AP HUG

Flashcards for units 1,2,3

Reference Map

A general-purpose map that shows where places and physical features are located. Such as mountains, rivers, roads, buildings, and state boundaries.

Thematic Map

A map that shows the spatial pattern of one specific topic or variable using quantitative data. It also may come aggregated/categorized.

Chloropleth Map

A thematic map that uses color shading to show data values across areas.

Dot Density Map

A thematic map where each dot represents a set number of occurrences or people.

Graduated Symbol Map

A thematic map that uses larger or smaller symbols to represent different data amounts.

Isoline Map

A thematic map with lines connecting points that have the same value that is primarily topographic. Lines that are closer also indicate more drastic change.

Cartogram

A thematic map which uses size of data scale- nation, State, city, etc to shrink/expand land to represent data resulting in extreme distortion.

Absolute distance

The exact physical distance between two places, measured in units like miles or kilometers.

Relative Distance

The distance between places based on travel time, cost, or effort rather than exact measurement.

Map Projection

A method of showing Earth's curved surface on a flat map.

Mercator Projection

A map projection that preserves shape and direction being used for navigation but greatly distorts area near the poles.

Peters Projection

An equal-area map projection that keeps relative size accurate but distorts shape.

Robinson Projection

A compromise map projection that balances different distortions instead of preserving one property perfectly. (Often used in textbooks + oval shape)

Homolosine Projection

An interrupted map which cuts off the sea from the globe that is true to size and shape of land masses but significant distortion in distances of the edges of the map. Primarily not helpful for navigation.

Large-Scale Map

A map that shows a small area with a lot of detail.

Large-Scale Map

A map that shows a large area with less detail.

Latitude

Horizontal lines that measure distance north or south of the Equator.

Longitude

Vertical lines that measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.

Clustering

A spatial pattern in which features or people are grouped closely together.

Dispersal

A spatial pattern in which features or people are spread out across an area.

4 Ways of Distortion

Distance, direction, size/area, and shape

Geospatial Data

Information tied to a specific location on Earth's surface.

Field Observation

Information gathered directly by people at a location through on-site/physical observation.

Media Report

A news or broadcast source that describes geographic events, places, or spatial patterns.

Interview

Information collected by asking individuals questions about places, activities, or experiences.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A computer system that stores, layers, analyzes, and displays spatial data through digital mapping

Global Positioning System (GPS)

A satellite-based navigation system that determines precise/absolute location on Earth's surface.

Remote Sensing

The collection of information mainly through images about Earth from satellites or aircraft without direct contact.

Geospatial Technology

Technology used to collect, store, analyze, and display location-based information.

Census Data

Government-collected population data every 10 years about characteristics such as age, housing, and employment.

Satellite Imagery

Images of Earth’s surface collected by satellites for mapping and spatial analysis.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place using coordinates such as latitude and longitude.

Relative Location

The position of a place compared with other places around it.

Space

The physical gap or distance between objects, places, people, or ideas.

Place

A location with unique physical and human characteristics that give it meaning.

Flow

The movement of people, goods, ideas, or information between places.

Distace Decay

The weakening of interaction or influence as distance from the source increases.

Time-Space Compression

The reduction in the time needed to connect places because of transportation and communication advances.

Diffusion

The spread of a feature, idea, disease, or innovation from one place to another.

Relocation Diffusion

The spread of a feature through the physical movement of people to new areas.

Expansion Diffusion

The spread of a feature outward from one place while remaining strong at its origin.

Hierarchical Diffusion

The spread of a feature from powerful or influential people or places to others.

Contagious Diffusion

The rapid, widespread spread of a feature through direct contact among people.

Stimulus Diffusion

The spread of an underlying idea while the original trait is changed or adapted.

Placelessness

A place that does not invoke any strong response from people due to a lack of unique characteristics.

Density

The amount of objects in an area

Concentration

The spread of an object in an area.

Site factors

Characteristics that are at a specific location.

Situation factors

Locations surrounding a place (Connections between two places)