The Mercator map is conformal, which means shapes are preserved, but actual sizes are distorted. The Mercator map was developed in 1569 by Gerardus Mercator, a Flemish cartographer. (Hulton Archive | Getty Images)Patterson said institutions may choose to use the Mercator map so that when users zoom in, a circular object doesn’t become an oval, for example. Google Maps made the Mercator map optional on its desktop version in 2018, a company spokesperson said. Organizers of the Correct The Map campaign s say they’ve reached out to the United Nations to assist in its mission to replace the Mercator map.