14.11.2013 Views

Understanding Map Projections

Understanding Map Projections

Understanding Map Projections

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

SPACE OBLIQUE MERCATOR<br />

DESCRIPTION<br />

This projection is nearly conformal and has little<br />

scale distortion within the sensing range of an<br />

orbiting mapping satellite such as Landsat. This is the<br />

first projection to incorporate the earth’s rotation<br />

with respect to the orbiting satellite. For Landsat 1, 2,<br />

and 3, the path range is from 1 to 251. For Landsat 4<br />

and 5, the path range is from 1 to 233.<br />

Used to tie satellite imagery to a ground-based<br />

planar coordinate system and for continuous<br />

mapping of satellite imagery.<br />

Standard format used for data from Landsat 4 and 5.<br />

PROJECTION METHOD<br />

Modified cylindrical, for which the central line is<br />

curved and defined by the ground track of the orbit<br />

of the satellite.<br />

LINE OF TANGENCY<br />

Conceptual.<br />

LINEAR GRATICULES<br />

None.<br />

PROPERTIES<br />

Shape<br />

Shape is correct within a few parts per million for<br />

the sensing range of the satellite.<br />

Area<br />

Varies by less than 0.02 percent for the sensing range<br />

of the satellite.<br />

Direction<br />

Minimal distortion within the sensing range.<br />

Distance<br />

Scale is true along the ground track and varies<br />

approximately 0.01 percent within the sensing range.<br />

LIMITATIONS<br />

Plots for adjacent paths do not match without<br />

transformation.<br />

USES AND APPLICATIONS<br />

Specifically designed to minimize distortion within<br />

the sensing range of a mapping satellite as it orbits<br />

the rotating earth.<br />

84 • <strong>Understanding</strong> <strong>Map</strong> <strong>Projections</strong>

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!