The choice of map projection
▪ There is no hard and fast rule for choosing the right projection system, each map
has objective and other constrains. However the following aspects are to be
considered.
Choosing Map Projection
1. Purpose of map
▪ The choice of map projection primarily depends upon the purpose of map.
Therefore before deciding the map projection one should be aware of purpose.
Because the projection suitable for certain purpose may not be suitable for
certain other purpose. For example the equivalence property is required to study
distribution patterns or the aerial relation whereas equidistance property is
required for the navigational purpose.
▪ Equal-area projections are essential for dot-density maps and most large-scale
maps are conformal
Choosing Map Projection
2. The region to be mapped
▪ The second major consideration for considering the map projection is the location to be
mapped . It is known by experience that the zenithal projection is equitable for polar
region , conical for middle latitudes and cylindrical for equatorial regions.
Choosing Map Projection: The region to be mapped
2. The region to be mapped [continue…..]
▪ The extent of area also plays the role for the choice of map projection. For large area only a desired
property can be maintained and the other properties are sacrificed to a greater degree as they will
become of secondary importance.
▪ If the extent of area is small the choice of projection becomes wider such that all the property
becomes properly balanced.
▪ Zenithal projection are suitable for circular areas
▪ Conical projection for areas with small extent in latitudes.
Choosing Map Projection
3. Ease of construction
▪ The minor consideration should also be considered while choosing the map
projection is the ease of construction. If the two projections are equally suitable
than the one which is easier to construct should be considered or be given more
priority . The simple circles and straight lines are to be considered than the
complex curves.
Projection for topographic maps
▪ The scale of topographic map ranges from 1:25000 to 1:250000. So, a single map
sheet cannot represent the overall area of a country .
▪ The country or overall area is divided into small regions so that each region could
represent a single map sheets .
▪ So, these sheets should be accurately produced on one projection system with
least distortion.
▪ In such case polyconic projection is recommended.
▪ Generally Transverse Mercator projection system or polyconic projection is
adopted.
Projection for topographic maps
❖ Scale factor:
▪ In the study of map projection, scale plays an important role because in a map, scale becomes true only
along selected points or in a particular line. .
▪ Eg- The scale is true along the point of contact between the plane and globe or line of intersection
between the line and the globe in case of azimuthal projection.
▪ The scale is true along the standard parallel or other lines in case of cylindrical and conical projection..
▪ Elsewhere the map scale is either too large or too small compared to the globe scale.
▪ Nominal Scale (Principal Scale)
The ratio of the Earth’s size to the reference globe’s size.
Scale Factor (Point Scale / Particular Scale)
▪ The ratio of actual scale at a location on map to the nominal map scale.
▪ SF = (Actual Scale at a location on map /Nominal Scale)
▪ The relationship between the map scale and nominal/principle scale is defined
as the scale factor.
▪ Scale factor=( length on projection)/(corresponding length on globe)
Scale factor
dp = distance on the projection plane
ds = actual distance on the earths surface
dsp = distance converted to the spheroid
dp
ds
dsp
The farther we go on the projection from central
meridian, the bigger the differences become between
the distance “dsp” and the distance “dp”. The difference
is called the length distortion.
Universal Transverse Mercator projection
▪ The Universal Transverse
Mercator (UTM) is a map
projection system for
assigning coordinates to
locations on the surface of
the Earth.
▪ Mercator projection is a
cylindrical map projection
presented by geographer and
cartographer Gerardus
Mercator in 1569
UTM
▪ Before world war II, North American Treaty Organization(NATO) countries had
their own spheroid and their own projection. This had caused problems because
of non comparable coordinates of the points. Thus they had developed a
common projection system which could be used by every country. This
projection was based on international spheroid . The name given to the
projection is Universal Transverse Mercator Projection System.
▪ Universal as in it can be used worldwide.
▪ Transverse indicates the position of the enveloping surface and
▪ Mercator being used to indicate that the projection plane is cylindrical. Thus
the projection is termed as UTM projection.
UTM
▪ It is well known fact that cylindrical projection is not suitable
for projection of whole globe at one time.
▪ But if it is limited to project a small belt or zone it is the best
projection.
▪ Further to keep the map at small distortion the cylinder is
kept at the secant position.
▪ The UTM is a conformal projection so the shape of the area
on map is considered correct. So in this projection, the shape
of each small area is assumed to be correct.
UTM
▪ In UTM projection system the whole globe is divided into zones of
6 degree longitude width and each zone is divided into 8 degree
latitude between 80 degree north to 84 degree south .
▪ The polar regions are supposed to have large amount of
distortions with the help of UTM projection so they are projected
with the help of stereographic projection.
▪ In UTM projection the cylinder is placed at different positions for
each zone. In other words the cylinder is rotated through 6 degree
for each zone from the previous position. However the situation of
cylinder is similar for each zone.
UTM Projection
▪ Helps in assigning Universally accepted coordinates.
▪ UTM is a conformal projection (shape preserving projection)
▪ Secant Projection (cylinder cuts the globe on two surfaces)
▪ Projection object is a global spheroid called as WGS-1984
▪ The projection divides earth into 60 zones with 6 degree longitude at a time.
▪ It divides the earth into 8 degree latitude bands from latitude of 80 degree south to 84 degree north.
▪ Central meridian of each zone acts as y axis for each zone.
▪ CM is the average meridian for each zone.
▪ Equator acts as X axis in UTM system.
▪ The intersection of Equator and CM acts as origin for each zone.
▪ The coordinates for origin is considered as (500km,0m) for points in northern hemisphere and (500km,10,000km) for southern hemisphere
▪ To avoid negative coordinates the large values are added to the coordinates of origin which are called as false easting and false northing.
Some Properties of UTM System
1. The equator and central meridian of each zone are
projected as a straight line. Thus these two straight
lines are considered as two axes of grid system of
each zone.
2. To avoid negative coordinates in UTM projection
every central meridian of each zone is given false
easting value of 500,000 meters and for northing
coordinates the Equator is assumed as the value of
0m. In case of grids in southern hemisphere, the
equator is given the false value of 10,000,000meters.
3. The meridians other than central meridian are
projected as slightly curved lines. Since it is a
conformal projection in order to make the meridians
parallel to parallels the parallels are also made
slightly curved.
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Some Properties of UTM System
4. The points on which cylinder cuts the globe is at 1
degree 49 minutes east and west of central
meridian where there is no distortion at all. The
scale factor at the point of contact between the
cylinder and globe is 1.000. The portions between
the circles where cylinder cut the globe are
reduced on the projection and the portions
beyond the circles in which the in which the
cylinder cuts the globe are enlarged.
5. The scale factor at central meridian is 0.9996, thus
there is reduction on the map. This means the
distortion of -0.40 meters per 1 kilometer in the
central meridian.
6. The scale factor near the edges of zone is 1.00068
thus there is enlargement on the map. This means
the distortion at edges of each zone is +0.68
meters per kilometer.
km
▪ CM SF=0.9996
▪ SF=(length on projection)/(length on globe)
▪ Length on globe =1000 m
▪ Length on projection=999.6 meters
▪ 999.6-1000=-0.4 m distortion per 1 km
Advantages of UTM
1. The projection is symmetrical for every zone of 6 degree longitude width.
2. The transformation of coordinates from zone to zone can be done with same
formula for every zone all over the world.
3. The distortions are only in between 40 cm per km at central meridian to 68 cm
per km at the bounding meridians.
4. Universally accepted coordinates all over the world