Suggested projections

This topic contains a simple list of suggested projections after Snyder (1987). The following projection methods and projection properties are supposed to be understood: cylindrical projections, conic projections, azimuthal projections, conformal, equal area, equidistant. Furthermore, it is expected that, if required, the user is capable of specifying a polar, equatorial or oblique aspect for each of the projection methods in the Edit Coordinate System dialog box after the selection of a projection in the Select Projection dialog box.

For more information on the projections mentioned below, see the Select Projection dialog box.

World (Earth should be treated as a sphere)

Conformal (gross area distortion)

• Constant scale along equator: Mercator
• Constant scale along meridian: Transverse Mercator
• Constant scale along oblique great circle: Oblique Mercator

Equal-Area

• Standard without interruption: Mollweide, Sinusoidal, misc. pseudo-cylindricals
• Interrupted: Sinusoidal interrupted.

Equidistant

• Centered on pole: Azimuthal Equidistant (polar aspect)
• Centered on a city: Azimuthal Equidistant (oblique aspect)

Straight rhumb lines (constant compass course)

• Mercator

Compromise distortion

• Miller
• Robinson

Hemisphere (Earth should be treated as a sphere)

Conformal

• Stereographic (any aspect)

Equal Area

• Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area (any aspect)

Equidistant

• Azimuthal Equidistant (any aspect)

Global look

• Orthographic (any aspect)

Continent, ocean, or smaller region (Earth should be treated as a sphere for larger continents and oceans and as an ellipsoid for smaller regions, especially at a larger scale)

Predominant east-west extent

• Along equator and conformal: Mercator
• Along equator and equal area: Lambert Cylindrical Equal Area
• Away from equator and conformal: Lambert Conformal Conic
• Away from equator and equal area: Albers Equal Area Conic

Predominant north-south extent

• Conformal: Transverse Mercator

Predominant oblique extent (for instance North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean)

• Conformal: Oblique Mercator
• Equal Area: Lambert Cylindrical Equal Area (oblique aspect)

Equal extent in all directions (for instance Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Antarctic Ocean)

• Center at pole and conformal: Stereographic (polar aspect)
• Center at pole and equal area: Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area (polar aspect)
• Center along equator and conformal: Stereographic (equatorial aspect)
• Center along equator and equal area: Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area (equatorial aspect)
• Center away from pole or equator and conformal: Stereographic (oblique aspect)
• Center away from pole or equator and equal area: Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area (oblique aspect)

Straight rhumb lines (=constant compass course)

• Mercator (principally for oceans)

Straight great-circle routes (=shortest path between two points)

• Gnomonic (less than a hemisphere)

Correct scale along meridians

• Center at pole: Azimuthal Equidistant (polar aspect)
• Center along equator: Plate Carree
• Center away from pole or equator: Equidistant Conic.

Reference:

• Snyder, J.P., 1987, Map projections, a working manual. U.S. Geological Survey professional paper 1395. United States Government Printing Office, Denver.

See also:

Select Projection (dialog box)

ILWIS objects : coordinate systems