ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a basic overview of the projection process, the inevitable distortion those results, and the different projection parameters that can be modified to control distortion. It discusses the technical aspects of projection class and its impact on shape. The chapter explains that some projections include parameters like standard lines whose values can be specified. It provides a discussion of latitude and longitude and how each are defined on Earth’s surface. Latitude and longitude are important in mapping as they are points that define locations on Earth’s surface. The chapter examines distortion, how it is distributed across a projection, and what controls that distribution. Distortion can be controlled by carefully selecting the appropriate projection class, property being preserved, and location of the standard point or line(s). Distortion is a by-product of the projection process. The projection process takes latitude and longitude values from Earth’s spherical surface and mathematically converts them to a plane surface.
