Lab 5- Map Projections

 I think this lab demonstrated very well how maps could easily be distorted and changed to reflect something completely different then the three dimensional earth that the maps are trying to represent. My overall experience of this lab was that I was amazed of how easily ArcGIS can change between the different map projections. Also I was impressed by how many different projections there are in general, and how all of them demonstrate the world in a different way.   What I think of map projections is that I am surprised there is not a standardized one that has the least amount of distortion and is a better representation of the earth then the maps we have now. Also what surprised me was how much some of the maps distorted the earth, for example my Azimuthal map projection didn’t even look like the earth to me, and the lines of latitude and longitude were almost impossible to decipher from. 

The significance of map projections is that we need them. In my opinion geography, science, history, and every other subject would not exist or would not be nearly complete without them. Therefore they are vital to the study of anything that involves: location, distance, and space. Lets be honest Geography would not exist if someone didn’t discover the calculations necessary to create these projections. Map projections are so important because they allow someone to carry large amount of information in a small space, because someone can’t carry around a globe in their pocket. Globes are to big and the smaller they are the hard it is to read them therefore a paper map helps the easy access of information.

            The perils of map projection are that they distort information, and some are not as good of a representation of length related to scale on the earth then others. For example on my Mercator map, length from Washington DC to Kabul was completely off from the real length. This shows that some projections cannot be trusted to judge distance. Therefore this can bring up many problems when it comes determining the location of something. This could be a problem when using a map projection to fly somewhere, because if one map projection is off and you use it, the pilot may over shoot the location. Or the pilot could possible underestimate the distance and run out of gas before they reach the destination. Another problem with some map projection is that they distort shape and size of the continents. For example my Mercator map projection made some land masses appear much larger then they are, for example Greenland on the map was twice the size of Africa. Therefore this is a peril of map projection because it could give people learning about the world and maps the wrong impression, and they could grow up thinking that Greenland is the largest landmass in the world.  Another peril of map projection is there use in the military and warfare. Again with the problem with distance is that if someone is using a certain map projection, for example a Lambert one, that distorts distance, and they shoot a missile and calculate the distance wrong they could hit the wrong target.

            The potentials of map projections are that each map has a unique attribute and can be used for many different cases. For example one would use one that preserves size to look at the shape of landmasses, and be used for such things of navigation of the coastline. While others preserve distance and can be used for the actually size of a landmass or to determine accurate distance from certain locations. Therefore map projections can be used for a variety of problems, but one has to be careful on what projection they use, and be knowledge able of what projections do what. Another great potential of map projection is the fact that it has lead to the development of greater technology. For example map projections had lead to the creation of digital maps, ones that are a true representation of the earth without any distortion. Therefore map projections have lead to the development of Google maps and ArcGIS; therefore we are now converting map projections to their digital form.