Developable surface
From ICA Map Projections
Revision as of 15:01, 29 June 2006 by 131.118.85.16 (Talk)
a mathematically defined surface that can be flattened to form a plane without compressing or stretching any part of it such as a cone, cylinder, or plane. Today, the term is used as a conceptual aid in teaching students how map projections were 'developed' from a surface to a plane. Serves as one basis for classifying projections into conic, cylindric, and planar classes.