CE 215 : Introduction to GIS (LECTURE- 02)

Md. Nabil Zawad

Lecturer
Department of Civil Engineering
Presidency University (PU)
 Cartography
• Cartography is the study and practice of making maps.
• Cartographic Association defines cartography as: the
discipline dealing with the conception, production,
dissemination (distribution, dispersion) and study of maps.
 Map Projections
• The basic problem with cartography & projection is that we have
something that is round/ oval shaped (the earth) and we want to
describe it as a flat surface (a map).

• Projections based on 3
different map shapes:

- Azimuthal
- Conic
- Cylindrical

Azimuthal Conic Cylindrical

 Map Projections

• Azimuthal Projection-
- In such projection, the flat surface
touches the spherical earth at a single
point.
- This maps are often used in polar areas.
- They are most accurate in the center &
becomes more deformed near the
edges.
- They have neither correct angles or
areas.
 Map Projections
• Conic Projection-
- In such projection, the cone touches the spherical earth in more
than a single point.
- They are most accurate in the areas where the cone touches the
sphere.
- They have correct angles.
 Map Projections
• Cylindrical Projection-
- This is the most common projection type (ex: national/international
maps).
- They have correct areas.
 DIFFERENT MAP TYPES
• Reference maps- which are more generalized maps. A map which
includes cities, towns, major transport routes along with natural
features like lakes and rivers etc.. These are the maps that are ideal for
helping you to get to your destination. Reference maps give us a broad
understanding of the environment around us.

• Thematic maps- which are maps showing a particular field of interest.

Political maps, Vegetation, Geology, Climate, Resources etc. Thematic
maps are used to visualize specific features. The thematic maps are
for sure the most common map type that we are working with
in the field of GIS.

• Special maps - commonly used for navigation purpose. Ex.- nautical

charts, aerial charts and space charts (for navigation in space in three
dimensions).
DIFFERENT MAP TYPES
GENERALIZED MODEL OF EARTH

Fig: Earth Co-ordinate system

GENERALIZED MODEL OF EARTH
• We can approximate the earth as an ELLIPSE (a regular oval
shape).

• The distance from the center of the earth to the poles (b) is 21 KM shorter
than the distance to the equator (a)
ELLIPSE CO-ORDINATE SYSTEM
• Latitude : Y – distance from the equator.
• Longitude: X – distance from GREENWICH
ELLIPSE CO-ORDINATE SYSTEM

• The units for longitude and
latitude are:
Degrees, Minutes, Seconds
One degree (°) = 1/360 orbit
One minute (’) = 1/60 degree
One second (”) = 1/60 minute

• Normally in GIS we calculate the positions of latitude &

longitude in decimal degree. So we must convert the minute
& second unit in degree.

• Convert this into degrees: 0.5 orbit 29.75 minute 15 seconds

** Orbit: 1 turn around the Earth = 3600

THANK YOU