Lab Week 6 - Map Projections

This two projections are under the Conformal Projection. As you can see, even if two map projections are preserving the same properties - in this case the shape and the angle, there are still a lot of differences in terms of distance. Under the Gall Sterograhic projection, the distance from Washington DC to Kabul is much shorter than the distance on the Mercator Projection. 

In the two Equal Area Projections, the Bonne projection is what I would like to talk more base on my personal experience. The Bonne projection is so fun to me! It totally contradicts the general perception about map, which is classified to be boring, or tedious with accurate outlines of each countries or the regions. The Bonne projection proves that the general perception is wrong! It is fun, with its heart shape that could potentially win all the girl's affection - it is a heart shape! Who would think that the Earth, which we all know is a sphere, could be a heart?! Also, it is obvious that the Bonne projection has distortions. I am sure the airline companies would be much more happier during the current economic states that the distance from Washington DC to Kabul is really about 6730.718 miles. This will greatly reduce the cost for the airlines in terms of the oil they needed when flying planes back and forth from two cities. 

In this case of the equal distance projections, once again it proves that point that the transformation from the 3D sphere earth to the 2D plane is a hard job to do. Even though both projection preserves the distance, they are still different in terms of the visualization of representations. Although, I am quiet surprised to learn the statistics that the Cylindrical projection actually has a shorter distance from Washington DC to Kabul compare to the Conic Projection. Just by my eye view, I would definitely say that the conic projection gives the shorter distance. This also proves the point that what projection we use is critical depends on our uses of the map. The potential error of using the wrong projection could affect the conclusion of a projected, and of course the resulted effects would be greater as well. 

Mapping a three dimensional sphere onto a two dimensional surface is a challenge. This transformation from the 3D sphere to the 3D plane is never easy, due to Earth's spherical properties. When this transformation occurs, distortions are unavoidable, some country might seem larger than it actually is, like Greenland; and some will see wider than it is, like the polar areas. Different map types focus on alleviating certain distortions based on the certain uses of the map. For example, an equidistant map allows for little to no distortions in the distances on the map; however, the size of countries may be distorted. Although accuracy in map projections is not one hundred percent, map projections are essential for spatial awareness in this world.

Map projections allow for humans to be aware of their location on the world's surface. Toddlers are often amazed at the concept of maps, while they are pointing at the location of their homes, they are also looking at other areas, with weird irregular shapes and outlines, wondering what is out there on those 'strange places.' This is the perfect example of the awareness of the location. Before the world was mapped, people were uniformed of the surface on the earth and what the world consisted of beyond their scopes regime. Map projections allow for awareness of spatial positioning. Many conformal maps contain country size distortion, but they allow for humans to see the shape of the world all at one time.

Map projections also create a means of travel because of this spatial awareness. Human early in the centuries had used maps, striving for greater accuracy, voyaging the world for exploration. With the increase of technology, map projections became a necessary advancement because people began traveling larger distances. The importance of a map projection became needed with the invention of airplanes. An equidistant map projection will allow for an airplane to fly certain distances with accuracy; however, a conformal map projection would cause massive accidents. Map projections are important for spatial awareness in this world and indispensable to the success of air travel.

Equal area map projections maintain the accurate size of countries on the world's surface. These are important for power relations and seeing the land area that each country contains. Although distortions are unavoidable, mapping the earth's surface is necessary in a modern world. Humans are able to obtain spatial awareness and learn of what the world consists. Without map projections, the world would be an unknown area.

Overall, different map projections are developed for different uses. While we are appreciating the development of 3D projection such as google earth, seeing it on the aerial level; 2D map projections are still widely used for  people in this world for their own benefits.