Map Projections

        The measurements from Washington D.C. and Kabul are measured in geodesic miles.

        Using these map projections made it clear that every map is going to have its own personality. Each map will have its own purpose and creator, leading to a very individualized map. The projections show how even the slightest change can bring about a miscalculation of almost anything on the earth's surface. An approximate answer is the only guarantee when measuring large areas of the earth's surface.

        Working with the different projections was very fun and interesting and it shows how powerful a map can be if using it for educational purposes. Each projection, even if the same time of map projection, will show a different version of the earth. It can be conformed and molded to better show the ideas and theories at hand. Each map will help others visualize what is being said and the information will be complimented differently with every projection.

      Seeing how every type of measurement (planar, geodesic and so on) was different proved that almost all information must be taken with a grain of salt. Everything must be taken as an approximation. All maps will carry some kind of rounded number, some kind of statistic and it is important to teach people this fact while showing them maps. All of the data can not be taken as truth, but merely as a tool to help us connect ideas and to understand these truths.

      The distance from Washington D.C and Kabul seems only significant if we can compare it against something we already know, something concrete and in our memory. For instance, measuring the distance from a location someone recently visited and their home then comparing that to the distance from Washington D.C. and Kabul would suddenly gain more importance. For we would understand the relationship. Just having the number, be it in miles or decimal degrees, does nothing for the human psyche. That is exactly what map making seems to all be about....not relaying information that might or might not be true; but connecting ideas to help better understand the relationship between things that were once seen as separate. This assignment proves that it is not the exact information that is important, but the ability to understand concepts and think outside of the box.