The Natural Earth II world map projection

Bojan Šavrič, Tom Patterson, Bernhard Jenny

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The Natural Earth II projection is a new compromise pseudocylindrical projection for world maps. The Natural Earth II projection has a unique shape compared to most other pseudocylindrical projections. At high latitudes, meridians bend steeply toward short pole lines resulting in a map with highly rounded corners that resembles an elongated globe. Its distortion properties are similar to most other established world map projections. Equations consist of simple polynomials. A user study evaluated whether map-readers prefer Natural Earth II to similar compromise projections. The 355 participating general map-readers rated the Natural Earth II projection lower than the Robinson and Natural Earth projections, but higher than the Wagner VI, Kavrayskiy VII and Wagner II projections.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)123-133
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Cartography
Volume1
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Natural Earth II projection
  • Map-reader preference
  • World projection
  • Natural Earth projection
  • Flex Projector

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