Which projection is designed to preserve distance?

The equidistant projection is specifically designed to maintain accurate distances from one or multiple specific points on the map. This characteristic makes it particularly useful in applications where the measurement of distance is crucial, such as in aviation or certain types of geographic analysis. In equidistant projections, the scaling of distances is consistent along certain lines, allowing for true distance representations from those lines to any point on the map.

For example, if you're using an equidistant projection to determine the distance between two cities, the map will accurately reflect that distance in real-world terms, provided you're measuring along a designated line of distance. This makes equidistant projections valuable for planning routes where accurate distance calculations are necessary.

Other projection types, while useful for their specific purposes, do not focus on preserving distances. Conformal projections prioritize angle and shape preservation, making them ideal for navigation but potentially distorting distances away from certain points. Equal area projections emphasize maintaining accurate area relationships, which is beneficial for statistical representation but not for distance measurement. Azimuthal projections, while they can preserve distances from a central point, do not guarantee that all distances across the entire map are accurately represented.