3

Anyone have any idea how to create (or where to find) the Waterman "Butterfly" projection in ArcMap?

Improve this question
2

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

ESRI does not offer a way to use a waterman projection/datum because the Waterman Butterfly is converted from a sphere to a polyhedral conversion and all other projections are dependent on major axis, minor axis, semimajor axis, semiminor axis, and inverse flattening for sphere to ellipsoid conversion (technically using the following: ellipsoid, cone, or cylinder geometry). ESRI would need to do some dev work to grant users the ability to add dimensions and use other geometry for projections/datums that are non-standard. For example, currently you cannot modify inverse flattening and make your own projection in esri. In other platforms you can. ESRI does provide software developers kits for android, iOS, Java, .NET, OSX, Qt, Xamarin if you wanted to leverage developement outside of ESRI. Also, it could be done in open source like gdal ogr2ogr or quantumgis with a custom .py or c++ library. I hope this helps.

Improve this answer
3
  • this appears to be a comment on the answer not an answer in its own right. You should edit you answer so it is more of an answer rather than a comment, otherwise it risks being deleted
    – nmtoken
    Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 15:27
  • @prometheus I'm having trouble understanding the first part of your answer. It's more usual to convert from ellipsoid to sphere (because a projection doesn't support ellipsoids) but we also need inverse methods so that a projection can be used for rasters and vectors. We support a few polyhedral projection so that's not an issue. You can create custom pcs, gcs, datums, and "spheroids." I work for Esri on the projection engine.
    – mkennedy
    Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 19:25
  • Fee free to email me if you're having particular problems or have questions about support for a particular projection. mkennedy at the esri domain.
    – mkennedy
    Commented Oct 12, 2016 at 19:38
2

I don't think ArcMap offers transformation into such a projection; I searched around a bit and can't find an EPSG for Waterman's or Cahill's original butterfly, octahedral map.

Something that you might find useful is the Cahill-Keyes projection, by @Gene Keyes. The two topics in which he has posted should give you somewhat of a starting point. No ArcMap implementation, but there is a Javascript one.

Good luck!

Improve this answer
2
  • 5
    Esri does not support the Waterman, Cahill, nor Cahill-Keyes projections. I didn't find any enhancement requests for them either. As another Q/A pointed out, the Fuller projection is a possible alternative. Note: I'm the projections person at Esri.
    – mkennedy
    Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 21:22
  • 2
    @mkennedy, thanks for the heads-up. I added the idea on the ArcGIS Ideas website: c.na9.visual.force.com/apex/…
    – HasecBinUsr
    Commented Oct 30, 2013 at 21:39

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.