Which map projection is constructed by computing arc lengths along selected geographic meridians and along great circles perpendicular to that meridian and plotting these as rectangular coordinates on a plane?

• A. Conic map projection
• B. Chorographic map
• C. Cylindrical map projection
• D. Cassini map projection

Answer: (D)

This projection is defined by building the plane coordinates from two kinds of arc lengths: the distance along a chosen geographic meridian and the distance along great circles that cross that meridian at right angles. You then plot those two distances as the x and y coordinates on the plane. That exact method—using arc length along a central meridian and perpendicular great-circle directions to form a rectangular grid—is the hallmark of the Cassini projection. It creates a simple, Cartesian-like grid aligned with the central meridian, distinguishing it from cylindrical (where coordinates come directly from longitude and latitude), conic (which uses a cone surface), or other projections.