands, Federated International 1924
States of Micronesia
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
Netherlands
Bessel
1010 New Zealand Geodetic
Datum 194, 7 parameter
New Zealand
International
31 New Zealand Geodetic
Datum 1949 (NZGD 49)
New Zealand
International
109 Netherlands
62 North American 1927 (NAD Continental U.S.
27)
Clarke 1866
63 North American 1927 (NAD Alaska
27)
Clarke 1866
64 North American 1927 (NAD Bahamas (excluding San
27)
Salvador Island)
Clarke 1866
65 North American 1927 (NAD San Salvador Island
27)
Clarke 1866
66 North American 1927 (NAD Canada (including
27)
Newfoundland Island)
Clarke 1866
67 North American 1927 (NAD Canal Zone
27)
Clarke 1866
68 North American 1927 (NAD Caribbean (Turks and
27)
Caicos Islands)
Clarke 1866
69 North American 1927 (NAD Central America (Belize,
27)
Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua)
Clarke 1866
70 North American 1927 (NAD Cuba
27)
Clarke 1866
71 North American 1927 (NAD Greenland (Hayes
27)
Peninsula)
Clarke 1866
72 North American 1927 (NAD Mexico
27)
Clarke 1866
73 North American 1927 (NAD Michigan (used only for
27)
State Plane Coordinate
System 1927)
Modified Clarke 1866
74 North American 1983 (NAD Alaska, Canada, Central
GRS 80
83)
America, Continental U.S.,
Mexico
139 North Sahara 1959
Algeria
Clarke 1880
1022 North Sahara 7-parameter Algeria
Clarke 1880
107 Nouvelle Triangulation
France
Francaise (NTF) Greenwich
Prime Meridian
User Guide
Modified Clarke 1880
439
Projections and Their Parameters
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
France
Modified Clarke 1880
111 NWGL 10
Worldwide
WGS 72
117 NZGD 2000
New Zealand
GRS 80
Corvo and Flores Islands
(Azores)
International
1002 Nouvelle Triangulation
Francaise (NTF) Paris
Prime Meridian
75 Observatorio 1966
140 Observatorio Meteorologico Corvo and Flores Islands
1939
(Azores)
International 1924
76 Old Egyptian
Egypt
Helmert 1906
77 Old Hawaiian
Hawaii
Clarke 1866
78 Oman
Oman
Clarke 1880
79 Ordnance Survey of Great England, Isle of Man,
Airy
Britain 1936
Scotland, Shetland Islands,
Wales
80 Pico de las Nieves
Canary Islands
International
81 Pitcairn Astro 1967
Pitcairn Island
International
141 Point 58
Burkina Faso and Niger
Clarke 1880
142 Pointe Noire 1948
Congo
Clarke 1880
157 Popular Visualization CRS Worldwide
/ Mercator
WGS 84 Sphere
143 Porto Santo 1936
Porto Santo and Madeiras
Islands
International 1924
Germany
Bessel
1000 Potsdam
82 Provisional South American Bolivia, Chile, Colombia,
1956
Ecuador, Guyana, Peru,
Venezuela
International
36 Provisional South Chilean
1963
South Chile (near 53S)
International
83 Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico and Virgin
Islands
Clarke 1866
Germany
Krassovsky
84 Qatar National
Qatar
International
85 Qornoq
South Greenland
International
Germany
Bessel
Mascarene Island
International
1001 Pulkovo 1942
1000 Rauenberg
86 Reunion
440
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
112 Rikets Triangulering 1990
(RT 90)
Sweden
Bessel
1011 Rikets Triangulering 1990
(RT 90), 7 parameter
Sweden
Bessel
Sardinia Island
International
1012 Russia PZ90
Russia
PZ90
1012 Russia PZ90
Russia
PZ90
1013 Russia SK42
Russia
SK95
1014 Russia SK95
Russia
PZ90
88 Santo (DOS)
Espirito Santo Island
International
89 So Braz
So Miguel, Santa Maria
Islands (Azores)
International
90 Sapper Hill 1943
East Falkland Island
International
91 Schwarzeck
Namibia
Modified Bessel 1841
159 Schwarzeck (updated )
datum for Namibia
Namibia
Modified Bessel
144 Selvagem Grande 1938
Salvage Islands
International 1924
Republic of Serbia
Bessel
145 Sierra Leone 1960
Sierra Leone
Clarke 1880
146 S-JTSK
Czech Republic
Bessel 1841
Czech Republic
Bessel #11
92 South American 1969
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Guyana, Paraguay, Peru,
Venezuela, Trinidad and
Tobago
South American 1969
93 South Asia
Singapore
Modified Fischer 1960
94 Southeast Base
Porto Santo and Madeira
Islands
International
95 Southwest Base
Faial, Graciosa, Pico, Sao
Jorge, Terceira Islands
(Azores)
International
Switzerland
Bessel
Madagascar
International 1924
87 Rome 1940
1021 Serbia datum MGI 1901
1020 S-JTSK (Ferro prime
meridian)
1003 Switzerland (CH 1903)
147 Tananarive Observatory
1925
User Guide
441
Projections and Their Parameters
Number Datum Name
Area of Coverage
Ellipsoid
96 Timbalai 1948
Brunei and East Malaysia
(Sarawak and Sabah)
Everest (India 1830)
97 Tokyo
Japan, Korea, Okinawa
Bessel 1841
Japan
Bessel 1841
98 Tristan Astro 1968
Tristan da Cunha
International
99 Viti Levu 1916
Viti Levu Island (Fiji Islands) Clarke 1880
1015 Tokyo97
148 Voirol 1874
Tunisia/Algeria
Clarke 1880
149 Voirol 1960
Algeria
Clarke 1880
100 Wake-Eniwetok 1960
Marshall Islands
Hough
101 World Geodetic System
1960 (WGS 60)
Worldwide
WGS 60
102 World Geodetic System
1966 (WGS 66)
Worldwide
WGS 66
103 World Geodetic System
1972 (WGS 72)
Worldwide
WGS 72
104 World Geodetic System
1984 (WGS 84)
Worldwide
WGS 84
China
1980
105 Yacare
Uruguay
International
106 Zanderij
Surinam
International
1017 Xian
Units
The following table lists the available coordinate units and the number used to identify the unit in the
[Link] file:
Number Units
6 Centimeters
31 Chains
1
3 Feet (also called International Feet)
2 Inches
1 Kilometers
30 Links
7 Meters
0 Miles
442
MapInfo Pro 12.5.1
Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
Number Units
5 Millimeters
2
9 Nautical Miles
32 Rods
8 US Survey Feet (used for 1927 State Plane)
4 Yards
1
One International Foot equals exactly 30.48 cm.
One Nautical Mile equals exactly 1852 meters.
One US Survey Foot equals exactly 12/39.37 meters, or approximately 30.48006 cm.
Coordinate System Origin
The origin is the point specified in longitude and latitude from which all coordinates are referenced. It is
chosen to optimize the accuracy of a particular coordinate system. As we move north from the origin, Y
increases. X increases as we move east. These coordinate values are generally called northings and
eastings.
For the Transverse Mercator projection the origin's longitude defines the central meridian. In constructing
the Transverse Mercator projection a cylinder is positioned tangent to the earth. The central meridian is
the line of tangency. The scale of the projected map is true along the central meridian.
In creating a Hotine Oblique Mercator projection it is necessary to specify a great circle that is not the
equator nor a meridian. MapInfo Pro does this by specifying one point on the ellipsoid and an azimuth
from that point. That point is the origin of the coordinate system.
Standard Parallels (Conic Projections)
In conic projections a cone is passed through the earth intersecting it along two parallels of latitude.
These are the standard parallels. One is to the north and one is to the south of the projection zone. To
use a single standard parallel specify that latitude twice. Both are expressed in degrees of latitude.
Oblique Azimuth (Hotine Oblique Mercator)
When specifying a great circle (Hotine Oblique Mercator) using a point and an azimuth (arc), the azimuth
is called the Oblique Azimuth and is expressed in degrees.
Scale Factor (Transverse Mercator)
A scale factor is applied to cylindrical coordinates to average scale error over the central area of the
map while reducing the error along the east and west boundaries. The scale factor has the effect of
recessing the cylinder into the earth so that it has two lines of intersection. Scale is true along these lines
of intersection.
You may see the scale factor expressed as a ratio, such as 1:25000. In this case it is generally called
the scale reduction. The relationship between scale factor and scale reduction is:
scale factor = 1-scale reduction
In this case the scale factor would be 1-(1/25000) or 0.99996.
User Guide
443
Projections and Their Parameters
False Northings and False Eastings
Calculating coordinates is easier if negative numbers are not involved. To eliminate this problem in
calculating State Plane and Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates, it is common to add measurement
offsets to the northings and eastings. These offsets are called False Northings and False Eastings. They
are expressed in coordinate units, not degrees. (The coordinate units are specified by the Units parameter.)
Range (Azimuthal Projections)
The range specifies, in degrees, how much of the earth you are seeing. The range can be between 1
and 180. When you specify 90, you see a hemisphere. When you specify 180 you see the whole earth,
though much of it is very distorted.
Polyconic Projection
The following description is copied from "Map Projections - A Working Manual", USGS Professional
Paper 1395, by John P. Snyder.
The Polyconic projection, usually called the American Polyconic in Europe, achieved its name because
the curvature of the circular arc for each parallel on the map is the same as it would be following the
unrolling of a cone which had been wrapped around the globe tangent to the particular parallel of latitude,
with the parallel traced onto the cone. Thus, there are many ("poly-") cones involved, rather than the
single cone of each regular conic projection.
The Polyconic projection is neither equal-area nor conformal. Along the central meridian, however, it is
both distortion free and true to scale. Each parallel is true to scale, but the meridians are lengthened by
various amounts to cross each parallel at the correct position along the parallel, so that no parallel is
standard in the sense of having conformality (or correct angles), except at the central meridian. Near
the central meridian, distortion is extremely small.
This projection is not intended for mapping large areas. The conversion algorithms used break down
when mapping wide longitude ranges. For example, [Link], from the sample data shipped with
MapInfo Pro, may exhibit anomalies if reprojected using Polyconic.
Equidistant Cylindrical Projection
The Equidistant Cylindrical projection (also called the Equirectangular projection, geographic projection,
Plate Carre, or Carte Parallelogrammatique projection or CPP), is a very simple map projection attributed
to Marinus of Tyre, who Ptolemy claims invented the projection about 100 AD.
The projection maps meridians to equally spaced vertical straight lines, and circles of latitude to evenly
spread horizontal straight lines. The projection is neither equal area nor conformal. Because of the
distortions introduced by this projection, it has little use in navigation or cadastral mapping, and finds its
main use in thematic mapping. In particular, the Plate Carre is used often in computer applications that
process global maps, because of the particularly simple relationship between the position of an image
pixel on the map and its corresponding geographic location on Earth. The Plate Carre (French, for "flat
square"), is the special case where standard parallel is zero.
The following examples are of PRJ entries for Plate Carre and Equidistant Cylindrical projection centered
at 46.5 degree Standard Parallel (used in France):
"Plate Carree WGS84", 33, 104, 7, 0, 0, 0, 0
"Equidistant Cylindrical 46.5 Degree WGS84", 33, 104, 7, 0, 46.5, 0, 0
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Appendix B: Elements of a Coordinate System
For More Information on Projections
The first three publications listed are relatively short pamphlets. The last two are substantial books. We
have also given addresses and phone numbers for the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping
(the pamphlets) and the U.S. Geological Survey (the books).
American Cartographic Association. Choosing a World Map-Attributes, Distortions, Classes, Aspects.
Falls Church, VA: American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Special Publication No. 2. 1988.
American Cartographic Association. Matching the Map Projection the Need. Falls Church, VA: American
Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Special Publication No. 3. 1991.
American Cartographic Association. Which Map is Best? Projections for World Maps. Falls Church, VA:
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping. Special Publication No. 1. 1986.
John P. Snyder. Map Projections-A Working Manual. Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Professional
Paper 1395. 1987
John P. Snyder and Philip M. Voxland. An Album of Map Projections. Washington: U.S. Geological
Survey Professional Paper 1453. 1989.
Contact Information
The Department of Geography at the University of Colorado at Boulder has made available "The
Geographer's Craft" project, a website devoted to explanations of map projections, geodetic datums,
and coordinate systems. It is particularly valuable because many of the explanations were presented
using MapInfo Pro.
The materials may be used for study, research, and education. If you link to or cite the materials below,
please credit the author: Peter H. Dana, The Geographer's Craft Project, Department of Geography,
The University of Colorado at Boulder.
For geodetic datum information and explanations, go to:
[Link]
For information on coordinate systems and associated topics, go to:
[Link]
For information on map projections, go to:
[Link]
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