Understand why map projections matter in real-world maps
This clear guide helps you see how different projections shape scale, area, and shape on flat maps, and why some are better for certain tasks than others.
This edition demystifies the major families of projections—from conical and cylindrical to zenithal and polyconic—and explains how to judge a projection’s merits and defects. It emphasizes practical use: choosing the right projection for a map, recognizing what a map will do or not do, and guarding against common mistakes in map making and reading.
- How scale varies with direction and how to test it along meridians and parallels
- Why some projections preserve area, others preserve shape, and how trade-offs affect a map
- Different construction methods and how they influence accuracy and usability
- Real-world examples of projections used in topographic maps and world maps
Ideal for students, teachers, and anyone who uses maps in planning, navigation, or analysis, this book clarifies the purpose of each projection and how to read the results on the page.
First published in 1921, this book presents an account regarding the different types of map projection, incorporating information on the relationships between methods of projection and the qualities of each method. Intended 'for the mapmaker and the map user', the text approaches its subject from a practical point of view and avoids extensive mathematical theorising.