New England Section ACSM
The New England Section ACSM Presents a Map-Projections Seminar
The New England Section ACSM invites you to a Map-Projection Seminar presented by Mr. Craig Rollins of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), on June 3, 2011, 9 am to 4 pm, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. The Map-Projections Seminar details, cost, and link to the registration form are found at the end of this announcement.
Map Projections, an Important Part of Cartography, Surveying, and GIS Technology
Map projections continue to be an important part of cartography, surveying, and GIS technology. Among the reasons for this are that (i) data display is still heavily 2D and printed maps are far from obsolete, (ii) data collection is often 2D as in the focal plane of cameras, and (iii) the design and understanding of national grids and the universal grids (UTM, UPS, MGRS) depend on the theory of map projections.
This one-day course examines the constructive principles and major properties of the most important map projections in a way mainly aimed at the needs of cartographers, surveyors, and GIS practitioners with some tips and equations briefly offered for the student of the theory. The discussion begins with an argument that a true-scale-everywhere map is impossible. This opens the door to the excitement of the subject and the plethora of map projections. The zoo is tamed by two classification schemes which are explained – (i) the classifications cylindrical, pseudo-cylindrical, conic, pseudo-conic, polyconic, and polar-azimuthal, and (ii) the classifications conformal, equal-area, and “equidistant”. A matrix of the two classification schemes reveals the uniqueness of some well known map projections and the competition for superiority among others.
The emphasis is on the ellipsoid form of various map projections, making mere mention of those forms that pertain only to the sphere due to its greater symmetry. The emphasis is further placed on the conformal map projections and their properties, as they are the basis for world’s grid systems. The map projection parameters for the Mercator, Polar Stereographic, Lambert Conformal Conic, and Transverse Mercator projections are examined in some detail, and their effects on the shape, size, orientation, and position of everything portrayed is explained. Two functions attend every conformal map projection, namely point-scale and convergence-of-meridians, and the importance and usage of these tools are explained. The specifications and properties of UTM, UPS, and SPC’s are presented as particularizations of the above general ideas.
Throughout the day long course are interspersed several side-bars on the subject of scale, so that its various related concepts can be untangled.
About the presenter:
Mr. Rollins earned a Master’s Degree in mathematics from the University of Maryland in 1976, worked for Control Data Corporation in software maintenance in the late 1970’s, worked as a Navy contractor (for NSWC-CD) in the, joined the Defense Mapping Agency in 1995 as a nautical cartographer, and, since 2002 advises his Agency’s (NGA’s) departments and contractors on map-projections, grid coordinates and other matters geodetic.
Where and When:
New England Section ACSM Map-Projections Seminar Registration Form (PDF)
Time: 9:00 – 4:00, Friday, June 3rd, 2011
Place: W.B. Young Building rm 305
University of Connecticut
1376 Storrs Rd
Storrs/Mansfield, CT 06269
Fee: $50 for ACSM-NES members, $60 for non-members
CEU 1.75/ PDH 7.0 Applied for in ME, NH, RI & VT.
I’ve just read that only an estimated 250 attended the joint endeavor between ESRI and the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) in San Diego last month, billed as the ACSM Annual Conference.
GAITERSBURG, MD – Gary Thompson, Section Chief of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey, and a member of two ACSM Member Organizations, AAGS and NSPS, was among the 15 individuals appointed by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to serve as members of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC). The Committee provides recommendations on federal geospatial policy and management issues and advice on development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) which promotes sharing of geospatial data throughout all levels of government, the private and non-profit sectors, and the academic community.
