Fieldwork Key Terminology

Aerial Photo

Aerial Photo

Photos taken from the air (by aeroplanes, helicopters, balloons or drones) looking down on a landscape.

Annotation

Detailed labels added to a map.

Anomaly

An exception to an overall trend or pattern.

Bar Graph

A graph which uses individual bars (horizontal or vertical) to compare quantities.

Best-Fit Line

A line on a scattergraph to represent the trend of points

Cartographic Skills

These help us to interpret the information on different kinds of maps.

Choropleth Maps

A map in which different colours, or different shades of the same colour, are used to show the distribution of data

Contour Lines

Lines on an OS map joining points of equal height to indicate height above sea level. The closer the contour lines to each other, the steeper the gradient.

Correlation

A relationship between two variables e.g. obesity and life expectancy.

Cross-Section

An imaginary slice through a landscape which shows the shape of a geographical feature (such as a valley or a mountain) if viewed from the side

Data Collection

Facts and statistics collected for evidence or analysis

Data Presentation

Showing the data you collected in graphs or tables

Gradient

A measurement of the slope of the land.

Grid-References

Either a four-figure or a six-figure number which is used to locate a square (four-figure) or point (six-figure) on an Ordnance Survey map.

Hypothesis

The statement you need to prove correct or incorrect

Land Use

The way in which land is used or has been modified or managed by people, e.g. coniferous woodland, industrial areas, tourist sites, recreation areas.

Line Graph

A graph in which a line shows continuous changes over a period of time e.g. traffic flow, population change.

Mean

Calculated by adding up all of the values in a data set and then dividing by the number of values.

Median

The central (middle) value in a ranked date set.

Methodology

Methods used to collect your data

Mode

The most common value in a data set.

Pictogram

A graph which uses a pictorial symbol or icon to represent data.

Pie Chart

A circle divided into segments, each representing a proportion of the total.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set. It represents the spread of values around the average.