Level 77
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Cartography, GIS, and Geospatial Technology

Map Projections and Cartographic Methods

How the curved surface of the Earth is translated onto a flat map, and the unavoidable trade-offs and distortions of shape, area, distance, and direction that every projection and cartographic method involves.

60-Second Review

Express review

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

  1. The Mercator Projection and Its Distortions. Mercator (1569) keeps compass angles true for sailors but wildly inflates area near the poles.
  2. Equal-Area and Conformal Projection Types. No flat map keeps both shape and area true at once, so projections trade one off for the other.
  3. The Robinson, Winkel Tripel, and Compromise Projections. Robinson and Winkel Tripel sacrifice mathematical purity for a world map that simply looks right.
  4. Azimuthal and Polar Projections. Azimuthal projections keep true direction from one center point, making them ideal for poles and flight paths.
  5. Map Scale, Generalization, and Symbolization. Scale sets how much detail a map can show, and generalization and symbols decide what survives.
  6. Thematic Maps and Choropleth Design. Thematic maps like choropleths turn statistics into color and pattern across a landscape of places.
  7. Map Bias and the Politics of Cartography. Every map embeds choices, and those choices can flatter, mislead, or quietly assert political power.
  8. Coordinate Systems and Map Datums. Latitude, longitude, and a chosen reference ellipsoid together fix where a point on a map actually is.

This is the starting point of Cartography, GIS, and Geospatial Technology: you don't need any prior knowledge of this subject to begin.

Key points

Visual module map

1The Mercator Projection and Its Distortions
2The Robinson, Winkel Tripel, and Compromise Projections
3Map Scale, Generalization, and Symbolization
4Thematic Maps and Choropleth Design
5Coordinate Systems and Map Datums

Alternative visual view: a simplified sequence of some of the module's key points, in their order within the syllabus.

Your module mastery

0% (overall measurement)
Approximate breakdown by skill
Understanding of historiographical debate0%

A rough estimate based on the key points reviewed, not an exact measurement of actual mastery.

Final test

You need to review all key points to unlock the final test.

Optional mini-games

Extra practice, with no penalty, to reinforce the module's content.

Review Flashcards

Review each key point with cards that flip to reveal the summary.

Memory

Match each concept with its definition in as few attempts as possible.

Time Attack

Answer true or false statements before time runs out.

Chronological Order

Put the module's key points back in their original order.

Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Snyder, J.P. (1987). Map Projections: A Working Manual. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1395. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
  • Monmonier, M. (1996). How to Lie with Maps (2nd ed.). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Monmonier, M. (2004). Rhumb Lines and Map Wars: A Social History of the Mercator Projection. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Robinson, A.H., Morrison, J.L., Muehrcke, P.C., Kimerling, A.J., and Guptill, S.C. (1995). Elements of Cartography (6th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Bertin, J. (1967). Semiologie Graphique: Les diagrammes, les reseaux, les cartes. Paris: Gauthier-Villars.
  • Harley, J.B. (1989). "Deconstructing the Map." Cartographica: The International Journal for Geographic Information and Geovisualization, 26(2), 1-20.