Map projection of BELGIUM - distorted. Please help

[DanHoralík]

Hello, I'm making a map of Belgium.

The problem is that every map of Belgium I have seen looks like this:http://postimg.org/image/fj5t91zvr/ [Belgium is quite "vertical".]. But the only thing I can do is this: http://postimg.org/image/va40wqdtl/ [Belgium is not "vertical" at all, it's rather "horizontal". It's distorted.]

Could you give me advice on how to change my map? I have ArcMap 10.1 trial version. I'm using this shapefile: http://leteckaposta.cz/841150880

In the Layer Properties, the Projected Coordinate System is Belge_Lambert_1972, the Geographic Coordinate System is GCS_Belge_1972. The Coordinate System in Data Frame Properties is Belge Lambert 1972.

Could you let me know, how exactly I can change this? Do I have to change the Projected or the Geographic or the Data Frame coordinate system. Which coordinate system should I choose for a "normal" map of Belgium? I'm very confused about this...

I would be happy for any help 🙂

[Anonymous User]

Original User: rborchert

I downloaded your shapefile and I think it is having issues.  Someone at some time incorrectly reprojected it and it does not want to conform to the proper shape.

I would suggest getting a new shape file for Belgium.

Hello, I'm making a map of Belgium.

The problem is that every map of Belgium I have seen looks like this:http://postimg.org/image/fj5t91zvr/ [Belgium is quite "vertical".]. But the only thing I can do is this: http://postimg.org/image/va40wqdtl/ [Belgium is not "vertical" at all, it's rather "horizontal". It's distorted.]

Could you give me advice on how to change my map? I have ArcMap 10.1 trial version. I'm using this shapefile: http://leteckaposta.cz/841150880

In the Layer Properties, the Projected Coordinate System is Belge_Lambert_1972, the Geographic Coordinate System is GCS_Belge_1972. The Coordinate System in Data Frame Properties is Belge Lambert 1972.

Could you let me know, how exactly I can change this? Do I have to change the Projected or the Geographic or the Data Frame coordinate system. Which coordinate system should I choose for a "normal" map of Belgium? I'm very confused about this...

I would be happy for any help 🙂

[DanHoralík]

@rborchert: Thank you for trying that! I will download it once more from GADM and try something again. It is possible, that I corrupted the file.

[Anonymous User · Accepted solution]

Original User: rborchert

When you get the shape file try opening it by itself in a new arcgis session.  see if it comes in correctly.

I have often had issue trying to change the projection on a shapefile in arc catalog.

My best experience has been to import it into a feature dataset that is set in the projection I want it to be in.

@rborchert: Thank you for trying that! I will download it once more from GADM and try something again. It is possible, that I corrupted the file.

[DanHoralík]

@ Robert Borchert: A miracle happened! I downloaded the shapefile again, opened it in ArcMap. It reported just the coordinate system "GCS WGS 1984". Then I went to Data Frame Properties and set the coordinate system there to WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31N. And it instantly worked! Now I have the intended shape of Belgium. Thank you a lot for your advice and remarks, it was very helpful. The idea, that the file may have been somehow corrupted, never came to my mind. It was also probably useful to set the coordinate system in the Data Frame, not in ArcCatalog. Thank you very much and have a nice day! Dan

[Anonymous User]

Original User: rborchert

Glad to hear it worked for you.

@ Robert Borchert: A miracle happened! I downloaded the shapefile again, opened it in ArcMap. It reported just the coordinate system "GCS WGS 1984". Then I went to Data Frame Properties and set the coordinate system there to WGS 1984 UTM Zone 31N. And it instantly worked! Now I have the intended shape of Belgium. Thank you a lot for your advice and remarks, it was very helpful. The idea, that the file may have been somehow corrupted, never came to my mind. It was also probably useful to set the coordinate system in the Data Frame, not in ArcCatalog. Thank you very much and have a nice day! Dan