integrated ch 1 lec and textbook

Question 1

functions of maps

Answer 1

Show larger areas than visible to the eye: Provides a broader perspective.

Present information concisely: Highlights features of interest, such as transportation routes.

Reveal unseen phenomena: Displays underground minerals or historic data.

Demonstrate spatial relationships: Connects different features or patterns.

Question 2

2 major types of maps

Answer 2

Reference Maps:

Store a variety of data (e.g., rivers, roads, cities).
Function as general information resources.
Example: National Geographic maps.

Thematic Maps:

Highlight specific themes (e.g., population, vegetation).
Emphasize a particular feature while providing contextual outlines.
Example: Maps showing rainfall distribution.

Question 3

key milestones in mapping

Answer 3

Ancient Maps:
Early maps drawn in the dirt or on mammoth tusks (600 BCE).
Greeks calculated Earth’s circumference and created regional maps.

Medieval Maps (1100-1400s):
Maps promoted religious perspectives (e.g., T-O maps centering Jerusalem).

Age of Exploration (1500s):
Maps facilitated navigation and colonization.
Example: Cantino Map (Portuguese discoveries).

Analytical Mapping (1800s):
Example: John Snow’s 1854 cholera map in London.

GIS Technology (1960s):
Computerized mapping systems for data storage, visualization, and analysis.
Example: Canadian Land Inventory GIS by Roger Tomlinson.

Question 4

Mapping as a Multidisciplinary Tool

Answer 4

Engages with data collection, visualization, and analysis.

Critical evaluation of maps: Understand biases introduced by creators

Question 5

Societal Impact of Mapping Technology

Answer 5

Government uses: Identify crime hotspots, plan evacuations.

Commercial uses: Evaluate supply chains, determine store locations.

Ethical concerns: Should governments track personal movements?

Question 6

Technological Aspects of Mapping

Answer 6

GPS Tracking:
Uses satellite signals to determine positions.
Limitations: Signal interference and accuracy issues.

Crowd-Sourced Mapping:
More adaptable but can lack standard accuracy compared to traditional atlases

Question 7

what is a map

Answer 7

Representation of real or imaginary areas, often on a flat surface.

Maps are political: Decisions on inclusions reflect biases and societal values.

Question 8

Applications of Mapping

Answer 8

predicting sea level rise vulnerabilities

tracking species migration due to climate change

analyzing historical and modern trends
e.g. monarch butterfly population and sea ice extent

Question 9

digital mapping and GIS

Answer 9

-digital maps integrate layers of data to answer questions

examples:
-tracking cholera cases (john snow)
-visualizing travel patterns using flow maps

Question 10

Describe the societal implications of GPS and crowd-sourced mapping technologies.

Answer 10

Improved Mobility & Accessibility: Real-time navigation enhances travel efficiency, supports ride-hailing/logistics, and improves accessibility for marginalized groups.

Emergency Response & Safety: Facilitates disaster management, rescue operations, and personal safety through location sharing.

Economic Transformation: Powers location-based services, gig economy platforms, and targeted marketing.

Democratization of Information: Empowers communities to map underrepresented areas and fosters transparency.

Privacy Concerns: Raises issues around data security, surveillance, and misuse of location data

Question 11

How do thematic maps differ from reference maps in terms of data representation?

Answer 11

Purpose:
Thematic Maps focus on specific data themes (e.g., population density, climate).
Reference Maps show general geographic information (e.g., political boundaries, roads).

Data Representation:
Thematic Maps highlight patterns or distributions of a single subject using symbols, colors, or gradients.
Reference Maps prioritize accuracy and spatial relationships for navigation or location context.

Examples:
Thematic: Heat maps, choropleth maps.
Reference: Topographic maps, road atlases.

Question 12

thematic map

Answer 12

highlights a specific theme or feature

Question 13

reference map

Answer 13

a general purpose map showing multiple features

Question 14

GIS

Answer 14

geographic information system, a tool for analyzing spatial data

Question 15

entropy

Answer 15

Disorder within a system, applicable in mapping errors or data inaccuracies

Question 16

steps in GIS data analysis

Answer 16

Data Collection ➔ Data Visualization ➔ Spatial Analysis ➔ Decision-Making

Question 17

What is the primary function of a map?

Answer 17

Answer: A map shows areas larger than visible to the eye, presents information concisely, demonstrates spatial relationships, and reveals unseen phenomena like underground minerals.

Question 18

Give an example of a thematic map and its purpose.

Answer 18

Answer: A rainfall distribution map focuses attention on precipitation patterns while providing geographic context.

Question 19

Define a reference map.

Answer 19

Answer: A general-purpose map that shows multiple features such as rivers, roads, and cities for broad use.

Question 20

Name one technological limitation of GPS.

Answer 20

Answer: Signal interference caused by solid objects, such as buildings, which affects accuracy.

Question 21

How do crowd-sourced maps compare to traditional atlases?

Answer 21

Answer: Crowd-sourced maps are more adaptable but may lack the standard accuracy of traditional atlases.

Question 22

Who created one of the first known regional maps and calculated Earth’s circumference?

Answer 22

Answer: The ancient Greeks.

Question 23

What was the primary purpose of maps during the Age of Exploration?

Answer 23

Answer: Navigation and colonization.

Question 24

10. Give an example of analytical mapping.

Answer 24

Answer: John Snow’s 1854 cholera map, which showed the relationship between cholera cases and contaminated water pumps.

Question 25

What is the Cantino Map known for?

Answer 25

Answer: Representing Portuguese discoveries during the Age of Exploration, with political and military significance.

Question 26

How did medieval maps reflect societal values?

Answer 26

Answer: They promoted religious perspectives, such as T-O maps centering Jerusalem.

Question 27

How is mapping a multidisciplinary tool?

Answer 27

Answer: It integrates data collection, visualization, analysis, and critical evaluation to address global and local issues.

Question 28

Name one ethical concern in mapping technologies.

Answer 28

Answer: Whether governments should track personal movements, raising privacy concerns.

Question 29

15. How do governments use mapping?

Answer 29

Answer: To identify crime hotspots, plan evacuations, and manage social interventions.

Question 30

Define spatial relationships in maps.

Answer 30

Answer: Connections and patterns between features on a map, such as roads and rivers.

Question 31

17. What type of maps help predict vulnerabilities to sea level rise?

Answer 31

Answer: Thematic maps focused on environmental data.

Question 32

What is the role of digital mapping in tracking disease?

Answer 32

Answer: Integrating data layers to identify patterns, such as cholera outbreaks or COVID-19 cases.

Question 33

How are modern maps political?

Answer 33

Answer: They reflect societal biases in what is included, excluded, or emphasized.

Question 34

Why is John Snow’s cholera map significant?

Answer 34

Answer: It demonstrated how mapping could reveal spatial patterns, linking cholera cases to contaminated water sources.