practice exam Flashcards
Explain the significance of Tobler’s First Law of Geography and how it applies to spatial analysis.
Answer: Tobler’s First Law emphasizes the spatial dependence of geographic phenomena. It underpins methods like spatial autocorrelation, which analyze how values near each other are related, and proximity analysis, which assesses relationships based on distance.
Discuss the differences between traditional geographic data collection and VGI, including advantages and challenges of each.
Answer: Traditional methods involve experts and standardized processes, ensuring high accuracy but being costly and time-consuming. VGI is crowdsourced, cost-effective, and real-time but often has inconsistent data quality.
Analyze the ethical implications of increased surveillance technologies, focusing on privacy and security trade-offs.
Answer: Surveillance enhances security but risks violating privacy by collecting sensitive personal data. Ethical concerns include transparency, misuse of data, and disproportionate monitoring of marginalized populations.
Compare and contrast Euclidean and network distance in geospatial analysis. Provide examples of when each is appropriate.
Answer: Euclidean distance measures straight-line distances, suitable for simple geographic patterns. Network distance considers infrastructure, useful for realistic routing and urban planning.
Define spatial resolution and provide an example.
Answer: Spatial resolution refers to the size of the smallest geographic feature a dataset can represent. Example: A 1-meter resolution satellite image can show individual buildings.
What are the two effects of the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP)?
Scale Effect: Results change when data is aggregated at different scales.
Zone Effect: Results vary when boundaries of geographic units are altered.
Define neogeography and provide an example.
Answer: Neogeography involves using geographic tools by non-experts for personal or community purposes. Example: Creating a Google Maps mashup
What is Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI)?
Answer: VGI is geographic data voluntarily collected and shared by individuals, often through digital platforms.
How do digital divides affect VGI contributions?
Answer: They exclude underprivileged communities from contributing due to lack of access to technology, creating data gaps and biases.
What is an example of a big lie in maps?
Answer: Gerrymandering—manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor a political party.
How is classification used in thematic mapping?
Answer: Classification groups data into categories for visualization, using methods like equal intervals, quantiles, or natural breaks.
What is the ecological fallacy? Provide an example.
Answer: Applying group-level data to individuals. Example: Assuming all people in a high-income neighborhood are wealthy.
What classification method would fit data with natural groupings?
Answer: Natural Jenks.
Why are gerrymandering practices controversial?
Answer: They manipulate boundaries to reduce fair representation and influence policy outcomes.
What is the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP), and how does it influence spatial analysis? Provide examples.
Answer: MAUP arises from changes in spatial unit aggregation. Scale effect influences results by varying granularity (e.g., county vs. state-level data). Zone effect alters patterns when boundaries shift (e.g., gerrymandering).
Evaluate the role of classification methods in thematic mapping and their impact on data interpretation.
Answer: Classification methods like quantiles, equal intervals, and natural breaks influence how data patterns are visualized. Misclassification can mislead map users by exaggerating or obscuring trends.
Discuss the impact of digital divides on geospatial data collection and representation.
Answer: Digital divides exclude underrepresented groups from contributing to VGI, creating gaps and biases in data, particularly in rural or low-income regions.
Compare the use of spatial and attribute resolution in geospatial data analysis.
Answer: Spatial resolution determines the geographic detail (e.g., pixel size), while attribute resolution specifies the data’s descriptive granularity. Both affect accuracy and application.
Analyze how classification methods can manipulate perceptions of data patterns.
Answer: Classification, through choices like natural breaks or equal intervals, can highlight or obscure trends, influencing map interpretation. Misuse can distort reality, such as in gerrymandering.
Explain how neogeography has democratized map-making and the associated challenges.
Answer: Neogeography enables non-experts to create maps using accessible tools, offering diverse perspectives. Challenges include inaccuracies and lack of standardization.
How does gerrymandering demonstrate the use of maps as a tool for political manipulation?
Answer: Gerrymandering manipulates electoral boundaries to favor specific parties, reducing representation and influencing resource allocation and policies.
Describe how spatial autocorrelation is used in geographic analysis and give examples of positive and negative autocorrelation.
Answer: Spatial autocorrelation measures clustering of similar values. Positive autocorrelation: high-income neighborhoods. Negative autocorrelation: alternating land uses like parks and industrial zones.
What factors should be considered when evaluating a map for potential bias or distortion?
Answer: Consider projection, classification method, data source, and purpose. Biases can arise from decisions in symbolization, data aggregation, or geographic boundaries.
Evaluate the ethical responsibilities of cartographers in creating accurate and unbiased maps.
Answer: Cartographers must ensure transparency, accuracy, and fairness in data representation. Avoiding intentional distortions, such as propaganda or gerrymandering, is critical to maintain trust and integrity.
