1. What are the names of the different types of map below?

2. What is scale? Why is scale important for examining a map.

3. National Scale – Great Lakes and South have higher cancer rates – cancer rates spatially associated with distribution of factories

5. What factors may account for the differences of cancer incidence?

6. CONSIDER THE MAP
The 2016 electoral vote.

7. CONSIDER THESE MAPS
The electoral vote by county.

8. Based on these maps, why does the study of scale matter so much for a geographer? What would happen if percentages were used to aggregate data versus using raw numbers?

9. Data Aggregation– Electoral Maps
Aggregation - the size of the unit under investigation such as cities,
counties, states, or countries
Aggregation can obscure regional disparities within certain
territories and doesn’t usually include population density among
other measures.
Maps created by BIASED people = BIASED information!!
Manipulation!!

10. How Do Maps Lie? Projections:
representation of the Earth’s surface (three dimensional) on a two-dimensional flat surface.
“all maps lie flat, and all flat maps lie”
S.hape A.rea D.istance D.irection
All are distorted – most accurate in center
Different Lies…
4 types of distortions:
- Shape
- Area
- Distance
- Direction from one place to another can be distorted

11. Map Projection Mercator projection Robinson projection
Azimuthal or polar projection
Van Der Grinten
Dymaxion projection
Equal Area projection

12. Map Projection: Mercator
All compass bearings (directions) are correct
British Empire used it
Grossly exaggerates area as you move away from equator (bad with size and shape)
EX. Reagan loved exaggerating Soviet Union as threat
Unpopular among equatorial countries

13. Mercator
Thumbs down vs. Middle Finger

14. Map Projection: Robinson
Better portrays the relationship between land and water areas in world and does not distort countries at high latitudes nearly as much
Golden map for most geographers

15. Robinson Projection

16. Azimuthal/Polar Projection
Shows true direction and shape
Distorts size

17. Map Projection: Van Der Grinten
Portrays Russia and Canada over 200% larger than they actually are

18. Van Der Grinten Projection

19. Dymaxion
Attempts to show global connections of all humanity rather than disassociated countries and places competing against each other

21. Map Projection: Mollweide – Equal Area
Attempts to preserve the area of map features and avoid high-latitude distortions
Excellent with size/shape
Bad w/ direction & distance
Many international agencies like World Bank – try to depict more accurately relationships between countries, not biasing any one region

22. Equal Area Projection

23. What’s Wrong with this map?
Galls-Peter Projection (West Wing)

24. Projection Review
Which map projection would be best for navigation across the seas because it shows the distance of oceans more accurately?
Which map projection shows the continents more accurately?
Which map is seen as the golden map for geographers and why?

25. Contemporary Tools
1. Geographic Information Systems GIS
Computer system that can capture, store, query, analyze, and display geographic data
Key is GEOCODING = position of any object on Earth can be measured & recorded with mathematical precision & then stored in computer to retrieve a number of stored objects & combine them to form image
More efficient than pen and paper

26. Geographic Information Systems GIS
Each type of info can be stored in a layer – create a wide variety of maps by turning on and off different layers
Layers can be used to show relationships among different kinds of info

27. ARC View GIS Food and Environment Atlas:
ArcGIS from ESRI, Featured Maps:

28. Contemporary Tools
2. Remote Sensing – pictures taken from above Earth’s crust (usually in satellites)
- Interest in using it environmentally like mapping distribution of urban sprawl and agricultural practices

29. Contemporary Tools Precise location (mathematical location)
3. GPS (Global Positioning Systems)
Precise location (mathematical location)
Navigation primary purpose
Surveillance
Used in GIS

30. Examining Maps
As you examine the various maps, think about the choices the cartographers made and answer the following questions.
Why did the cartographer chose the colors or colors used on the map?
Why did the cartographer choose the particular symbols used on the map?
Is there some form of data that the cartographer chose to place on the map? If so, what is it? Why do you think he/she included the data?
Do you find the map useful? What are some of the map’s advantages and limitations?