Map Projection Explorer
A visual guide to cartographic projections, distortion properties, and coordinate reference systems. Explore how 3D spherical Earth coordinates are mathematically projected onto 2D surfaces with live Tissot's indicatrices, interactive rotation, and graticule overlays.
Map Projection Explorer
Visualize and compare common cartographic map projections, graticules, Tissot indicatrices, and distortion properties with interactive D3.js rendering.
Understanding Map Projections
Map projections transform the spherical three-dimensional surface of the Earth onto a two-dimensional planar medium. Carl Friedrich Gauss proved with his Theorema Egregium that a sphere cannot be projected onto a plane without introducing distortion. Consequently, every map projection represents a compromise among preserving area (equivalence), conformal angles and local shapes (orthomorphism), distances from specific origins (equidistance), or navigational directions (loxodromes and great circles).
Loading Natural Earth vector boundary dataset & initializing D3 projections...