NAME : MUNZANZA TAPIWA

STUDENT ID : N0165644L
COURSE : MATHEMATICAL CARTOGRAPHY
COURSE CODE : EGS 2203
ASSIGNMENT 3
LECTURER : MR T MATHE
DEPARTMENT: GEOMATICS AND SURVEYING.
Introduction.

A map projection is a systematic transformation of the latitudes and longitudes of positions on

the surface of the Earth to a flat sheet of paper, a map. In short, it is a mathematical way of
transforming a three dimensional surface to a two dimensional surface. For example
transforming a globe to a flat surface. This is only achieved with some distortions.

Stereographic map projection.

The stereographic projection maps the sphere from one of the poles onto a plane parallel to the
equator. This is an azimuthal conformal map projection. Conformal projections preserve local
shape. To preserve individual angles describing the spatial relationships, a conformal
projection must show the perpendicular graticule lines intersecting at 90-degree angles on the
map. The most common choices are the plane containing the equator or the plane tangent to
the sphere at the pole opposite to the pole from which we project. The Stereographic projection
is a true perspective in its spherical form. Stereographic projection is constructed by projecting
points on the sphere onto a tangent plane from light source located at the point on the sphere
directly opposite the point of tangency. Surface locations are projected to a tangent plane using
a single projection point on the surface of the sphere exactly opposite the center of the
projection.

FEATURES OF STEREOGRAPHIC MAP PROJECTION

The Stereographic projection is a true perspective in its spherical form. It is the only known
true perspective projection of any kind that is also conformal. Its point of projection is on the
surface of the sphere at a point just opposite the point of tangency of the plane or the center
point of the projection (fig. A). Thus, if the North Pole is the center of the map, the projection
is from the South Pole. All of one hemisphere can be comfortably shown, but it is impossible
to show both hemispheres in their entirety from one center. The point on the sphere opposite
the center of the map projects at an infinite distance in the plane of the map.
Fig A

The central meridian and a particular parallel (if shown) are straight lines. All meridians on
the polar aspect and the Equator on the equatorial aspect are straight lines. All other meridians
and parallels are shown as arcs of circles. A perspective projection for the sphere. Directions
from the center of the projection are true (except on ellipsoidal oblique and equatorial aspects).
Scale increases away from the center of the projection. Point opposite the center of the
projection cannot be plotted. Used for polar maps and miscellaneous special maps.

As an azimuthal projection, directions from the center are shown correctly in the spherical
form. In the ellipsoidal form, only the polar aspect is truly azimuthal, but it is not perspective,
in order to retain conformality.

There is no distortion at the center, therefore the center is made the "standard point" true to
scale in all directions. Since it is a conformal projection, a Stereographic map may be given,
instead of a standard point, a standard circle with an appropriate radius from the center,
balancing the scale error throughout the map. Scale increases toward the periphery of the
projection.

Uses of stereographic projection.

This type of projection is useful in making star charts where the observer becomes the point
from which the projection emanates and the visible stars are projected onto the plane.
Stereographic projection is also used to map Polar Regions and the pole is chosen as the center
point. The Stereographic projection is the most widely used azimuthal projection for portraying
large, continent-size areas of similar extent in all directions. It is also applicable in geophysics
for solving problems in spherical geometry.

Mathematics included in stereographic map projection.

If P is a point on the sphere, its projection is the intersection Q of the line through the South
Pole and the point P with that plane. A cross section is shown in Figure 6. To get the coordinates
of Q we only need to compute its distance r = NQ from the North Pole as a function of the
latitude θ. The triangles 4SP T and 4SQN are similar and therefore, since OT = sin θ, r = NQ
PT = cos θ, and the radius of the sphere is 1.

Perspective Map Projection.

Perspective projection is a type of drawing that graphically approximates on a planar surface

the images of three-dimensional objects so as to approximate actual visual perception. This
type of map projection can be gnomonic, stereographic or orthographic. Perspective map
projections are determined by the position of the point of view. In this projection, the
perspective point is not an infinite distance away; instead, you can specify the distance. The
overall effect of this projection is that it looks like a photograph taken vertically from a satellite
or space vehicle. The perspective projection describes perspective viewing of the scene. Points
in the scene are projected onto a viewing plane perpendicular to the z axis, (Philip et al, 2003)

When the Earth is photographed from space, the camera records the view as a perspective
projection. If the camera precisely faces the center of the Earth, the projection is Vertical
Perspective. Tilted perspective is whereby the camera takes the image of the earth whilst not
focusing on the center. Cylinders and cones are also used to assist us in carrying perspective
map projections, therefore perspective conic and perspective cylindrical map projections are
produced.
Features of perspective map projection

It is often used to show the Earth or other planets and satellites as seen from space. Orthographic,
Stereographic, and Gnomonic projections are special forms of the Vertical Perspective. Vertical
Perspective projections are azimuthal; Tilted Perspectives are not. Central meridian and a particular
parallel are straight lines. Other meridians and parallels are usually arcs of circles or ellipses, but some
may be parabolas or hyperbolas. Neither conformal (unless Stereographic) nor equal-area. If the point
of perspective is above the sphere or ellipsoid, less than one hemisphere may be shown, unless the view
is from infinity (Orthographic). If below center of globe or beyond the far surface, more than one
hemisphere may be shown. No distortion at the center if a Vertical Perspective is projected onto a
tangent plane. Considerable distortion near the projection limit. Directions from the center are true on
the vertical perspective for the sphere and for the polar ellipsoidal form.

(Philip et al, 2003), stated that unlike the orthographic and parallel projections, the projection
vectors are not uniform for all points and vectors; rather, there is a projection point or
perspective point, and the line of projection is defined by the vector between each point and
the perspective point, as shown in Figure below
Mathematics
For example, using a cone to create a conical perspective map projection. Taking V as the
vertex of the cone lying on the polar axis and O is the point from which the propagation is
ᵝ
made. P is any point lying on the spheroid, let OP cut the cone in p. is the complement of
the semi-vertical angle of the cone. The equations used in this projection type are given in the
fig below.
The equations used for unwrapping onto a two dimensional surface are shown in the image
below.

Perspective map projection uses cross ratios as a way of relating globe distance and flat surface
distances. There is an easy way of calculating map scale using the cross ratios formulae.

Perspective map projections advantages.

+Size varies inversely with distance - looks realistic

– Distance and angles are not (in general) preserved – Parallel lines do not (in general) remain
parallel
References
Schneider, P. and Eberly, D.H., 2002. Geometric tools for computer graphics. Elsevier.