THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION OF THE SPHEROID

Abstract

In January 1940, in a paper entitled “The Transverse Mercator Projection: A Critical Examination” (E.S.R., v, 35, 285), the late Captain G. T. McCaw obtained expressions for the co-ordinates of a point on the Transverse Mercator projection of the spheroid which appeared to cast suspicion on the results originally derived by Gauss. McCaw considered, in fact, that his expressions gave the true measures of the co-ordinates, and that the Gauss method contained some invalidity. He requested readers to report any flaw that might be discovered in his work, but apparently no such flaw had been detected at the time of his death. It can be shown, however, that the invalidities are in McCaw's methods, and there seems no reason for doubting the results derived by the Gauss method.     

THE MODIFIED MERIDIAN DISTANCE IN THE CONICAL ORTHOMORPHIC PROJECTION

Abstract

Recently the writer of this article became interested in the conical orthomorphic projection and wanted to see a simple proof of the formula for the modified meridian distance for the projection on the sphere. Owing to the exigencies of the war, however, he has been separated from the bulk of his books, and, consequently, has had to evolve a proof for himself. Later, this proof was shown to a friend who told him that he had some memory of a mistake in the sign of the spheroidal term in m⁴given in “Survey Computations”, perhaps the first edition. Curiosity therefore suggested an attempt to verify this sign, which meant extending his work to the spheroid. This has now been done, with the result that the formula given in “Survey Computations”, up to the terms of the fourth order at any rate, is found correct after all.     

THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Abstract

I. Introduction.—Map projection is a branch of applied mathematics which owes much to J. H. Lambert (v. this Review, i, 2, 91). In his “Beyträge zum Gebrauche der Mathematik und deren Anwendung” (Berlin, 1772) he arrived at a form of projection whereof the Transverse Mercator is a special case, and pointed out that this special case is adapted to a country of great extent in latitude but of small longitudinal width. Germain (“Traité des Projections”, Paris, 1865) described it as the Projection cylindrique orthomorphe de Lambert, but he also introduced the name Projection de Mercator transverse or renversée; he shows that Lambert's treatment of the projection was remarkably simple.     

A TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION OF THE SPHEROID ALTERNATIVE TO THE GAUSS-KRÜGER FORM

Abstract

The excuse for yet another paper on the Transverse Mercator projection, which has already received what should be more than its fair share of space in this Review, can only be that there is a fresh viewpoint to offer. It is the purpose of this paper to show that there are, in fact, two “Transverse Mercator” projections of the spheroid, of which one has hitherto almost escaped notice.     

GRID BEARINGS AND DISTANCES ON THE CONICAL ORTHOMORPHIC PROJECTION

Abstract

When computing and adjusting traverses or secondary and tertiary triangulation in countries to which the Transverse Mercator projection has been applied, it is often more convenient to work directly in terms of rectangular co-ordinates on the projection system than it is to work in terms of geographical coordinates and then convert these later on into rectangulars. The Transverse Mercator projection is designed in the first place to cover a country whose principal extent is in latitude and hence work on it is generally confined to a belt, or helts, in which the extent of longitude on either side of the central meridian is so limited as seldom to exceed a width of much more than about 200 miles.     

The Lambert conical orthomorphic projection and computational stability

Mathematical equations to transform geodetic to grid coordinates on the Lambert conical orthomorphic projection are derived in a form stable enough to allow computations to be made on the Mercator and Polar Stereographic projections as special cases.     

TRANSFORMATION OF RECTANGULAR CO-ORDINATES ON THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Abstract

The necessity of transforming rectangular co-ordinates from one system of projection to another may arise from, various causes, One case, for example, with which the present writer is concerned involves the transformation, to the standard belt now in use, of the co-ordinates of some hundreds of points of a long existing triangulation projected a quarter of a, century ago on a, belt of Transverse Mercator projection, In this case conversion is complicated by the fact that the spheroid used in the original computation differs from that now adopted, and, also, the geodetic datums are not the same, The case in fact approaches the most general that can occur in practice, One step in one solution of this problem, however, is of perhaps wider Interest: that is, the transformation from one belt of Transverse Mercator projection to another when the spheroids and datums are identical. It is this special case which will be discussed here.     

Simple and highly accurate formulas for the computation of Transverse Mercator coordinates from longitude and isometric latitude

A conformal approximation to the Transverse Mercator (TM) map projection, global in longitude λ and isometric latitude q, is constructed. New formulas for the point scale factor and grid convergence are also shown. Assuming that the true values of the TM coordinates are given by conveniently truncated Gauss–Krüger series expansions, we use the maximum norm of the absolute error to measure globally the accuracy of the approximation. For a Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) zone the accuracy equals 0.21  mm, whereas for the region of the ellipsoid bounded by the meridians  ±20° the accuracy is equal to 0.3  mm. Our approach is based on a four-term perturbation series approximation to the radius r(q) of the parallel q, with a maximum absolute deviation of 0.43  mm. The small parameter of the power series expansion is the square of the eccentricity of the ellipsoid. This closed approximation to r(q) is obtained by solving a regularly perturbed Cauchy problem with the Poincaré method of the small parameter. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION: A CRITICAL EXAMINATION

Abstract

In January 1938 the writer decided against holding up for more years some work on the Transverse Mercator Projection (E.S.R., 27, 275). The extension to the spheroid was not then complete, nor is the present paper to be regarded as a logical continuance. It is first proposed to show the results of “transplanting” orthomorphically upon the spheroid a spherical configuration forming a graticule.     

A new companion for Mercator

The inappropriate use of the Mercator projection has declined but still occasionally occurs. One method of contrasting the Mercator projection is to present an alternative in the form of an equal area projection. The map projection derived here is thus not simply a pretty Christmas tree ornament: it is instead a complement to Mercator’s conformal navigation anamorphose and can be displayed as an alternative. The equations for the new map projection preserve the latitudinal stretching of the Mercator while adjusting the longitudinal spacing. This allows placement of the new map adjacent to that of Mercator. The surface area, while drastically warped, maintains the correct magnitude.     

THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION AND ITS APPLICATION TO TANGANYIKA TERRITORY

Abstract

The Transverse Mercator Projection is also called the Conformal of Gauss since it was devised by him in the early part of the nineteenth century in connexion with the Triangulation of Hanover. It belongs to the class of cylindrical orthomorphic projections. That is to say, the Earth's surface, or part thereof, is developed on the surface of a cylinder, and there is practically no angular distortion, an angle on the surface of the Earth being represented on the map by almost precisely the same angle. The representation of meridians and parallels, for instance, shows them intersecting at right angles as they actually do on the Earth's surface; but this orthotomic condition, though essential, is not in itself sufficient for orthomorphism.     

MARGINAL SCALES OF LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE ON TRANSVERSE MERCATOR MAPS

Abstract

The problem of computing marginal scales of latitude and longitude on a rectangular map on the Transverse Mercator projection, where the sheet boundaries are projection co-ordinate lines, may be solved in various ways. A simple method is to compute the latitudes and longitudes of the four corners of the sheet, and then, assuming a constant scale, to interpolate the parallels and meridians between these corner values. Although it is probably sufficiently accurate for practical purposes, this method is not precise. It is not difficult to adapt the fundamental formulce of the projection to give a direct solution of the problem.     

Geodetic grids in authoritative maps – new findings about the origin of the UTM Grid

ABSTRACT

Recent discoveries of Wehrmacht Maps in the Military Archive of the Federal Archive of Germany in Freiburg im Breisgau raised the motivation for further investigations into the history of the internationally employed Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection which actually represents a prerequisite for the global use of Global Positioning System (GPS) – and thus of any type of navigation – instruments. In contrast to the frequently stated opinion that this map projection was first operationally used by U.S. Americans it turned out that presumably the first operational maps with indication of the orthogonal UTM grid were produced by German Wehrmacht officers prior to the post World War (WW) II triumph of this projection. Based on the authors´ recent discoveries this article reveals some hitherto hardly known facts concerning the history of cartography of the 1940s.     

TRANSVERSE MERCATOR FORMULAE

Abstract

The Transverse Mercator Projection, now in use for the new O.S. triangulation and mapping of Great Britain, has been the subject of several recent articles in the “Empire Surpey Review. The formulae of the projection itself have been given by various writers, from Gauss, Schreiber and Jordan to Hristow, Tardi, Lee, Hotine and others—not, it is to be regretted, with complete agreement, in all cases. For the purpose for which these formulae have hitherto been employed, in zones of restricted width and in relatively low latitudes, the completeness with which they were given was adequate, and the omission of certain smaller terms, in the fourth and higher powers of the eccentricity, was of no practical importance. In the case of the British grid, however, we have to cover a zone which must be considered as having a total width of some ten to twelve degrees of longitude at least, and extending to latitude 61 °north. This means, firstly, that terms which have as their initial co-efficients the fourth and sixth powers of the longitude ω (or of y) will be of greater magnitude than usual, and secondly that tan² ? and tan⁴ ? are likewise greatly increased. Lastly, an inspection of the formulae (as hitherto available) shows a definite tendency for the numerical co-efficients of terms to increase as the terms themselves decrease—e.g. terms in η⁴, η⁶, etc.     

THE CLARKE FORMULÆ FOR LATITUDE,LONGITUDE AND REVERSE AZIMUTH,WITH CORRECTIVE TERMS FOR USE ON VERY LONG LINES

Abstract

This extremely simple and elegant method of computing geographical co-ordinates, given the initial azimuth and length of line from the standpoint, was published by Col. A. R. Clarke in 1880. There is no other known method giving the same degree of accuracy with the use of only three tabulated spheroidal factors. Clarke himself regarded this as an approximate formula (vide his remark in section 5, p. 109, “Geodesy”); but as this article demonstrates, it is capable of a high degree of precision in all occupied lati tudes when certain corrections are applied to the various terms. These corrections are comparatively easy to compute, require no further spheroidal factors, and some of them may be tabulated directly once and for all.     

THE MERCATOR PROJECTION AND THE RHUMB LINE

Abstract

Introductory Remarks.—A line of constant bearing was known as a Rhumb line. Later Snel invented the name Loxodrome for the same line. The drawing of this line on a curvilinear graticule was naturally difficult and attempts at graphical working in the chart-house were not very successfuL Consequently, according to Germain, in 1318 Petrus Vesconte de Janua devised the Plate Carree projection (“Plane” Chart). This had a rectilinear graticule and parallel meridians, and distances on the meridians were made true. The projection gave a rectilinear rhumb line; but the bearing of this rhumb line was in general far from true and the representation of the earth's surface was greatly distorted in high latitudes. For the former reason it offered no real solution of the problem of the navigator, who required a chart on which any straight line would be a line not alone of constant bearing but also of true bearing; the first condition necessarily postulated a chart with rectilinear meridians, since a meridian is itself a rhumb line, and for the same reason it postulated rectilinear parallels. It follows, therefore, that the meridians also must be parallel inter se, like the parallels of latitude. The remaining desideratum—that for a true bearing—was attained in I569 by Gerhard Kramer, usually known by his Latin name of Mercator, in early life a pupil of Gemma Frisius of Louvain, who was the first to teach triangulation as a means for surveying a country. Let us consider, then, that a chart is required to show a straight line as a rhumb line of true bearing and let us consider the Mercator projection from this point of view.     

基于改进Web墨卡托投影的瓦片地图服务设计与实现

为解决网络地理信息应用二、三维一体化显示需要,通常做法是处理并存储两套不同投影的地图瓦片数据,一套采用Web墨卡托投影,面向二维地图应用;一套采用经纬度坐标,面向三维地图应用。这在一定程度上降低数据处理效率、浪费存储资源。文中提出一种改进Web墨卡托地图投影方法,并设计一种面向影像地图和DEM数据的瓦片化方法。方法生成的影像地图瓦片数据既能同时面向二维地图和三维可视化场景使用,又有效解决Web墨卡托投影不支持高纬度地区栅格地图表达的缺陷。将新型的地图投影和数据模型通过瓦片地图服务系统进行验证,证明这种新改进的投影和影像,以及DEM瓦片化方法具备较高的实用性。     

MINOR TRIANGULATION ON THE TRANSVERSE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Abstract

In a previous article in this Review, the writer endeavoured to show that chains of minor triangulation could be adjusted by plane rectangular co-ordinates ignoring the spherical form of the earth with little loss of accuracy, provided that the two ends were held fixed in position. It was demonstrated that the plane co-ordinates produced by the rigorous adjustment between the fixed starting and closing sides, differ by only a comparatively small amount from the projection co-ordinates produced by a rigorous adjustment on the Transverse Mercator projection. The saving in time when computing by plane co-ordinates as opposed to rigorous computation on the projection by any method will be apparent to any computer with experience of both methods.     

契比雪夫投影的研究

根据等角投影理论,推导出了契比雪夫投影公式的具体形式,并对契比雪夫投影在制作中国全图的应用和变形与等角方位投影、等角圆锥投影进行了比较分析.结果表明,契比雪夫投影要优于等角方位投影和等角圆锥投影.     

高速铁路精密工程控制测量精度研究

高速铁路轨道控制测量采用精密控制测量技术,采用斜轴墨卡托投影可以避免高斯投影投影带可控范围小,坐标转换和分带计算的问题,对于东西走向的线路能很好地控制投影长度变形。文章以长吉高铁控制测量数据,实现斜轴墨卡托投影,经过其投影精度的探讨,确定斜轴墨卡托投影能满足高铁精密控制测量的精度要求。