APHUG Unit 1 Vocab

Vocab terms for Unit 1

Reference Map

A reference map displays the boundaries, names and unique identifiers of standard geographic areas, as well as major cultural and physical features, such as roads, railroads, coastlines, rivers and lakes.

Thematic Map

A thematic map is a type of map that portrays the geographic pattern of a particular subject matter in a geographic area. Such as temperature, language, or population.

Spatial Patterns

A spatial pattern is a perceptual structure, placement, or arrangement of objects on Earth. Patterns may be recognized because of their arrangement; maybe in a line or by a clustering of points

Absolute Distance

A distance that can be measured with a standard unit of length, such as a mile or kilometer.

Relative Distance

Approximate measurement of the physical space between two places. Ex. Greenville is about an hour from Columbia.

Absolute Direction

Directions like north/south and east/west are examples of absolute direction.

Relative Direction

Directions such as left/right, forward/backward, and up/down are relative to an object's current orientation.

Spatial Relationship

specifies how some objects are located in space in relation to some reference objects. Any sort of connection or reaction between two locations.

Geographic Information Systems

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth's surface. GIS can show many different kinds of data on one map, such as streets, buildings, and vegetation

Satellite Navigation Systems

use of satellites to determine a location

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing refers to the process of taking pictures of the Earth's surface from satellites (or, earlier, airplanes) to provide a greater understanding of the Earth's geography over large distances.

Online Mapping

compilation and publication of web sites that provide. graphical and text information in the form of maps/visuals. e.g. voter stats and trends by county, state, etc…

Mental Mapping

a personal visualization of spatial information, or a map of information in one's own mind

Geospatial Data

information that describes objects, events or other features with a location on or near the surface of the earth.

Geographical Data

any data that is associated with a specific location on the Earth's surface.

Census Data

specific information about people.

Absolute Location

Position on Earth's surface using the coordinate system of longitude (that runs from North to South Pole) and latitude (that runs parallel to the equator).

Relative Location

Position on Earth's surface relative to other features.

Distance Decay

the name of the theory that states that as the distance between two places increases, the interaction between those two places decreases.

Time Space Compression

The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as a result of improved communications and transportation system.

Place

describes the physical and human characteristics of any location on Earth.

Pattern

the arrangement of objects on Earth's surface in relation to other objects.

Sustainability

management of earth's natural resources to meet human needs

Human Environment Interaction

The effect that humans have on their environment and the effect that the environment has on humans.

Formal Region

an area within which everyone shares distinctive characteristics. Ex. the French-speaking region of Canada, the dairying region of North America, or political boundaries demarcating nations and states

Functional Region

A functional region is also called a nodal region because it is defined by a social or economic function that occurs between a node or focal point and the surrounding areas. Ex. the circulation area of the New York Times is a functional region and New York is the node.

Perceptual / Vernacular Region

An area that people believe exist as part of their cultural identity. Vernacular Regions emerge from one's informal sense of place rather than a scientific model.

Scale of Analysis

the size of the lens through which we view a given geographic area and are generally considered local, national, regional, and global scales

Landscape Analysis

a process of studying and describing a landscape, generally with the goal of assessing the impact of humans on that space.

Natural Resources

something found within the natural environment that is accessible and economically valuable to humans including food, water, soil, plants

Map Projection

fairly accurately shows shape and direction, but distorts distance and size of land masses.

Map Distortion

On a map or image, the misrepresentation of shape, area, distance, or direction of or between geographic features when compared to their true measurements on the curved surface of the earth.

Land Use

the term used to describe the human use of land. It represents the economic and cultural activities (e.g., agricultural, residential, industrial, mining, and recreational uses) that are practiced at a given place