Earth maps and non-earth maps generally require different treatment. The following section on projections apply only to earth maps. An earth map contains objects that have a particular location on the earth's surface. All maps that MapInfo Pro sells are earth maps. Coordinates typically represent an object's location in longitude and latitude, although other coordinate systems (using various projections) may be used instead.
Sinusoidal (Equal-Area)
Use earth maps to:
- Overlay your map onto any maps that MapInfo Pro supplies.
- Use or change projections.
- Specify objects on the map in terms of longitude and latitude.
A non-earth map contains objects that have no specific location on the earth's surface. Floor plans are typical examples of non-earth maps. A non-earth map has a coordinate system, but since its map points are not referenced to locations on earth, the coordinate system does not contain a projection. Even though the floor plan describes a building that may be located somewhere on the Earth, the coordinates of objects in the floor plan are generally not referenced to positions on the Earth. Rather, the object's coordinates are referenced to the floor plan itself, generally representing distance from the lower left corner of the floor plan.