Compromise projections for world maps – an optimization approach using discrete global grid systems and principles from classical mechanics
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Projections for world maps can only be a compromise between different requirements as it is impossible to construct a projection that preserves distances, areas, and angles. Accordingly, choosing a suitable projection is difficult – the wish list of requirements for such a projection is sometimes long and in most cases impossible to fulfil. This article presents a mechanism to translate such a wish list into a suitable compromise projection. For this purpose, an already known projection is initially selected and then subsequently optimized step by step, following principles of classical mechanics and using a discrete global grid system. This mechanism is effective and can, in principle, easily be adapted to other possible requirements for a map projection. In particular, this makes it possible to create projections that are optimized for the land areas and therefore exhibit less relevant distortion.
Author: Franz-Benjamin Mocnik
Institution: University of Salzburg
Language: English
Subfield: Geography, Planning and Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,390
OpenAlex ID: W4409519091