A definition for projection
The earth is round, but a map is flat. How do you get an object that has 3 dimensions onto a 2 dimensional surface? Map projections and the mathematics behind them show you how. But because you are losing a dimension, you also lose an element of the visual representation. Depending on the projection used, the viewer loses at least 1 of the following: direction, shape, area or distance.
An earlier edition of A Dictionary of Geography defines projection as "a technique for transforming the three-dimensional sphere of the earth into the two dimensions of a map. There are four aspects of the map to be considered: area, distance, direction, and shape, and it is impossible to recreate them all in the same map. See map projection.
Finding resources in the Library's collections
The subject headings available include "map projection" for general information about projections or under a named projection such as "Mercator projection" or "Peters projection."
- map projectionThe call number range for map projections is GA 110 through GA 115 on Berry Level 4.
- Choosing a world map: attributes, distortions, classes, aspects byCall Number: Evans Map Room GA 110 .R57 1988ISBN: 9780961345921
Flattening the earth: two thousand years of map projections by Call Number: Baker-Berry GA 110 .S576 1993ISBN: 9780226767468As long as there have been maps, cartographers have grappled with the impossibility of portraying the earth in two dimensions. To solve this problem mapmakers have created hundreds of map projections, mathematical methods for drawing the round earth on a flat surface. Yet of the hundreds of existing projections, and the infinite number that are theoretically possible, none is perfectly accurate. Flattening the Earth is the first detailed history of map projections since 1863. John P. Snyder discusses and illustrates the hundreds of known projections created from 500 B.C. to the present, emphasizing developments since the Renaissance and closing with a look at the variety of projections made possible by computers. ...
Map Projections: a reference manual by Call Number: Baker-Berry GA 110 .B93 1995ISBN: 9780748403042Map projection concerns the science of mathematical cartography, the techniques by which the Earth's dimensions, shape and features are translated in map form, be that two-dimensional paper or two- or three- dimensional electronic representations. The central focus of this book is on the theory of map projections. Mathematical cartography also takes in map scales and their variation, the division of maps into sets of sheets and nomenclature, and addresses the problems of making measurements and conducting investigations which make use of geodetic measurements and the development of graphical methods for solving problems of spherical trigonometry, marine- and aeronavigation, astronomy and even crystallography.
Working with map projections: a guide to their selection by Call Number: Baker-Berry GA 110 .K47 2019ISBN: 9781138304987A map projection fundamentally impacts the mapmaking process. Working with Map Projections: A Guide to Their Selection explains why, for any given map, there isn't a single "best" map projection. Selecting a projection is a matter of understanding the compromises and consequences of showing a 3-D space in two dimensions. ...
- Many ways to see the world byCall Number: Jones Media DVD #6684Presents a fascinating exploration into the minds of twelve mapmakers. Discover how their unique backgrounds, philosophies, values, and politics led each to select a particular mathematical formula to create their maps. Learn about the impact those world images have had on us, consciously and unconsciously.
Map projections: cartographic information systems by Call Number: Baker-Berry GA 110 .G75 2014 v.1 -ISBN: 9783642364938In the context of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) the book offers a timely review of map projections.
Rhumb lines and map wars: a social history of the Mercator projection by Call Number: Baker-Berry GA 115 .M66 2004ISBN: 9780226534312In Rhumb Lines and Map Wars, Mark Monmonier offers an insightful, richly illustrated account of the controversies surrounding Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator's legacy. He takes us back to 1569, when Mercator announced a clever method of portraying the earth on a flat surface, creating the first projection to take into account the earth's roundness. ...
Internet resource(s)
- How are different map projections used? from the U.S. Geological Survey
The method used to portray a part of the spherical Earth on a flat surface, whether a paper map or a computer screen, is called a map projection. No flat map can rival a globe in truly representing the surface of the entire Earth, so every flat map misrepresents the surface of the Earth in some way. ... - Map projectionsThis page lets you see how projections change depending on what aspects are preserved.
- Map projections from Paul B. AndersonThe world we live in is a round globe. Small areas on it, of course, are so nearly flat, one cannot tell the difference.
- Map projections from Paul H. DanaMap projections are attempts to portray the surface of the earth or a portion of the earth on a flat surface. Some distortions of conformality, distance, direction, scale, and area always result from this process. Some projections minimize distortions in some of these properties at the expense of maximizing errors in others. Some projection are attempts to only moderately distort all of these properties. ...
Keeping up with Cartography/GIS journal literature
Want an easy way to keep up with the journal literature for Cartography or GIS? And do you use a mobile device? You can install the BrowZine app and create a custom Bookshelf of your favorite journal titles. Then you will get the Table of Contents (ToCs) of your favorite journals automatically delivered to you when they become available. Once you have the ToC's, you can download and read the articles you want from the journals for which we have subscriptions.
You can get the app from the App Store or Google Play.
Don't own or use a mobile device? You can still use BrowZine! It's also available in a web version. You can get to it here. The web version works the same way as the app version. Find the journals you like, create a custom Bookshelf, get ToCs and read the articles you want.