Evaluating and Selecting Map Projections for Geospatial Problems

Cartographic Map Projections and Metric Distortions

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Select optimal map projections for specific navigational, statistical, ecological, and civil engineering contexts based on metric distortion trade-offs.

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Cartographic Map Projections and Metric Distortions

9th Grade · Math · Open Global Math

7 lessons

Goal

Analyze how mapping a 3D spherical surface onto 2D planes induces metric distortions in angles, scale, and surface area across cylindrical, conic, and azimuthal projections.

7 lessons

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Geometry of the Sphere, Great Circles, and Gaussian CurvatureUp next
Cylindrical Projections and Areal Distortion: The Mercator MapNot started yet
Equal-Area Cylindrical Projections and Angular DistortionNot started yet
Conic Projections and Mid-Latitude Metric AccuracyNot started yet
Azimuthal Projections, Polar Navigation, and Great-Circle RoutesNot started yet
Tissot's Indicatrix: Quantifying Local Metric DistortionNot started yet
Evaluating and Selecting Map Projections for Geospatial ProblemsYou are here

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Learning standards covered

OGM.10.TRG.3Open Global Math Standards 2026™ · 9th Grade

Investigate metric distortions of angles and surface areas produced by cartographic map projections (cylindrical, conic, azimuthal).