Choosing a Projection
Here is a simple summary to help you think though which class of map projection you might want to use. Categories in bold are the most common classes we use.
| Projection Category | Properties | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Conformal | Preserves local shapes and angles | Topographic maps, navigation charts, weather maps |
| Equal Area | Preserves areas | Dot density maps, thematic maps |
| Equidistant | Preserves distance from one or two specified points to all other points on the map | Maps of airline distances, seismic maps showing distances from an earthquake epicenter |
| True Direction | All directions are true from a single specified point (usually the center) to all other points on the map | Navigation and route planning maps |
| Compromise | No point is completely distortion free; distortion is minimized near the center and along the equator | World maps |