HGAP Unit 1

Formal Regions

Regions defined by formal boundaries or characteristics such as political or environmental boundaries.

Functional/Nodal Regions

Regions defined by a focal point and the surrounding areas that are affected by it.

Vernacular/Perceptual Regions

Regions that exist based on people's perceptions and feelings about an area.

Absolute Location

Location defined by latitude and longitude coordinates.

Distance Decay

The principle that states the farther away one place is from another, the less likely they are to interact.

Tobler's Law

A law stating that all places are interrelated, but closer places are more related than farther ones.

Space-time Compression

The reduction in the time it takes for something to reach another place, often due to technological advancements.

Arithmetic Density

The total number of people or things per square unit of distance.

Physiological Density

The number of people per square unit of arable land.

Agricultural Density

The number of farmers per square unit of arable land.

Large Scale Map

A map that shows a small area in great detail.

Small Scale Map

A map that shows a large area with less detail.

GIS (Geographic Information System)

Technology that uses data layers for spatial analysis and mapping.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

A system that provides absolute location using satellites for navigation.

Remote Sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface via satellite or aerial means.

Thematic Map

A map that displays information on a particular theme or subject.

Choropleth Map

A map that uses color variations to illustrate geographic variability.

Isoline Map

A map that uses contour lines to connect areas of equal value or characteristics.

Dot Density Map

A map that uses dots to represent the volume and density of a particular phenomenon.

Flow Line Map

A map that uses lines of varying thickness to show the movement and volume of phenomena.

Cartogram

A map where size or shape of areas are distorted to represent specific variables.

Equal Area Projection

Map projections that maintain area but distort shape.

Conformal Projection

Map projections that preserve shape but distort relative area.

Robinson Projection

A map projection that distorts a little bit of everything to minimize distortion.

Gall-Peters Projection

A projection that accurately represents size while distorting shapes, direction, and distance.

Goodes Projection

An interrupted equal area map that accurately shows size and shape.

Conic Projection

A projection that accurately represents distance and area but distorts shape away from parallels.

Fuller Projection

A projection that accurately represents shape and size but distorts direction.

Planar (Azimuthal) Projection

A projection that accurately represents areas and shapes at the center but distorts further from poles.