PEOPLE AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE WORLD Mental Maps

Making Sense of the World Images of geographic space Based on: information and impressions “New Yorkers View of the World”

Mental Maps Our perception of places are more important than reality. our personal identity, provides a sense of place. Where do mental maps come from?  Experience, hearsay, media, books, friends/family, institutions (church/school)

Mental Maps Factors influencing perception  Distance  Distance decay: decrease knowledge with increasing distance  Who we are  Age, gender, race, ethnicity, wealth, experience  Groups  Religion, culture, nationality  Us vs. Them  Why is this important? Who cares about your mental maps?

Preference Maps Justify each of your 5 best and worst states What receives best results (states)? Why? What receives worst results (states)? Why?

Mapping – World View

Mapping Spatial representations of aspects of Earth Cartography – art and science of mapmaking Full of information Ripe for interpretation

Mapping Critical decisions 1. Projection – transferring a spherical surface to a flat map  Impossible to escape error  All maps lie flat, all flat maps lie

Mapping Projection is selected to:  Minimize distortion  Area, shape, distance, or direction 2. Simplification  Omission, exaggeration, distortion 3. Aggregation – think spatial association

Mapping 4. Map Type  General reference map – political vs. physical  Topographic – contour lines of elevation

Mapping Thematic Maps – highlight a particular feature or variable  Choropleth – shades of colors depict intensity of some variable

Mapping Thematic Maps  Proportional Symbol – size of symbol depicts intensity or size

Mapping Thematic Maps  Dot – number of dots depict density

Mapping Thematic Maps  Isoline – connect points of equal value (not just topographic)

Mapping Thematic Maps  Cartogram – space is distorted to show size of some variable

Mapping 5. Scale –relationship between the map distance and actual earth distance  Large scale – small area (more detail)  Small scale – large area (less detail)  Scale is shown as: Representative fraction 1/24,000 or 1:24,000 Verbal 1 inch = 400 miles Graphic Scale bar

Spatial Association at Various Scales Fig. 1-13: Death rates from cancer in the US, Maryland, and Baltimore show different patterns that can identify associations with different factors.

Cancer Death Rates in the U.S.

Cancer Death Rates in Maryland

Cancer Death Rates in Baltimore

Intro to Maps and GIS Maps Remote Sensing Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Fires in Southern California Source:

Latest World Earthquakes Map National Atlas of the United States

The Future?????