1. Geographic Tools/Concepts

2. “Geography is the study of where places are
“Geography is the study of where places are. The geographer’s tools are a map and compass.”

3. Think about it…
You want to open an expensive children’s clothing store. Make a list of things you would consider when selecting the location for your store. In other words, describe what or whom should it be nearby.

4. Scientific Approach SONAR Landsat Program GPS Mapping GIS
SOund NAvigation and Ranging
Landsat Program
GPS
Network of 24 Satellites…atomic time
Mapping
GIS

6. Landsat Program

7. GPS

8. Globe v. Map
Peel an orange into four equal pieces and lay the pieces side by side on a flat surface. Observe how the landmasses fit together.

9. Good Map Elements (DOGSTAILS)
Date—when map was made
Orientation—directions
Grid—locates places on map
Scale—map distance
Title—what, where, when
Author—who made map
Index—map address of places
Legend—what the symbols mean
Sources—basis for map information

10. Latitude
Equator marks the zero degree parallel and is fixed by the laws of nature
Sailors measured latitude by length of day, height of sun, or known guide stars
Angle measured north or south from equator from 0° to 90°
Chicago--42° N

11. Longitude
Prime Meridian location is a political decision—Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England
Longitude measured by time—each hour’s time difference between ship and home port indicated 15 degrees
Intersect parallels at right angles
Measured east or west 0° to 180°
New York City--74° W

12. Map Scale
Relationship between distance on the map and distance on the ground
Usually written as a fraction or ratio
1:10,000 or 1/10,000 (1 inch of measurement on the map equals 10,000 of same units on ground)

13. Map Scales (from USGS.com)
1 to 24,000 scale
1 to 250,000 scale
1 to 100,000 scale

14. Reference Maps
A Reference map displays the boundaries, names and unique identifiers of standard geographic areas, as well as major cultural and physical features, such as roads, railroads, coastlines, rivers and lakes.
Political
Physical
Satellite
Topographic

19. Thematic Maps Choropleth Cartogram
A thematic map is a map that emphasizes a particular theme or special topic such as the average distribution of rainfall in an area. They are different from general reference maps because they do not just show natural features like rivers, cities, political subdivisions and highways.
Choropleth
Cartogram

24. Why we have different maps
Distortion exists with flat maps so cartographers use different projections to preserve selected properties (shape, size, distance, direction)

25. Map Projections Mercator Projection
Good for navigation at sea because of straight lat/long lines
Renders Greenland as large as South America (yet 1/8 of size)
Flemish cartographer (1500s)

26. Map Projections Robinson Projection
Accurate depiction of continent’s sizes and shapes
Distortion greatest at poles

27. Map Projection J. Paul Goode (1923) Homolosine Equal-Area Projection
Less distorted land masses by giving up continuous oceans

28. Map Projection Polar Used mostly to show one hemisphere at a time
Accurate for distance
and direction

29. What is GIS? Technology to analyze spatial data
Identifies patterns, linkages, trends
Store, manipulate, and project geographical data in sophisticated ways
Combines layers of information to give a better understanding of place
Interactive mapping

30. Data for GIS Base Maps Business Maps and Data
Streets and highways, rivers and lakes, parks and landmarks, place names, boundaries
Business Maps and Data
Census/demography, consumer products, financial services, health care, real estate, crime, transportation, telecommunications

31. Data for GIS Environmental Maps and Data General Reference Maps
Weather, environmental risk, satellite imagery, topography, natural resources
General Reference Maps
World and country maps

32. What Can You Do With GIS? Map where things are
Map quantities (# children under18)
Map densities (census)
Find what’s inside (monitor drug arrests near schools)
Find what’s nearby (flooding zone)
Map change over time

33. GIS in the Community
Map crime incidents to reveal need for increased police patrols
Map work locations to provide services such as ATM machines
Map school age children to determine daycare needs
Map land use to determine need for green space

34. Sample GIS Maps

35. GIS in Today’s World Study the effects of global warming
Nashville Electric—automate facilities
Florida Power and Light—track weather fronts and hurricanes
Timberline Inc.—visual and biological impact of forestry
Himalayas—melting of glaciers

36. Answering Questions with GIS
Frame a question
Where were most of the burglaries last month?
Select data
Government organizations, commercial data providers, Internet
Choose analysis method
Map individual crimes; map crime over time period
Process data
Location, quantity, area measurement
Display results and take action