Map Projection

Final Exam First Attempt (2014 2015)

Answers
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Q1):

(Total = 20 Marks)

Section A/:

(8 Marks for three parts)

The definition of scale factor/:

A Map projection without distortion would correctly represent shapes,
angles, areas, distance and directions, everywhere on the map.
Unfortunately, any map projection is associated with scale distortion. Scale
distortions on a map can also be shown by means of a scale factor
(ration of the scale at a given point to the true scale).
(4 Marks)

And its roles in map projection/:

A scale factor of 1 indicates actual scale is equal to nominal scale, or no
scale distortion at that point on the map. Scale factors of less than or
greater than one are indicative of scale distortion.
(2 Marks)

What is the scale factor for UTM projection?

The scale factor at each point is the same in any direction and is given
by: K = Sec
(2 Marks)

Section B/:

(6 Marks)

One way of classifying map projections is by the type of the developable

surface onto which the reference sphere is projected. The three types of developable
surfaces are cylinder, cone and plane, and their corresponding projections are
called cylindrical, conical and planar. Projections can be further categorized
based on their point(s) of contact (tangent or secant) with the reference
surface of the Earth and their orientation

The planar, conical, and cylindrical surfaces could have a tangent surfaces; they
touch the horizontal reference surface in one point (plane) or along a closed line
(cone and cylinder) only. Another class of projections is obtained if the surfaces
are chosen to be secant to (to intersect with) the horizontal reference surface;
Then, the reference surface is intersected along one closed line (plane) or two
closed lines (cone and cylinder). Secant map surfaces are used to reduce or
average scale errors because the line(s) of intersection are not distorted on the
map.

Section C/:

(6 Marks)

The problem with map projection is that it distorts one or several of

these properties of a surface:

Shape
Area
Distance
Direction

As stated above spherical bodies such as globes can represent size, shape, distance
and directions of the Earth features with reasonable accuracy. When trying to
project a spherical surface of the Earth onto a map plane, the curved surface will
get deformed, causing distortions in shape (angle), area, direction or distance of
features. All projections cause distortions in varying degrees; there is no one

perfect projection preserving all of the above properties, rather each

projection is a compromise best suited for a particular purpose.
Different projections are developed for different purposes. Some projections
minimize distortion or preserve some properties at the expense of increasing
distortion of others. The choice of a projection for a map depends on such
factors as the purpose for which the map will be used, the area being mapped,
and the maps scale (distortion is more pronounced in small-scale mapping).
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Q2):

Section A/:

(Total = 20 Marks)

(6 Marks)

An equidistance map projection the length of particular lines in the map is the
same as the length of the original lines on the curved references surface (taking
into account the map Scale). In other word, it can be seen that there remains a scale
factor along the parallel which is not equal to 1 and that the shape and area of the
square have both been distorted.
(4 Marks)

Projection of a unit square preserving distances along the meridians.

Figure = (2 Marks)

Section B/:

(6 Marks)

The equivalent of an overall scaling is often used for conic projections, where
it is achieved by using two standard parallels. The effect is to reduce the scale
factor below 1 between the two standard parallels and increase it above
1outside them.

Section C/:

(8 Marks)

(Each correct answer has 2 Marks)

On the

cylindrical equidistant
map on the right, point A seems
farther from C
than from B. Actually, every point on the Central
meridian is equally far from A.
The distance between D and C is
zero, since both lie on a pole. The orthographic map on the right puts those
facts in a better perspective, in more than one sense.

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Q3)

Section A/:

(Total = 28 Marks)

(7 Marks)

You need to know the east west extent of the country and compare it
to the UTM zone numbering system. The zone numbering system of the
UTM projection specifies 60 zones of 6 degrees longitude each. The
zones are numbered from 1 to 60 starting with zone number 1 at 180
(west of Greenwich) until 174 (west of Greenwich).

Section B/:

(7 Marks)

The physical surface of the earth is a complex shape. In order to

represent it on a plane it is necessary to move from the physical surface
to a mathematical one, close to the former.

Section C/:

(7 Marks)

No,

(1 Marks)

Because:

(Each section has 2 Marks)

a) The Geoid is extremely undulated due to the large vertical variations

between mountain and valleys and mass anomalies.
b) This makes it impossible to approximate the shape of the Geoid with
any reasonable simple mathematical model.
c) You also have to realize that the geoid is physical surface. We can only
measure it, but not describe it mathematically.

Section D/:

(7 Marks)

The choice of a map projection class largely depend on the size and shape
of the geographical area to be mapped; Cylindrical projections are often
used for large rectangular areas (and to map the world); Conic projection
for medium size triangular areas (and to map the different continents) and
Azimuthally projections for small size circular areas (and to map the
poles).
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Q4):

(Total = 12 Marks)

Section A/:
Scale distortion on the cylindrical projection

Scale distortion on a surface to the globe

(3 Marks)

(3 Marks)

Section B/:
Scale distortion on the cylindrical projection

Scale distortion on a surface to the globe

(3 Marks)

(3 Marks)

Q5/:

(Total = 20 Marks)

Section A/:

(Sorry; this section has 6 marks)

(Each section gets 2 Marks)

a) A 1 angle has first to be converted to radians
P radians = 180 , so 1 = p/180 = 3.1416/180 = 0.0175 radians

b) For the meridian, L = Re = 6370 * 0.0175 = 111 km

c) For the parallel, DL = Re Cos
o = 6370 * 0.0175 * Cos 30
o = 96.5 km

Section B/:

(Sorry; this section has 7 Marks)

The equal-area projection is defined as method

area relative to one another
(2 Marks)
And its distortion is derived as

shapes

that features have the correct

(1 Marks)

But, The Stereographic projection can be classified as

Because it maintain the
as distance and area

angles (1 Marks)
(2 marks)

Conformal (1 Marks)

whereby its distortion is defined

Section C/:

(7 Marks)

To eliminate the need for and the resulting confusion of - negative numbers in
the UTM coordinate system each zones west to east (left to right) measuring
system uses a false origin, a zone point that lays well outside of the bottom of the
zones western boundary meridian. (4 Marks)

(3 Marks)

Total Score /:
Q1 (20) + Q2 (20) + Q3 (28) + Q4 (12) + Q5 (20) = 100

M. Yousef Khajavi