Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Practice Exam

In which type of projection is a cone used to create the map?

1. Internal mapping projection

2. Lambert projection

3. Mercator projection

4. Cylindrical projection

The correct answer is: Lambert projection

The correct answer is the Lambert projection, which is a type of conic projection. This means that a cone is conceptually placed over the Earth, and the map is created by projecting the surface features of the globe onto the cone. This method is particularly useful for mapping areas that are elongated east-to-west, such as the continental United States or regions of Europe. The Lambert projection preserves angles, which makes it a conformal projection, ensuring that the shapes of small areas are represented accurately. This characteristic is important in applications like aviation and navigation, where accurate angles are critical for flight paths and course plotting. Understanding the structure of other projection types helps clarify why they are different. The Mercator projection, for example, is a cylindrical projection that maintains straight lines and angles but distorts size, especially near the poles. Similarly, the cylindrical projection refers to a category that does not specifically employ conic shapes like the Lambert projection does. Internal mapping projection isn't a commonly recognized term in the context of map projections, contributing to its distinction from the Lambert projection.