description Arthur Robinson Overview
Arthur Robinson was a 20th-century American cartographer best known for developing the Robinson projection in 1963. This projection minimizes distortion of landmass shapes and areas, making it widely used for world maps. National Geographic adopted it as their standard, and it remains popular among map users requiring accurate visual representation for geographic analysis and general reference.
help Arthur Robinson FAQ
What is the Robinson projection and who created it?
The Robinson projection is a pseudocylindrical map projection created by American geographer Arthur H. Robinson in 1963. It was designed specifically to minimize the visual distortion of landmass shapes and areas on world maps.
Why did Arthur Robinson create a new map projection?
Robinson was commissioned by the Rand McNally company in 1961 to create a map that looked more visually pleasing than existing projections like the Mercator. Instead of using strict mathematical formulas, he used a tabular coordinate system to manually balance distortions across the globe.
Did the Robinson projection gain mainstream institutional use?
Yes, the National Geographic Society famously adopted the Robinson projection as their standard world map projection in 1988. They used it extensively in their publications and maps until they replaced it with the Winkel tripel projection in 1998.
Where did Arthur Robinson teach and study cartography?
Robinson was a long-time professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he established a highly influential cartography program. He also wrote the definitive textbook "Elements of Cartography," which educated generations of modern mapmakers.
explore Explore More
Similar to Arthur Robinson
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
