1. AP Human Geography
Intro to APHG
Maps
Spatial Thinking

2. "
"As a young man, my fondest dream was to become a geographer. However, while working in the customs office I thought deeply about the matter and concluded it was too difficult a subject. With some reluctance I then turned to physics as a substitute."

3. Geography “Geo”= Earth, “Graphy”= to write
Geography is divided into two categories
Physical: natural forces such as climates, landforms, types of vegetation
Human: where human activities are located such as industry, religion, language, etc.
In AP Human Geography we are concerned with Where and Why?

4. Maps
Maps are the primary tools geographers use to display and analyze information.
Geography is distinguished from other subjects by its reliance on maps.
Today you will be looking at the different ways in which maps display information and are designed.

5.  Type of Map (thematic* or reference)
Maps: Two-dimensional, scaled representations of Earth surface - show spatial data (data with locational component)`
Cartography (map-making) involves 4 design decisions – based on purpose of map
 Projection
 Scale
 Aggregation
 Type of Map (thematic* or reference)
DISCUSSION:
* Break this definition down and explain what each part means.

6. Systematic methods of transferring a spherical surface to a flat map
Sample Map Projections
Systematic methods of transferring a spherical surface to a flat map
Distortion must occur in either size, shape, distance, or direction – all projections are compromises
Mercator
DISCUSSION:
* How are these two map projections different?
* Which do you prefer? Which one is more popular?
Robinson
Polar

7. (They distort shapes to make sizes correct.)
Equal-Area projections best where purpose is to compare distributions of a variable between places
(They distort shapes to make sizes correct.)
What impressions do you get from this map?

8. Larger-scale shows less land area in more detail. Used on local maps.
The ratio of map distance to earth distance, measured in the same units
Map Scale
smaller scale
Sample Area Covered Fraction Scale Verbal Scale
World 1:78,000,000 1 in = 1,250 mi
No. America 1:36,000,000 1 in = mi
Central U.S. 1: 4,000,000 1 in = mi
AAA Colo map 1: 1,267,200 1 in = mi
larger scale
Smaller-scale shows more land area in less detail. Used to show global patterns.
Larger-scale shows less land area in more detail. Used on local maps.

9. The scale at which one analyzes an issue is critical
DIA – Only major U.S. airport built since 1980
At the national scale, why did the location of this airport make sense?
At the local scale, why was it necessary to locate the airport where it is?
DISCUSSION:
* Think about the nearest major airport to where you live. How close is it to the center of the city whose name it carries?
* Can you think of examples around the country where the airport is not even in the city whose name it carries? Why is this?
* Does this issue matter when viewing a map at the national scale? Urban scale?

10. Which of the following maps of Chicago is small-scale and which one is large-scale?

11. Map Aggregation
The level of detail for dividing a thematic map into geographic units
Ranges from coarse divisions (e.g., by countries) to fine divisions (e.g., by zip codes)
DISCUSSION:
* Is it likely that educational levels within California are the same in all parts of the state?
* Are there parts of your state or province that you think probably have a higher than average percentage of Bachelor's degrees?
Percent of 1990 pop age 25+ with bachelor's degree
Data aggregated by State

12. Note what information is lost at higher levels of aggregation
Percent of pop age 25+
with bachelor's degree (1990)
Note what information is lost at higher levels of aggregation
Aggregated by State (northeast close-up)
Aggregated by County (WV, MA)
DISCUSSION:
* What can you learn about educational levels within West Virginia and Massachusetts on the local map that you can't see on the national map?

13. 2004 Presidential Election Red = Bush; Blue = Kerry
State results, by land area
County results, by land area
State results, by population
County results, by population
Source: M. Gastner, C. Shalizi, and M. Newman, University of Michigan

14. 2004 Presidential Election
Red = Solidly Bush (70% +)
Purples = divided … redder = Bush majority; bluer = Kerry majority
Blue = Solidly Kerry (70%+)
By land area
By population
Source: M. Gastner, C. Shalizi, and M. Newman, University of Michigan

15. THEMATIC MAPS – depict characteristics of places
Categorical type
- Depict areas that are different in kind
- Use several distinct colors to show different categories
desert forest tundra
Examples: climates, religions
Choropleth type
- Depict areas that are different in amount
- Use shades of similar colors to show different values
high value medium low value
Examples: population density, literacy rates

16. Example of “categorical map”

17. Example of “choropleth map”
Human Development Index (HDI) Rankings
Includes GNI/PPP, Literacy, and Life Expectancy
Which regions have high HDI?
Which regions have low HDI?
Which places are exceptions?

18. Isoline type (Average Daily Solar Radiation)
Lines connect points of equal value
DISCUSSION:
* Do you have a preference among these two types of maps?
* Do you find one of these easier to understand than the other?
Dot Density type (Wisconsin Acreage in Potatoes)
Each dot represents a frequency of mapped variable

19. Proportional Symbol Map (Graduated Circle type)
Size of symbol varies in relation to frequency or intensity of the mapped variable
DISCUSSION:
* What are some of the advantages of each of the four types of thematic maps?
Proportional Symbol Map (Flow Vector type)

21. Spot any spatial correlations?
Middle & South America Agricultural Regions (left) and Population Density (below)
Spot any spatial correlations?

22. QUESTIONS?
WHERE CAN YOU FIND THIS POWER POINT?

23. (Phil Gersmehl, Research in Geographic Education, 2006)
Spatial Thinking
(Phil Gersmehl, Research in Geographic Education, 2006)

24. Quick mapping activity – example of identifying changes in a spatial pattern, reasons for the changes, and consequences of these changes
With a partner, map the following (on the same map):
1. Use a diamond symbol  for the cities in which there was a Major League Baseball team in (16 teams).
2. Use a different symbol for the locations of MLB teams in (30 teams).
Coors Field

25. What kinds of things are symbolized by lines on this map?
Connections
What kinds of things are symbolized by lines on this map?

26. Where are some patterns that illustrate this?
Combination of climate, agriculture, and industry explains population density patterns
Where are some patterns that illustrate this?

27. How does this map illustrate the aura or zone of influence for Denver?
Denver metro area
How does this map illustrate the aura or zone of influence for Denver?
How are hierarchies symbolized on this map?
For which kinds of services does Denver’s aura extend beyond this map?

28. Where could you define a region of “Elvis-lovers”?
Where are the exceptions?
Where are the outliers?

29. Compare the Pacific coasts of North and South America
Which places have analogous climates?

30. An example of the importance of spatial thinking
Christian

31. TURKIC (Altaic Language Family)
Diversity,
exceptions,
and edges
can make
for
interesting
case studies or
examples
TURKIC (Altaic Language Family)
IRANIAN (Indo-European Language Family)
SEMITIC (Afro-Asiatic Language Family)

32. Iraq Ethnic Groups Turkey
Knowledge of cultural regions, boundaries, and transitions is necessary for understanding conflicts
Syria
Iran
Jordan
Iraq Ethnic Groups
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Iraq’s population is 29 million: sixty percent are Shi’a Arab, mostly in the south.
Sunni Arabs are concentrated in the center (western Iraq is sparsely populated).
Over 4 million Iraqis in northern Iraq are Kurdish. Baghdad is a transition zone.

33. Pattern Analysis: Density vs. Dispersion
Which square mile has the higher density, (a) or (b)?

34. Various Pattern Arrangements
What phenomena could explain the patterns shown in A, B, and C?

35. Map Making Technology GIS (Geographic Information System)
Uses a computer system to store information about various locations
Produces maps with greater accuracy
Information can be stored in layers to analyze different features

36. Map Making Technology Remote Sensing
Remote sensing uses satellites to gather and display information about the earth

37. Map Making Technology GPS (Global Positioning System)
Determines the precise position of something on Earth
Information is received from satellites