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Projection Wizard: Map projection selection tool

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Abstract

The selection criteria for map projections are a mystery to most GIS users. Map projections ought to be selected based on the map's geographic extent and the required distortion properties. This presentation will introduce the Map Projection Selection Tool, a web based tool that facilitates the selection of a projection. The user can select a map's geographic extent by adjusting the rectangular border on a web map or by entering the extent's geographic coordinate boundaries into the user interface. Based on the selected distortion property, the application returns a proposed projection, along with the projection parameters and, if applicable, a PROJ.4 library code. Leaflet open-source JavaScript library and National Geographic Basemap by Esri are used for the web map.
Projection Wizard:
Map Projection Selection Tool
Bojan Šavrič
Bernhard Jenny
Helen Jenny
NACIS PCD, Pittsburgh
October 8, 2014
Furuti, C. (2013). Map Projections. Online: http://www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/CartIndex/cartIndex.html (accessed April 23, 2013)
Snyder’s Selection Guidelines
Snyder, J. P. (1987). Map Projections – A working manual. US government printing office: p.383.
Selection Criteria
Extent of the geographic area
Central latitude of the rectangle
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
Selection Criteria
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
Extent of the geographic area
Selection Criteria
Small-scale map projection
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
WorldWorld
normal
aspect
normal
aspect
Selection Criteria
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
WorldWorld
normal
aspect
normal
aspect
AzimuthalAzimuthal
oblique
aspect
oblique
aspect
Medium-scale map projection
Selection Criteria
Large-scale map projection
Aspect ratio and map orientation
East-west extent, landscape-oriented map
North-south extent, portrait-oriented map
Equal extent, square-shaped map
Selection Criteria
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
WorldWorld
normal
aspect
normal
aspect
AzimuthalAzimuthal
oblique
aspect
oblique
aspect
Large-scale map projection
Selection Criteria
Equal extent, square-shaped map
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
WorldWorld
normal
aspect
normal
aspect
AzimuthalAzimuthal
oblique
aspect
oblique
aspect
oblique aspectoblique aspect
normal aspect
normal aspect
polar aspect
polar aspect
AzimuthalAzimuthal
Selection Criteria
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
WorldWorld
normal
aspect
normal
aspect
AzimuthalAzimuthal
oblique
aspect
oblique
aspect
transverse aspecttransverse aspect
CylindricalCylindrical
North-south extent, portrait-oriented map
Selection Criteria
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
WorldWorld
normal
aspect
normal
aspect
AzimuthalAzimuthal
oblique
aspect
oblique
aspect
67.5°67.5°
70°
70°
AzimuthalAzimuthal
normal aspectnormal aspect
polar aspect
polar aspect
ConicConic
normal aspectnormal aspect
CylindricalCylindrical
East-west extent, landscape-oriented map
Selection Criteria
90°
75°
60°
45°
30°
15°
Latitude of central point
World Hemisphere Continent or smaller areas
CompromiseCompromise
Equidistant
Equidistant
Equal-area
Equal-area
Equidistant
Equidistant
Equal-area
Equal-area
Equidistant
Equidistant
Equal-area
Equal-area
Conformal
Conformal
Distortion properties
Credits
Leaflet (web map)
National Geographic, Esri, etc. (web map tiles)
Leaflet.draw plugin (modified)
D3 (preview map)
jQuery (user interface)
Thank you!
projectionwizard.org
cartography.oregonstate.edu

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