Geographic Data and the Power of Geo Data Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the methods of geographic data collection, geospatial technologies, and their applications in decision-making based on Topics 1.2 and 1.3.

Field Study

A geographic data collection method where geographers go out into the world (the field) and document their observations and findings.

Census

A count of every person living in a country, conducted every ten years in the U.S., to collect information about the population for representation and resources.

Remote Sensing

Any technology that gathers data about Earth from a distance, including drones, aircraft, and weather satellites.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

A computer-based tool that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays selected data in layers to help understand patterns and relationships on Earth's surface.

Satellite Navigation Systems

Technologies that show direction and distance for navigation purposes but do not display data; examples include GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou.

GPS

The satellite navigation system used in North America.

GLONASS

The satellite navigation system used in Russia.

Galileo

The satellite navigation system used in the European Union (EU).

BeiDou

The satellite navigation system used in China.

Geospatial Technologies

A category of tools including geographic information systems (GIS), satellite navigation systems, remote sensing, and online mapping and visualization.

Spatial Information

Data derived from written accounts such as field observations, media reports, travel narratives, policy documents, personal interviews, landscape analysis, and photographic interpretation.

Geographic Data Uses

Information including census data and satellite imagery used at all scales for personal, business, organizational, and governmental decision-making purposes.