Lecture 1,2 + Chapter 1,2 Flashcards
What kind of questions can we answer with maps?
- disease transmitted areas
- population density
- election results
- migration patterns
What is a map
a map is a representation of some area (real or imaginary) usually on a flat surface
What do maps do
- show a larger area than what we can see
- present information of interest
- demonstrate spatial relationships
What are the 2 major types of maps
- reference maps
- thematic maps
What is a reference map
reference maps show lots of data
- show a variety of features
- general store houses of info
EX: map of uoft, transportation routes, rivers etc
what is a thematic map
highlights specific themes
- overall goal is focus the users attention on specific features
- can tell by the title
- EX: low income areas, minority groups
T/F All maps are models
True
- they are representations of reality but they are not reality themselves
T/F All maps are political
True
- maps are socially constructed
- people decide what to include and what not to include depending how they want you to interpret the map
- pakistan/india, borders, etc
First known map of the world
The Babylonian Map
- diagrams that categorized features and symbolizes of the location of the creator
Brief of history of maps
- Babylonian map
- Ptolemy’s map
- T and O map
- Al-Idrisi - islamic
- Cantino map
- Mercator projection
- thematic maps
- analytical maps
- geographic info maps
What does GIS stand for
Geographic Information System
- computer systems used to store, display and analyze spatial information
Liberal Education
creative insights and knowledge are acquired and used
- how they change over time
- engages you through reading, symbolization, classifying data, visual/statistical data
Spatial Data
a fundamental component of understanding contemporary society
- it can describe the position, dimensions, and relationships between geographic features like cities, rivers, roads, or buildings
Why is mapping important?
- understanding wide range of data
- represents society and technology of its time
- GPS
- thematic maps - crime hotspots, identify routes, vulnerability, disease etc
What are the 3 characteristics of map data
- Spatial data (where an object is located)
- Temporal data (when the data is collected and accurate)
- Attribute data (what characteristics the object or event has - population, income, etc)
Metadata
Data about data that describes such as the source, content, methods, developers, accuracy
- datasets much have: attribute information, metadata reference information, lineage, data quality info
What are the 2 types of data collection
- Direct collection (ground)
- Remote sensing (satellite)
What is direct collection and how is it collected
- data collected through direct interaction with a particular place
- surveys, geocoding, sensors, GPS units, trilateration
What are surveys
- used as a way of direct collection
gathering attribute data about individuals, households, or locations - number of trees on a street
- census
What is a census
census data serves a vital role in helping understanding our society
- allocation of government resources
- large scale surveys (country, provinces, territories
- today census can be filled out online, answering a series of question (every 10 years)
- EX: election results
What are some problems associated with census data
- accuracy
- undercounting (marginalized populations, poor)
- plenty of topics that are not covered
- religion, consumer spending, political parties
what is geocoding
- used as a way of direct collection
the process of attaching a geographic location to some sort of address information - takes address –> into coordinates to be plotted on a map
- STEPS: converts the input into address, multiple interpretation, presents the user with the best matches of the location
What are sensors
- used as a way of direct collection
- tools or devices that collect info about the environment around them
What does GPS stand for
Global Positioning Systems
