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Maps and Geographic Information Systems

Maps and Geographic Information Systems. Intro to Human Geography. What is a Map? . Two-dimensional representation or flat model of the Earth’s surface or a portion of it. What are the different uses of a map?. Political Maps. Thematic Maps.

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Maps and Geographic Information Systems

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  1. Maps and Geographic Information Systems Intro to Human Geography

  2. What is a Map? • Two-dimensional representation or flat model of the Earth’s surface or a portion of it. • What are the different uses of a map?

  3. Political Maps

  4. Thematic Maps • http://tipstrategies.com/archive/geography-of-jobs/ • http://healthmap.org/flugov/ A Map of Twitter’s Languages Mike McCandless & Eric Fischer

  5. Topographic Maps

  6. Fun Maps • Map of Metal • Strange Maps Blog • Maps as Art

  7. Alternative World Views

  8. SCALE Way of depicting the world in a reduced form. Two Kinds: • Cartographic scale : expresses ratio of distance on map to Earth. • Observational / methodological scale – levels of analysis. • Local, regional, national, international scales

  9. Four ways of Showing Cartographic Scale • As a ratio or fraction, depicting the relationship between the distance on the map and the distance in real life. • A written scale-an actual statement. • A graphic scale, which is usually a bar.

  10. Small scale maps have small land features, but more area is shown. Large scale maps show larger land features, but you see less area covered. Owu.edu

  11. The larger the denominator, the smaller the scale, and the larger the area shown.

  12. Place: Mathematical Location Location of any place can be described precisely by meridians and parallels ************************************** • Meridians (lines of longitude) • Prime meridian • Parallels (lines of latitude) • The equator Geographyalltheway.com

  13. Properties of a Globe Describe lines of latitude: Describe lines of longitude:

  14. Projections • Since the Earth is round, geographers have to find a way to get an accurate flat representation of the Earth’s features. • The projection is the process of transferring the features.

  15. Flattening the Earth

  16. Projection Families • See page 387

  17. Albers Equal Area

  18. Problems with Projections • The shape can be distorted. • The distance between two points can be increased or decreased. • The relative size of areas may be altered-so countries might look bigger than others when they shouldn’t. • The direction from one place to another can be distorted.

  19. A Perfect Map Would Perfectly depict: • Distance • Direction • Area • Shape • Proximity But it is not possible!

  20. Main point and Food for Thought • Making a map always involves a choice about what properties you are going to sacrifice, and what ones you are going to keep. • Cartographers have to consider the purpose for which the map they are making will be used.

  21. GPS and Remote Sensing • Satellites (Space), Tracking Stations (Control), and Receivers (Users) • Used by the military and by civilians • http://www.gps.gov • Video provided by the US Air Force

  22. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) • A computer program that can capture, store, query, analyze and display geographic data. • Data is “geocoded” or assigned a mathematical position on Earth. • A tool for creating maps or for spatial analyses. • More detail at: http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster/

  23. Geographic Information Systems

  24. GIS in Our Community • King County GIS http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/GIS/Maps/iMAP.aspx • Zillow www.zillow.com • Google Earth • Other Interactive Maps on the Web • Interested in free GIS software? http://www.qgis.org/

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