What technique is used to mitigate distortion in UTM projections?

The technique used to mitigate distortion in UTM projections involves specific principles related to the projection system itself, particularly how the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection is designed to minimize distortion over small areas. UTM divides the world into a series of zones, each having its own projection surface, allowing for more accurate representations of features in those zones. This approach effectively reduces errors related to distance, area, shape, and direction.

Focusing on B, UTM distortion mitigation reflects the inherent design of UTM as a conformal projection, which maintains angles and shapes at small scales. This characteristic is crucial for applications that require accurate measurements for navigation and land surveying.

Other choices do not accurately describe the UTM system's methods. Projection adjustment implies a more general technique that may not specifically relate to UTM systems. Map scaling typically refers to changing the size and does not address inherent projection distortions, while feature compression generally relates to data simplification and might not necessarily be tied to the geometric integrity maintained in UTM projections. Thus, the correct answer recognizes the specific mechanisms of UTM to alleviate distortion as effectively as possible.