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 MAPINFOW.PRJ 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 MAPINFOW.PRJ 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

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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
MAPINFOW.PRJ file:

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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 MAPINFOW.PRJ 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 MAPINFOW.PRJ 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 MAPINFOW.PRJ 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 MAPINFOW.PRJ file.
The datum's name
The maps for which the datum is typically used
The datum's reference ellipsoid

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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

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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

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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
MAPINFOW.PRJ file:
Number Units
6 Centimeters
31 Chains
1

3 Feet (also called International Feet)

2 Inches
1 Kilometers
30 Links
7 Meters
0 Miles

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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, WORLD.TAB, 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:
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/datum/datum.html
For information on coordinate systems and associated topics, go to:
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/coordsys/coordsys.html
For information on map projections, go to:
http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/mapproj/mapproj.html

User Guide

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