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Selecting Map Projections in Minimizing Area Distortions in GIS Applications
1Karadeniz Technical University, Engineering Faculty, Dep. of Geodesy and Photogrammetry, 61080, Trabzon, Turkey. yfaruk@ktu.edu.tr.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 23, 2016
Summary
Choosing the right map projection in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is crucial for accurate area calculations. This study compares equal-area and conformal projections in ArcGIS to determine the best options for various parcel sizes, minimizing distortion for applications like forestry and agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Cartography
- Geodesy
Background:
- Map projections are essential for GIS, but distortions can affect area calculations.
- Equal-area projections minimize area distortion, crucial for applications like forestry and agriculture.
- Many GIS users overlook projection choice, leading to inaccurate area data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the most suitable equal-area projection within ArcGIS 9.0 for accurate area calculations.
- To compare area errors between equal-area and conformal map projections.
- To provide guidance on selecting appropriate projections based on parcel size.
Main Methods:
- Calculated parcel areas (0.01 to 1,000,000 ha) using geographical coordinates as a baseline.
- Computed areas using Transversal Mercator (TM), Universal Transversal Mercator (UTM), and 14 equal-area projections in ArcGIS 9.0.
- Quantified area discrepancies between projected and actual parcel sizes.
Main Results:
- Identified specific equal-area projections that minimize area distortion for parcels up to 1,000 ha.
- Determined optimal projections for parcels larger than 1,000 ha, balancing accuracy and distortion.
- Demonstrated significant area errors when using conformal projections for area-sensitive GIS applications.
Conclusions:
- The choice of map projection significantly impacts GIS area accuracy.
- Specific equal-area projections are recommended for different parcel size ranges in ArcGIS.
- Proper projection selection is vital for reliable spatial analysis in GIS.
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