Geography 121: Mapping Our Changing World: Project 1 – Coordinates and Projections Kathleen Kelliher Don Mosteller Shashona Baker Emily Dziubek.

Geography 121: Geography 121: Mapping Our Mapping Our

Changing World: Changing World: Project 1 – Project 1 –

Coordinates and Coordinates and ProjectionsProjections

Kathleen KelliherKathleen KelliherDon MostellerDon Mosteller

Shashona BakerShashona BakerEmily DziubekEmily Dziubek

Project GoalsProject Goals

Attaining and applying information Attaining and applying information from the Internet from the Internet

Learning about and finding:   Learning about and finding:   

-Geographic Coordinates-Geographic Coordinates

-UTM Coordinates-UTM Coordinates

-State Plane Coordinates-State Plane Coordinates

Go to Angel (http://cms.psu.edu) Geog 121

Click on projects, Project 1

Right click on template and select view source

Downloading Template to Microsoft FrontPage

Go to Go to file, save as file, save as and and assign appropriate assign appropriate name with name with extension extension .html.html

Downloading Template to Microsoft FrontPage cont.

• Right click in picture

• Save Picture As project1map.jpg (make sure extension is same in Save As Type box)

Downloading Template to Microsoft FrontPage cont.Downloading Template to Microsoft FrontPage cont.

Map ProjectionsMap Projections Map projections take places on Map projections take places on

Earth’s curved surface and Earth’s curved surface and superimpose them onto a flat superimpose them onto a flat map. map.

The “Grid of Earth” doesn’t The “Grid of Earth” doesn’t produce perfect squares as you produce perfect squares as you move pole-ward because the move pole-ward because the longitude lines converge at one longitude lines converge at one point on the poles, making each point on the poles, making each “box” smaller towards the poles“box” smaller towards the poles

True sizes of landmasses are True sizes of landmasses are distorted on flat surfaces, distorted on flat surfaces, especially in polar regions. especially in polar regions. That’s why many different types That’s why many different types of map projections have been of map projections have been made to minimize distortion in made to minimize distortion in a particular areaa particular area

Five Properties of Map Five Properties of Map ProjectionsProjections

ConformalityConformality: angles plotted in the coordinate system : angles plotted in the coordinate system are equal to angles measured on the surface of the are equal to angles measured on the surface of the Earth Earth

DirectionDirection: angles are portrayed correctly in all : angles are portrayed correctly in all directionsdirections

DistanceDistance: distances from the center of the map to all : distances from the center of the map to all other areas are the sameother areas are the same

ScaleScale: a ratio between a small distance on a map : a ratio between a small distance on a map corresponding to the actual distance on Earth, a map corresponding to the actual distance on Earth, a map preserves scale when, for example, an inch corresponds preserves scale when, for example, an inch corresponds to a mile on all areas of the mapto a mile on all areas of the map

AreaArea: preserved when all landmasses/areas on a map are : preserved when all landmasses/areas on a map are in the right proportions minimizing distortion of sizein the right proportions minimizing distortion of size

Mercator Projection Mercator Projection This projection preserves This projection preserves

directiondirection (equal angles) (equal angles) and and conformalityconformality

It distorts area (circles It distorts area (circles toward poles are larger) toward poles are larger) the closer you get to the the closer you get to the polespoles

Very helpful for Very helpful for navigators and navigators and surveyorssurveyors, which is why , which is why the UTM system is based the UTM system is based on a variation of this on a variation of this projectionprojection

Lambert Conformal Conic Lambert Conformal Conic ProjectionProjection

The circular The circular distortion ellipses distortion ellipses are uniform, so it’s are uniform, so it’s conformal conformal

The U.S. State The U.S. State Plane Coordinate Plane Coordinate System is based on System is based on this map, especially this map, especially in the “wide” zonesin the “wide” zones

Area isn’t preservedArea isn’t preserved

Albers Conic Equal Area Albers Conic Equal Area ProjectionProjection

This projection This projection preserves area, preserves area, and relative sizes and relative sizes of landmassesof landmasses

It’s not conformalIt’s not conformal Good for human Good for human

geographers who geographers who map population map population densitydensity

Polar Stereographic Polar Stereographic ProjectionProjection

The pole is the The pole is the central location central location from which all from which all remaining areas are remaining areas are defined by defined by distancedistance and and anglesangles

The UTM system The UTM system uses this map for uses this map for the polar regionsthe polar regions

The map is The map is conformalconformal

Polyconic ProjectionPolyconic Projection The red ellipses vary in size The red ellipses vary in size andand shape, shape,

so area is not preserved.so area is not preserved. Scale is preserved because the width of Scale is preserved because the width of

the ellipses are the same.the ellipses are the same.

Geographic CoordinatesGeographic Coordinates Geographic coordinates determine a specific Geographic coordinates determine a specific

location of the face of the earth using location of the face of the earth using degrees of Latitude and Longitudedegrees of Latitude and Longitude

Lines of Latitudes- also known as Parallels- Lines of Latitudes- also known as Parallels- are parallel to the equator, beginning at 0 are parallel to the equator, beginning at 0 and continuing 90 degrees north and southand continuing 90 degrees north and south

Lines of Longitude- also known as Meridians- Lines of Longitude- also known as Meridians- run perpendicular to the equator, beginning run perpendicular to the equator, beginning at 0 at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, at 0 at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, EnglandEngland

Accuracy comes from dividing the degrees Accuracy comes from dividing the degrees into minutes and seconds to get a more into minutes and seconds to get a more exact locationexact location

Getting your geographic Getting your geographic coordinatescoordinates

Go to Go to http://www.zipinfo.http://www.zipinfo.com/search/zipcodcom/search/zipcode.htme.htm

Enter your ZIP Enter your ZIP code and check the code and check the “latitude and “latitude and longitude box”longitude box” and click and click “Go”“Go”

Creating Your MapCreating Your Map Go to: Go to:

http://www.aqhttp://www.aquarius.geomaruarius.geomar.de/omc/.de/omc/ (bottom link (bottom link in “sources” in “sources” part of project part of project 1 template)1 template)

Under Under “What “What is OMC?”is OMC?”, , click the link: click the link: ““the Form”the Form”

Setting Map ParametersSetting Map Parameters Set Set “Basic Boundaries”,“Basic Boundaries”, choose a choose a “Map Projection”,“Map Projection”, define your define your

“Options”,“Options”, bullet bullet “download disabled”“download disabled” under under “Download:” “Download:” *Note: blue text has been added and is NOT part of the webpage*Note: blue text has been added and is NOT part of the webpage

Setting Map Parameters Setting Map Parameters cont.cont.

Scroll down Scroll down and select and select “plot user “plot user defined defined locations”locations”

Enter home Enter home town town coordinates coordinates in text box in text box EXACTLY EXACTLY AS SHOWNAS SHOWN

Check Check “Annotate “Annotate locations”locations”

““Create Create Map”Map” when when finishedfinished

Your New MapYour New Map

If you’re successful, If you’re successful, your map should look your map should look something like this:something like this:

If your map didn’t generate, run through this troubleshooting list:

•Don’t include characters such as “W” or “N” in your place address

•Make sure longitude precedes latitude in the text box (reverse order from zip code address)

•There MUST be commas between lat., long., and you hometown name

•If your place isn’t on the map, make sure you placed a “-” in front of longitude address if you live in W. Hem.

•A link on the homepage of this website: “some information” will give you detailed instructions on how to input parameters

Right Click in picture, “Right Click in picture, “Save Save picture as”picture as”Give an appropriate name and Give an appropriate name and make sure extension = make sure extension = extension in extension in “save as type”“save as type” box box

Inserting Map in Microsoft Inserting Map in Microsoft FrontPageFrontPage

Open your saved project 1 template in Open your saved project 1 template in Microsoft FrontpageMicrosoft Frontpage Place cursor where you want picturePlace cursor where you want picture Go to: “Go to: “Insert>Picture>From File”Insert>Picture>From File” Find your saved map and click Find your saved map and click “Ok”“Ok”

UTM CoordinatesUTM Coordinates

Acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator Acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator systemsystem

Overall, its main purpose is to portray a flat Overall, its main purpose is to portray a flat grid on a flat Mercator projection. grid on a flat Mercator projection.

The normal Mercator Projection is produced The normal Mercator Projection is produced by theoretically wrapping a cylinder  around a by theoretically wrapping a cylinder  around a circle, and projecting the continents onto that circle, and projecting the continents onto that surface, as if there was a light in the center of surface, as if there was a light in the center of the globe. the globe.

The projection only has one axis extending The projection only has one axis extending between the polesbetween the poles

UTM Coordinates cont.UTM Coordinates cont.

Universal Transverse Mercator Universal Transverse Mercator projection stems from the Normal projection stems from the Normal Mercator projection Mercator projection

Uses the same idea of a hypothetical Uses the same idea of a hypothetical cylindrical 2D surface surrounding the cylindrical 2D surface surrounding the globe globe

30 axes instead of 1 and the cylinder is 30 axes instead of 1 and the cylinder is on its side; essentially the Mercator on its side; essentially the Mercator projection has been rotated 90projection has been rotated 90°°

UTM Coordinates cont.UTM Coordinates cont. The 30 different axis The 30 different axis

create 60 longitudal create 60 longitudal sections of the earth, all sections of the earth, all separated by 6 degrees.  separated by 6 degrees. 

UTM Coordinates are UTM Coordinates are the most accurate way the most accurate way we know of to locate a we know of to locate a point on earth, but still point on earth, but still lack the ability to locate lack the ability to locate a point above or below a point above or below 80 degrees south 80 degrees south latitude to 84 degrees latitude to 84 degrees north latitude. north latitude.

Getting Your UTM CoordinatesGetting Your UTM Coordinates In the Project 1 template, scroll down to “In the Project 1 template, scroll down to “Sources” Sources” and click the link: and click the link:

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/TOOLS/utm.htmlhttp://www.ngs.noaa.gov/TOOLS/utm.html Scroll down to the link under Scroll down to the link under “Interactive Conversions”“Interactive Conversions”: :

Latitude/Longitude -> UTMLatitude/Longitude -> UTM Insert lat./long. address as shown below and to the rightInsert lat./long. address as shown below and to the right

State Plane Coordinate State Plane Coordinate SystemSystem

Based on Transverse Mercator, Lambert Conic Conformal, Based on Transverse Mercator, Lambert Conic Conformal, and the Oblique Mercator Projectionsand the Oblique Mercator Projections

Divides all 50 states into 122 different plane coordinate Divides all 50 states into 122 different plane coordinate systemssystems

Error is reduced to 1 square meter per 10,000 square Error is reduced to 1 square meter per 10,000 square metersmeters

Error reduction due to smaller geographic area covered Error reduction due to smaller geographic area covered than UTM (larger scale)than UTM (larger scale)

State Plane Coordinates State Plane Coordinates cont.cont.

Consists of a horizontal and vertical Consists of a horizontal and vertical reference grid which works better reference grid which works better on 2D surfaces than 3D surfaceson 2D surfaces than 3D surfaces

Despite possible error, this system is Despite possible error, this system is widely used because it’s quicker widely used because it’s quicker than calculating geographic data than calculating geographic data using spherical coordinatesusing spherical coordinates

Getting Your SPC (State Plane Getting Your SPC (State Plane Coordinates)Coordinates)

•In the Project 1 template, scroll down to “Sources” and click the link: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/TOOLS/spc.html •Scroll down to the link under “Interactive

Conversions”: Latitude/Longitude -> SPC •Insert lat./long. Address as shown below

How to Find Your “Zone”How to Find Your “Zone” Return to the website homepage and under “Return to the website homepage and under “Interactive Interactive

Conversions” Conversions” click the link: click the link: Find ZoneFind Zone Bullet “By County” on the following pageBullet “By County” on the following page

How to Find Your “Zone” cont.How to Find Your “Zone” cont. Scroll down and find your state and click Scroll down and find your state and click “Submit”“Submit” Scroll down and find you county and click Scroll down and find you county and click “Submit”“Submit”

Your zone is outlined in yellow below (won’t be outlined Your zone is outlined in yellow below (won’t be outlined on site)on site)

Contrasts and Contrasts and ConclusionConclusion

Geographic coordinates are the easiest for Geographic coordinates are the easiest for day-to-day use. They specify positions day-to-day use. They specify positions based on lines of latitude and longitude based on lines of latitude and longitude that originate from coordinates 0,0.that originate from coordinates 0,0.

UTM coordinates divide the world into UTM coordinates divide the world into zones 6 degrees longitude wide on a flat zones 6 degrees longitude wide on a flat grid to easily see and determine location.grid to easily see and determine location.

SPC coordiates are used much the same SPC coordiates are used much the same as UTM but are specifically for the United as UTM but are specifically for the United States, creating 122 zones.States, creating 122 zones.