An interactive tool for teaching map projections
Author and article information
Abstract
Map projections are one of the fundamental concepts of geographic information science and cartography. An understanding of the different variants and properties is critical when creating maps or carrying out geospatial analyses. To support learning about map projections, we present an online tool that allows to interactively explore the construction process of map projections. A central 3D view shows the three main building blocks for perspective map projections: the globe, the projection surface (cone, cylinder, plane) and the projection center. Interactively adjusting these objects allows to create a multitude of arrangements forming the basis for common map projections. Further insights can be gained by adding supplementary information, such as projection lines and Tissot’s indicatrices. Once all objects have been arranged in a desired way, the projection surface can be unrolled to form the final flat map. Currently, the tool is limited to visualize the construction of true perspective map projections. In the future, prime concerns are to increase the genericity of the application to support more map projections and to integrate it into the GITTA (Geographic Information Technology Training Alliance) platform.
Cite this as
2018. An interactive tool for teaching map projections. PeerJ Preprints 6:e27218v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.27218v1Author comment
This submission is intended for the OGRS'2018 Collection
Sections
Additional Information
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Author Contributions
Magnus Heitzler prepared figures and/or tables, performed the computation work, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper, approved the final draft.
Hans-Rudolf Bär performed the computation work, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper.
Roland Schenkel performed the computation work, authored or reviewed drafts of the paper.
Lorenz Hurni authored or reviewed drafts of the paper.
Data Deposition
The following information was supplied regarding data availability:
The code is available at: https://github.com/gevian/GITTA-MP
The usable prototype can be tested directly in the browser at: https://gevian.github.io/GITTA-MP/
Funding
This work was supported by the GITTA association. All authors are (or were) part of the GITTA association. The GITTA association is a non-profit organization with the aim of maintaining and improving the GITTA learning platform (http://www.gitta.info/). The GITTA association provides limited funding to its members to improve the content of the GITTA platform. The teaching tool for map projections described in this article is part of such an improvement.
