156

Coordinate Systems and M a p Projections

Stereographic projection, illustrated in Fig. 1.07, p. 15, can be con

structed entirely from straight lines and circular arcs using ruler and
compasses. However, the radii of the meridians close to the central
meridian are so great that, even at a very small scale, it is imprac
ticable to attempt to locate their centre and describe these arcs by
beam compass. There isn't space on the table, the beam compass is
too short and there usually isn't sufficient plastic left, in the roll to
draw such large radius arcs.
The final and most important objection of all is that most of the
really useful map projections cannot, in any case, be constructed by
geometrical methods.

Construction

by

coordinates

The method to be described comprises the calculation of the plane car

tesian coordinates of each graticule intersection, plotting these upon a
master grid and finally joining the plotted points by smooth curves to
represent the parallels and meridians. The master grid may be preprinted,
duplicated or constructed especially for the map. The coordinates may
be read from tables which have already been published. If there are no
suitable tables, numerical values have to be determined using the pro
jection equations, for example those listed in Appendix I, pp. 430-441.
Figure 8.01 indicates the various ways in which the grid or graticule may
be plotted using traditional methods.

Construction of a m a p projection by p l o t t i n g coordinates

Let us suppose that we wish to construct a fairly complicated map pro

jection, for example Briesemeister*s projection, for the whole world at a
scale of 1/40000000 showing the parallels and meridians at intervals of
15"". A smaller-scale version of this map with a 20 graticule is illustrated
in Fig. 8.02 and the coordinates required for construction are given in
Appendix II on p. 442.
This projection was first described by Briesemeister (1953, 1959) and
has been used as an equal-area base for world maps in many American
Geographical Society publications such as their Atlas of Diseases, and in
many United Nations reports. It is one of many possible modifications
to the Hammer-Aitoff projection, from which it differs by having the
ratio 1:1-75 between the axes instead of 1:2 in the parent projection. It
is also only used in the simple oblique aspect with origin in latitude 45N,
longitude 15E. See Maling (1962) for an account of its mathematical
derivation.