Types of Projections

Most forms of projection operate by projecting Earth coordinates onto a geometric shape that can be easily flattened to a two-dimensional image. This mathematical transformation is commonly referred to as a map projection. A map projection systematically projects locations from the surface of the spheroid to represent positions on the geometric shape.

Three geometric shapes are frequently used:

Type of Shape	How it works	Characteristics of Projection	Examples of Projection
Cylinder	Earth coordinates may be projected onto a cylinder. The cylinder is cut lengthwise and unrolled to make a two-dimensional map. This type of projection is called a cylindrical projection.	Lines of longitude are parallel to each other. Lines of latitude are parallel to each other. Lines of longitude are at right angles to lines of latitude. Regions near the equator or selected standard parallels are minimally distorted. Regions near the poles are highly distorted.	Cassini, Equidistant Cylindrical, Hotine Oblique Mercator, Mercator, Miller Cylindrical, New Zealand Map Grid, Oblique Mercator, Transverse Mercator, and Universal Transverse Mercator
Cone	Earth coordinates may be projected onto a cone. The point of the cone is usually directly above the pole and the sides of the cone pass through the globe at two user-defined latitudes, called the Standard Parallels. At the standard parallels, there is no difference between the east-west and north-south scales. The cone is cut from tip to base and unrolled to make a two-dimensional map. This type of projection is called a conic projection.	Lines of latitude form concentric arcs. Lines of longitude are straight and radiate outward from the tip of the imaginary cone.	Albers Equal Area, Equidistant Conic, Lambert Conformal Conic, Polyconic, and Bonne
Plane	Earth coordinates may be projected directly onto a flat plane. This type of projection is called an azimuthal projection. Projections of this type are recommended for maps of polar regions because cylindrical and conic projections generally either have severe distortion in polar regions or are unable to project coordinates in polar regions.	The side of the Earth that is facing away from the center of the projection is not visible.	Azimuthal Equidistant, Gnomonic, Orthographic, Stereographic, and Lambert Azimuthal Equal Area
Other	Projections in this category are pseudocylindrical, pseudoconic, or based on some other mathematical projection or mathematical tables.		Eckert IV, Eckert VI, Mollweide, Robinson, Robinson-Sterling, Sinusoidal, State Plane*, Unprojected Lat/Long, and Van der Grinten

* The State Plane Coordinate System uses Transverse Mercator, Lambert Conformal Conic, or the Hotline Oblique Mercator projection.

Types of Projections

See Also