Links
Information about map projections
This website shows a lot of map projections but it doesn’t offer a lot of information.
If you’d like to know more – about the different types of projection (cylindrical, azimuthal etc.) or
their different properties (equal-area, conformal etc.); about how they are constructed and much more –
visit the following sites.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_projection
- Wikipedia is always a good place to start.
- www.csiss.org/map-projections/
- The »Anderson list«: A list of 324 different map projections, incl. simple graphics stating the creator and year of origin.
- mapthematics.com/Essentials.php
- daan Strebe’s Map Projection Essentials Tutorial. A very good and not too long article about… well,
map projections essentials. ;-)
dann Strebe is the author of the professional map projection tool Geocart and creator of the Strebe-1995 projection.
The site also offers a list of projections incl. distortion images (which IMHO are better than the Tissot indicatrix) and short descriptions. www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/CartIndex/cartIndex.html-
A very comprehensive introduction. Highly recommendable, probably the most extensive source of
information about map projections on the web!
Update June 2020: Unfortunately, Furuti’s map projection site has vanished from the web a while ago. I always hoped that it will return, maybe at a different domain, but that didn’t happen. :-(
At least it can be found at the Wayback Machine – try this capture of July 2018. I don’t know if it is complete, I randomly selected a few chapters and and apart from some missing images, they worked. If you find some chapters that don’t work, check one of the numerous other captures of progonos.com. - www.quadibloc.com/maps/mapint.htm
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John J. G. Savard’s map projections site.
It is completely undesigned, shows pixelated, mostly monochrome images – and is absolutely great! A must-read for anyone who is interested in map projections! - axismaps.github.io/thematic-cartography/articles/projections.html
- A great article about map projection properties – better than my own article covering this matter. Also includes a few hints about choosing the right projection for your own projects.
- bl.ocks.org/syntagmatic/3711245
- A comparison of 18 map projections, wonderfully morphed, including distortion values.
- jasondavies.com/maps/
- Jason Davies shows a lot of interesting stuff regarding map projections, e.g. some projections that I (currently) don’t show on my website. Particularly, I like his beautifully animated Map Projection Transitions (dont’t forget to use your mouse there: click, hold & drag); but the rest is very worthwhile to visit, too!
- boehmwanderkarten.de/kartographie/is_netze.html (ger.)
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Probably the best and most comprehensive german site reagarding map projections.
Includes Dr. Böhm’s own, very interesting variants of Wagner VII/VIII.
Dr. Böhm is the author of the professional cartographic software Vimage. - G.Projector
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NASA’s map projection software, free. Most important application for this website, since
most images were generated using G.Projector. Transforms an equirectangular map image
into any of over 125 global and regional map projections. The resulting images can suffice
for on screen presentations or print-outs up to a certain size.
Requires Java runtime environment, runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. - Flex Projector
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Flex Projector is a free application for creating custom world map projections based on
various existing popular world map projections. Of course you don’t have to create your
own projection, you also can use the application to generate map projection images of the existing projections.
Just like in G.Projector, the images can be used on screen or for prints which are not too large. Also, vector graphics containing graticules and contours can be exported which of course are scalable and can be used at any size.
Requires Java runtime environment, runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. - Geocart
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Professional map projection software, priced accordingly (a low-priced student license is available)
Will offer nearly anything to produce high quality world and regional maps.
Available for Windows and Mac OS X. - Vimage
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Vimage is a professional program to generate cartographic terrain representations, priced for professional users
(a low-priced student license is available).
Available for Windows.
Software
Some map projection applications…