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Get Started with Mapping Toolbox

Analyze and visualize geographic information

Mapping Toolbox™ provides algorithms and functions for transforming geographic data and creating maps. You can visualize data in a geographic context using map projections and transform it into or out of a consistent geographic coordinate reference system. The toolbox enables you to access map data from web map servers, or import raster and vector formats such as GeoTIFF, GRIB, DTED, Shapefile, KML, and Esri Geodatabase.

Mapping Toolbox supports a variety of workflows for managing geographic data, including data processing techniques such as clipping, interpolation, and resampling. You can focus your location-based analysis using Area of Interest (AOI) tools or geocoding. The toolbox enables plotting with basemaps in both online and offline environments, and you can combine data with base map layers from multiple sources in a single map display. You can export data in file formats such as Shapefile, GeoTIFF, and KML.

Tutorials

About Mapping

  • What Is a Map?

    A map is a representation of geographic data. Map data represents a set of geographic locations or properties.

  • What Is Geospatial Data?

    Geospatial data represents positions on the surface of a planet through ordered coordinate pairs or in matrix format.

  • Vector Geodata

    Vector geodata consists of sequentially ordered pairs of geographic (latitude, longitude) or projected (x,y) coordinate pairs.

  • Raster Geodata

    Raster geodata represents map data in matrix format.

  • Latitude and Longitude

    Latitude and longitude specify the position of a point on the surface of a planet.

  • Shape of the Earth

    You can model the Earth using a perfect sphere, an ellipsoid, an oblate spheroid, or a geoid.

  • Map Projections and Distortions

    A map projection transforms a curved surface such as the Earth onto a two-dimensional plane. All map projections introduce distortions compared to maps on globes.

Videos

How to Get Started with Mapping Toolbox in MATLAB

How to Get Started with Mapping Toolbox in MATLAB
Create maps and visualize geographic data using Mapping Toolbox. For example, create plots using geographic axes and map axes, display features such as cities and rivers, and add custom icons that represent points of interest.