HGAP All Units

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space

geometric surface of the Earth

activity space

area where daily activities happen

place

specific location with meaning and significance to people

toponym

name given to a place or feature

regions

areas defined by common features or characteristics

sequent occupancy

succession of groups and cultural influences throughout a place’s history

scale

relationship of an object or place to the Earth as a whole

map scale

ratio of distance on a map to distance in the real world

relative scale (scale of analysis)

a type of scale that examines phenomena at different spatial levels, such as local, regional, or global

level of aggregation

the degree to which data is collected and presented, often referring to whether it is at a local, regional, or national level.

formal region

an area defined by official boundaries and similar characteristics, such as government jurisdictions or cultural traits

functional region (nodal region)

an area organized around a central node or focal point, from which activities and characteristics diffuse outward.

vernacular region (perceptual region)

an area defined by people's perceptions and feelings rather than official boundaries, often based on cultural or social identity.

homogeneous characteristic (uniformity)

common traits, often based on cultural or social beliefs that may not be officially recognized.

linguistic region

everyone speaks the same language, but can be different culturally

culture region

an area defined by similar cultural traits and landscape characteristics that shape the identity of its inhabitants. (have fuzzy borders)

political region

an area defined by political boundaries and governance structures, which can vary in size and influence. (defined boundaries)

environmental region

an area defined by distinct environmental characteristics and ecosystems, influencing the lifestyle and economic activities of its residents. (measurable)

bioregion (biome)

an area defined by specific ecological and climatic conditions that support particular ecosystems and species.

ecotone

a transitional area between two ecological communities, typically featuring a mix of species from both environments.

central place (node)

focus or point of origin that expressed some practical purpose

market area

the region surrounding a central place where the goods and services produced there are sold and consumed. type of functional region

area of influence

the geographic extent in which a central place exerts its economic, social, or cultural impact on surrounding areas.

absolute location

a point or place on a map using coordinates

relative location

location of a place compared to a known place or geographic feature

latitude

the measurement of a location's distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees. (horizontal)

longitude

the measurement of a location's distance east or west of the prime meridian, expressed in degrees. (vertical)

equator

the imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, located at 0 degrees latitude.

North Pole

the northernmost point on Earth, located at 90 degrees north latitude, where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface.

South Pole

the southernmost point on Earth, located at 90 degrees south latitude.

Prime Meridian

the imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, located at 0 degrees longitude.

International Date Line

the imaginary line located approximately along the 180 degrees longitude, where the date changes by one day when crossed.

site

situation

absolute distance

distance decay

relative distance

Tobler’s law

friction of distance

space-time compression

central place theory

core and periphery

cluster

growth pole

agglomeration

random pattern

scattered pattern

linear pattern

sinuous pattern

land survey patterns

metes and bounds

township and range

long-lot patterns

arithmetic density

agricultural density

physiologic density

diffuse

hearth

diffusion patterns

expansion patterns

hierarchical diffusion

contagious diffusion

stimulus diffusion

relocation diffusion

topographic maps

thematic maps

contour lines (isotherms)

choropleth maps

isoline maps

dot density maps

flow-line maps

cartograms

mental map

A person's internal representation of their spatial environment, including knowledge about locations, distances, and relationships between places.

projections

equal-area projections

conformal projections

model

spatial model

urban model

non-spatial model

gravity model

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

data layers

Global Positioning System (GPS)

aerial photography

satellite-based remote sensing

intervening opportunity

attraction at a shorter distance that takes precendee over an attraction that is farther away