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1.4. Choosing A Map Projection

Choosing the right map projection is essential for minimizing scale distortions and aligning map properties with their intended purpose, with different projections suited for various regions. In GIS software, coordinate systems integrate geographic locations for analysis, allowing for the display of data without projection unless measurements or aesthetics are needed. Understanding the difference between defining and performing projections is crucial, as on-the-fly projections only affect display and not the original dataset.

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Pabitra Kapri
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4 views1 page

1.4. Choosing A Map Projection

Choosing the right map projection is essential for minimizing scale distortions and aligning map properties with their intended purpose, with different projections suited for various regions. In GIS software, coordinate systems integrate geographic locations for analysis, allowing for the display of data without projection unless measurements or aesthetics are needed. Understanding the difference between defining and performing projections is crucial, as on-the-fly projections only affect display and not the original dataset.

Uploaded by

Pabitra Kapri
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.4.

Choosing a map projection:

A well-chosen map projection takes care that scale distortions remain within certain limits and
that map properties match to the purpose of the map. Generally,

✓ Normal cylindrical projections are typically used to map the world in its entirety (in
particular areas near the equator are shown well).
✓ Conical projections are often used to map the different continents (the mid-latitudes
regions are shown well),
✓ Polar azimuthal projections may be used to map the polar areas.
✓ Transverse and oblique aspects of many projections can be used for most parts of the
world, though they are usually more difficult to construct.

1.5. Projections within the GIS Environment:

In any gis software, coordinate system is used to automatically integrate the geographic
locations from different datasets into a common coordinate (georeferenced) framework for
display and analysis. If our spatial data reference locations are shown with decimal degrees of
latitude and longitude, we can display it on gis software without employing projection. software
draws the data by simply treating the latitude and longitude coordinates as planar X, Y
coordinates. We might decide that we do not need to project our data. However, if we need to
make measurements or would like to create an aesthetically pleasing map, you should choose
a projected coordinate system.

Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between GIS tools that merely define a
projection (e.g. if a shapefile has lost its projection or datum information) and tools that actually
perform a projection and thus change the dataset. In addition, on-the-fly projections and
transformations can be used efficiently to correctly display data given in different datums.
However, the user needs to be aware that this tool only changes the display and does not alter
the original dataset; hence it should not be used for spatial data analysis. It should be obvious
that datum information is a crucial component of the metadata attached to any spatial dataset.
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