Map Making: Scale, Map Projection, Properties, Types and Selection of
Appropriate Map Projections
Map making or cartography is the art, science, and technology of representing the Earth’s
surface or any part of it on a flat medium such as paper or a digital screen. Since the Earth is
spherical (more precisely, an oblate spheroid), transforming it onto a flat surface requires
scale reduction and map projection.
Map Scale
• Definition of Map Scale
Map scale is the ratio between a distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the
ground.
Scale = Distance on map / Distance on ground
• Types of Map Scale
(a) Statement Scale (Verbal Scale)
• Expressed in words.
• Example: 1 cm represents 1 km
• Simple to understand but less precise.
(b) Representative Fraction (RF)
• Expressed as a ratio or fraction.
• Example: 1 : 50,000
• Most accurate and commonly used in scientific maps.
(c) Graphic Scale (Bar Scale)
• Represented as a line divided into equal parts.
• Remains accurate even if the map is enlarged or reduced.
Classification of Maps Based on Scale
• Large-scale maps: Show small areas with high detail (e.g., cadastral maps, city
maps)
• Medium-scale maps: Show moderate areas (e.g., topographic maps)
• Small-scale maps: Show large areas with less detail (e.g., world maps)
Map Projection
• Definition of Map Projection
A map projection is a systematic mathematical method of transferring the Earth’s curved
surface onto a flat plane.
Since a sphere cannot be flattened without distortion, all map projections involve
distortion.
• Properties of Map Projections
Map projections attempt to preserve one or more of the following properties:
(a) Area (Equal-area or Equivalent)
• Preserves true area.
• Shapes may be distorted.
• Useful for population, land use, and resource maps.
(b) Shape (Conformal)
• Preserves local shape and angles.
• Area is distorted.
• Useful for navigation and weather maps.
(c) Distance (Equidistant)
• Preserves true distance from one or two points or along specific lines.
• Used in route and airline distance maps.
(d) Direction (Azimuthal or True Direction)
• Preserves true direction from a central point.
• Used in navigation and radio communication.
Types of Map Projections
• Based on Developable Surface
(a) Cylindrical Projections
• Earth is projected onto a cylinder.
• Meridians: straight and parallel
• Parallels: straight and parallel
Examples: Mercator, Peters
Uses: World maps, navigation
(b) Conical Projections
• Earth is projected onto a cone.
• Meridians: straight lines meeting at a point
• Parallels: arcs of concentric circles
Examples: Albers Equal Area Conic, Lambert Conformal Conic
Uses: Mid-latitude regions (India, USA, Europe)
(c) Azimuthal (Planar) Projections
• Earth is projected onto a flat plane.
• Meridians: radiate from the center
• Parallels: concentric circles
Examples: Polar Azimuthal Equidistant, Orthographic
Uses: Polar regions, air routes
• Based on Property Preserved
• Equal-area projections: Peters, Mollweide, Albers
• Conformal projections: Mercator, Lambert Conformal Conic
• Equidistant projections: Azimuthal Equidistant
• True-direction projections: Azimuthal projections
• Based on Orientation
• Normal projection: Axis of projection aligns with Earth’s axis
• Transverse projection: Axis is perpendicular to Earth’s axis
• Oblique projection: Axis is inclined
Selection of Appropriate Map Projection
The choice of a map projection depends on several factors:
(a) Purpose of the Map
• Navigation → Conformal projection (Mercator)
• Statistical comparison → Equal-area projection
(b) Area and Shape of the Region
• Equatorial regions → Cylindrical projections
• Mid-latitude regions → Conical projections
• Polar regions → Azimuthal projections
(c) Direction and Distance Requirement
• Air routes → Azimuthal Equidistant
• Marine navigation → Mercator
(d) Scale of the Map
• Large-scale maps → Distortion is minimal
• Small-scale maps → Projection choice is critical
CYLINDRICAL