APHUG Unit 1: Maps, Distance, Place

Toponym

a place name

Global Grid System

a pattern formed on a map or globe by latitude and longitude

International Date Line (180th Meridian)

the line of longitude that marks where each new day begins

Reference map

show locations of places as well as human and natural geographic features

Examples of reference maps

Political map, Physical map, Road Map

Political map

maps that are designed to show governmental boundaries of countries and states

physical map

highlights naturally ocurring features

Thematic maps

a map that displays not only locations but maps a topic or theme of information with the location

types of thematic maps

Isoline, Chloropleth, Dot Distribution, cartogram, graduated symbol

Chloropleth Map

A thematic map that uses shading or colors to represent spatial data

Isoline Map

A thematic map with lines that connect points of equal value.

Dot Distribution Map

A map where dots are used to demonstrate the frequency or intensity of a particular phenomena

Cartogram Map

A map in which the shape or size is distorted in order to demonstrate a variable such as population or economic production

graduated symbol map

A map with symbols that change in size according to the value of the attribute they represent.

Projection

a method of taking a 3D object and putting in on a 2D plane

Mercator Projection

a map projection of the earth onto a cylinder. Distorts the land area at the poles

Gall-Peters Projection

equal area projection that distorts the shape of land masses (looks stretched out)

Robinson Projection

A projection that shows shapes and size without extreme distortion. Most classrooms use this projection.

Map Scale

distance on a map relative to the distance on Earth

Absolute location

describing where something is using the exact site on an objective coordinate system

Relative location

describing the position of a place compared to another landmark (the deli is across the street from)

Absolute distance

describing how far a distance is using an objective measurement (miles, kilometers, etc.)

Relative distance

describing the distance between locations using non-traditional measurements of distance (it is north from)

Sense of Place

Emotional connection to a place familiar to one due to recognizable features, sounds, smells etc

the three different aspects of a place

location, site, situation

site

The physical character of a place, including its geographic characteristics.

For example the site of Istanbul includes the fact that it is on a land bridge connecting Asia and Europe, and also a water bridge (strait) connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean

situation

the location of a place relative to the places that are around it
example: the situation of New Jersey is that it is part of a highly populated and connected area on the East Coast of the US

GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

software that captures, manages, analyzes, and displays data that is collected geographically

GPS (Global Positioning System)

a system that measures distance from a series of satellites to determine location on the planet

Remote sensing

the science of making measurements of the earth using sensors on airplanes or satellites

Geospatial

relating to data that is specific to one location

Quantitative data

objective data that is fact based, usually measurable and usually expressed in numbers

Census

an official count of individuals in a population (in the USA, it happens every 10 years)

Qualitative data

subjective information that is opinion based, is usually descriptive, and often expressed as text

properties of Distribution

density, concentration, and pattern

Density

the number of objects divided by the measurement of area

Concentration

how closely packed together objects are

pattern

refers to the geometric distribution of objects in an area

Cultural Landscape

the visible changes that humans make to the environment (buldings, crops, paths, etc)

Distance decay

the idea that the interaction between two places declines as the distance between them increases

Formal region

region where people share common attributes or traits like language, climate, or political system

Functional region

a region based around a node or focal point - terrestrial radio broadcasts are an example of this

Vernacular/perceptual region

a region based on people’s ascribed sense of place

Spatial distribution

arrangement of a phenomenon across the Earth's surface

Spatial Interaction

the flow of information, products, and human beings from one location to another (migration, shopping, commuting, trips)

Sustainability

meeting the needs of the present while also leaving resources for future generations

Time-space compression

the idea that the world feels smaller than it used to because of increased technology in transportation and communication

Environmental determinism

the belief that a physical environment is THE reason that some societies are strong while others are weaker

Environmental possibilism

the belief that a physical environment plays a role in the development of a society, but is NOT the ONLY factor at work