| Abstract: | Attempts to represent a spherical surface on a plane sheet, so that individual points stand in a proper relation to each other as regards both distance and direction, have occupied cartographers since the time of Ptolemy. Later, as maps were required not only as an aid to travel by land or navigation by sea an increasing amount of detail had to be incorporated in them. By traditional methods this was a difficult and time-consuming process, but very recently the use of the computer has pointed the way to the production of better maps more quickly and more cheaply. |
