ArcGIS Desktop

  • ArcGIS Pro
  • ArcMap

  • My Profile
  • Help
  • Sign Out
ArcGIS Desktop

ArcGIS Online

The mapping platform for your organization

ArcGIS Desktop

A complete professional GIS

ArcGIS Enterprise

GIS in your enterprise

ArcGIS Developers

Tools to build location-aware apps

ArcGIS Solutions

Free template maps and apps for your industry

ArcGIS Marketplace

Get apps and data for your organization

  • Documentation
  • Support
Esri
  • Sign In
user
  • My Profile
  • Sign Out

ArcMap

  • Home
  • Get Started
  • Map
  • Analyze
  • Manage Data
  • Tools
  • Extensions

Laborde oblique Mercator

  • Description
  • Projection properties
  • Usage
  • Limitations
  • Parameters
  • Sources

Description

The Laborde projection is one version of the oblique Mercator projection derivations. It is used for conformal mapping of areas that are obliquely oriented and do not follow a north-south or east-west trend.

The projection's formulas were presented by Jean Laborde in 1926. It is available in ArcGIS Pro 1.0 and later and in ArcGIS Desktop 10.0 and later.

An example of the Laborde oblique Mercator projection
The Laborde oblique Mercator projection centered on Madagascar is shown.

Projection properties

The subsections below describe the Laborde oblique Mercator projection properties.

Graticule

Laborde oblique Mercator is an oblique cylindrical projection. In general, the meridians and parallels are projected as complex curves. Only two meridians, exactly 180° apart, can be projected as straight lines, crossing the poles. Both poles are presented as a point inside the projection outline.

Distortion

Laborde oblique Mercator is a conformal map projection. It does not maintain true directions, but angles and shapes are maintained at infinitesimal scale. Distances are accurate along the central line if the scale factor is 1.0. If the scale factor is less than 1.0, there are two straight lines parallel to the central line with accurate scale. Area, distance, and scale distortions increase rapidly away from the central line or from two straight lines parallel to the central line.

Usage

The Laborde oblique Mercator projection is appropriate for mapping large-scale or smaller areas with oblique orientation that do not follow a north-south or east-west predominant extent. It is commonly used in Madagascar.

Limitations

The implementation of the Laborde oblique Mercator projection in ArcGIS is limited to show about two-thirds of a hemisphere around the center of the map.

Parameters

Laborde oblique Mercator parameters are as follows:

  • False Easting
  • False Northing
  • Scale Factor
  • Azimuth
  • Longitude Of Center
  • Latitude Of Center

Particular parameter cases

If the azimuth is 0° or 180°, the resulting projection appears as the transverse Mercator projection. Similarly, if the Latitude Of Center is set on the equator and the azimuth is either ±90°, the projection appears as the Mercator projection .

Sources

Geomatics Guidance Note number7, part 2: Coordinate Conversions and Transformations Including Formulas (2018). IOGP Publication 373-7-2.

Driencourt, L. & Laborde, J. P. (1932). Traité des projections des cartes géographiques à l'usage des cartographes et des géodésiens. Paris: Hermann et cie.

Projection Cartographique Gauss - Laborde (1995). Institut Geographique National. Available online: https://geodesie.ign.fr/contenu/fichiers/documentation/algorithmes/notice/NTG_73.pdf [accessed on 11 October 2018].

Snyder, J. P. (1993). Flattening the Earth. Two Thousand Years of Map Projections. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.

ArcGIS Desktop

  • Home
  • Documentation
  • Support

ArcGIS

  • ArcGIS Online
  • ArcGIS Desktop
  • ArcGIS Enterprise
  • ArcGIS
  • ArcGIS Developer
  • ArcGIS Solutions
  • ArcGIS Marketplace

About Esri

  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Esri Blog
  • User Conference
  • Developer Summit
Esri
Tell us what you think.
Copyright © 2021 Esri. | Privacy | Legal