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. The two projections preserve different properties: azimuthal equidistant preserves distance and direction from the center, while Lambert azimuthal equal-area preserves relative area.
The tool is intended for practical cartography, education, geographic exploration, radio and bearing maps, route visualization, and thematic mapping. Maps can be centered on a searched location or custom coordinates and exported for use elsewhere.
Why the Site Exists
Most familiar world maps are built around a fixed global layout. Azimuthal projections answer a different kind of question: how does the world relate to a particular point? A center can be a city, airport, transmitter, field site, or simply a location someone wants to explore.
Azimuthal Map combines an interactive generator with practical articles on projection choice, distortion, map construction, and cartographic use. The aim is to make the underlying projection properties visible rather than treating the map as a black box.
What We Offer
- Two Projection Types: Generate azimuthal equidistant maps or Lambert azimuthal equal-area maps.
- Custom Map Generation: Center a projection by search, map interaction, or latitude and longitude.
- Educational Resources: Explanations of projection properties, history, distortion, and practical uses.
- Distance & Bearing Visualization: Add distance rings, graticules, and center-based directional context.
- Downloadable Maps: Export custom projections as PNG or SVG files.
- Free Access: No account is required to use the generator.
How It Works
The map generator runs in the browser and renders projections with D3.js. When the center changes, the projection is recalculated and the map is redrawn around the selected latitude and longitude.
The projection formulas follow established cartographic definitions, including those documented in USGS Professional Paper 1395: Map Projections - A Working Manual by John P. Snyder. The site uses a spherical Earth model for visualization and educational use rather than ellipsoidal geodesy intended for surveying-grade measurements.
Data Sources
Geographic features come from Natural Earth, a public domain dataset maintained by the North American Cartographic Information Society (NACIS). The site uses generalized world-scale data so projections remain responsive in the browser.
Location search is powered by Nominatim, which uses OpenStreetMap data.
Accuracy & Limitations
The generator uses a spherical Earth model with a radius of 6,371 km. This is appropriate for the site's visualization and educational purposes, but it is not a substitute for ellipsoidal geodesic calculations when surveying or high-precision measurement is required.
World-scale coastlines and borders are generalized. Small islands, intricate coastlines, and minor border details may be simplified, and every flat map projection introduces distortion outside the properties it is designed to preserve.
Explore More
To explore the point on the opposite side of Earth from a location, visit Antipode Finder.
Questions, corrections, and suggestions can be sent through the Contact page.