About Azimuthal Map

What is Azimuthal Map?

Azimuthal Map is a free online tool that lets you generate azimuthal equidistant and Lambert azimuthal equal-area projections centered on any point on Earth. Unlike traditional world maps that distort distances and directions, these azimuthal projections reveal the world from a specific perspective—showing true compass bearings and either accurate distances or accurate area representations from your chosen center point.

Whether you're a ham radio operator calculating antenna bearings, a pilot planning great-circle routes, a cartographer creating thematic maps, an educator teaching geography, or simply curious about how the world looks from your perspective, this tool makes professional cartographic projections accessible to everyone.

Our Mission

Most world maps use projections optimized for navigation or general reference, but they don't show how the world relates to your location. We built Azimuthal Map to fill that gap—to give anyone the ability to create publication-quality azimuthal projections without specialized GIS software or cartographic expertise.

We believe that understanding geography means more than memorizing country names. It means grasping spatial relationships: How far is Tokyo from São Paulo? What direction would you point an antenna to reach Australia? Why does a flight from New York to Hong Kong pass over the Arctic? Azimuthal projections answer these questions intuitively, and we want to make them accessible to everyone.

What We Offer

  • Two Projection Types: Generate azimuthal equidistant maps (preserving distance from center) or Lambert equal-area maps (preserving relative area).
  • Custom Map Generation: Create projections centered on any coordinates—enter an address, click on a map, or type latitude/longitude directly.
  • Educational Resources: In-depth explanations of map projections, their history, mathematical foundations, and practical applications.
  • Distance & Bearing Visualization: See true great-circle distances and compass directions with optional distance rings and graticules.
  • Downloadable Maps: Export your custom projections as high-resolution PNG or SVG files for presentations, education, or personal use.
  • 100% Free: No account required, no hidden fees, no watermarks—just open the tool and start exploring.

How It Works

The map generator runs entirely in your browser using modern web technologies. When you select a center point, the application calculates the azimuthal projection mathematically and renders it in real-time using D3.js, a powerful JavaScript library for data visualization.

The projection formulas follow the mathematical definitions established in cartographic literature, including the authoritative USGS Professional Paper 1395: Map Projections—A Working Manual by John P. Snyder. For the azimuthal equidistant projection, distances from the center are calculated using the spherical law of cosines; for the Lambert equal-area, a modified radial scaling ensures area preservation across the entire map.

Data Sources

The geographic data displayed on our maps comes from Natural Earth, a public domain dataset maintained by the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS). We use the 1:110 million scale dataset, which provides an excellent balance between detail and performance for world-scale projections.

Location search is powered by the Nominatim geocoding service, which uses OpenStreetMap data. This allows you to search for cities, addresses, landmarks, and geographic features by name.

Accuracy & Limitations

Our projections use a spherical Earth model with a radius of 6,371 km (the mean radius). This is accurate enough for visualization and educational purposes. For precision surveying or geodetic applications requiring sub-meter accuracy, you would need software that accounts for Earth's ellipsoidal shape (such as the WGS84 ellipsoid).

The 1:110 million scale coastlines and borders are generalized for global views. Small islands, intricate coastlines, and minor border details may be simplified. For detailed regional mapping, consider using GIS software with higher-resolution datasets.

Explore More

Enjoy exploring different perspectives of our planet? Check out our sister site Antipode Finder, where you can discover what's on the exact opposite side of the Earth from any location.

Have questions, feedback, or suggestions? We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Contact page to get in touch.