AMSCO U1

L1 Four-Level Analysis Comprehension

What, when, where, scale, and source are key questions to consider when understanding geographic data.

L2 Four-Level Analysis Identification

Are there patterns in the source? This level focuses on identifying visible or discernible patterns from geographic data.

L3 Four-Level Analysis Explanation

Why did this pattern occur there, or how did this pattern occur? This level seeks to explain the causes or processes behind a geographic pattern.

L4 Four-Level Analysis Prediction

What will the impact be on economy, society, politics, or the environment? This level focuses on predicting future outcomes based on the patterns identified and explained.

Four-Level Analysis

This analysis includes: - Level 1: Comprehension (What, when, where, scale, source) - Level 2: Identification (Are there patterns in the source?) - Level 3: Explanation (Why did this pattern occur there, or how did it occur?) - Level 4: Prediction (What will the impact be on economy, society, politics, or the environment?)

Physical Geography

The branch of geography that focuses on the study of Earth's natural features such as landforms, climate, and ecosystems.

Human Geography

The branch of geography that examines the spatial distribution of human activity and its relationship with the environment.

Models

Simplified representations or theories that explain spatial phenomena and processes.

Spatial Models

Models that describe the arrangement and interaction of phenomena across geographic space.

Nonspatial Models

Models that explain patterns or processes without necessarily considering geographical space.

Time Distance Decay

The concept that the interaction between two locations decreases as the distance between them increases, and also over time.

Spatial Patterns

The arrangement or distribution of phenomena across space.

Networks

A set of interconnected nodes or places, linked by flows of resources, information, or people.

Quantitative Data

Data that can be measured and expressed in numerical terms, such as population statistics or economic data.

Qualitative Data

Non-numeric data that involves descriptions or characteristics, such as interviews or survey responses.

Qualitative Sources

Data sources that provide descriptive or narrative information about places, events, or behaviors, such as interviews or written records.

Geospatial Data

Data that represents the physical location and shape of features on the Earth's surface.

Scales of Analysis

The level or scope at which geographic data is analyzed, such as global, regional, or local levels.

Reference Maps

Maps that provide general information about geographic areas, such as political or physical features.

Political Maps

Maps that show governmental boundaries, such as countries, states, and cities.

Physical Maps

Maps that depict natural features like landforms, elevation, and bodies of water.

Road Maps

Maps that display transportation routes, including highways, streets, and other roads.

Plat Maps

Maps that show land ownership and property boundaries, often used in real estate transactions.

Thematic Maps

Maps that focus on specific themes or topics, such as population density, climate, or economic activity.

Choropleth Maps

Maps that use color or shading to show the distribution of a particular variable within predefined areas (e.g., countries or states).

Dot Distribution Maps

Maps that use dots to represent the occurrence of a phenomenon, with each dot representing a specific number of occurrences.

Graduated Symbol Maps

Maps that use symbols of varying sizes to represent quantities or magnitudes of a variable.

Isoline Maps

Maps that use lines to connect points of equal value, such as elevation or temperature.

Topographic Maps

Maps that show detailed and precise features of a region, including elevation, landforms, and human-made structures.

Cartogram

A map where the size of geographic areas is distorted based on a specific data value, such as population or economic activity.

Scale

The relationship between distance on a map and the actual distance on the Earth's surface.

Cartographic Scale

The ratio of a distance on a map to the corresponding distance on the ground.

Small Scale Maps

Maps that depict large areas with less detail, often used for regional or global maps.

Large Scale Maps

Maps that show smaller areas in great detail, often used for local or city-level maps.

Absolute Location

The exact position of a place, defined by its latitude and longitude coordinates.

Latitude

The angular distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees.

Equator

The imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, equidistant from the poles, dividing the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Longitude

The angular distance east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees.

Prime Meridian

The imaginary line running from the North Pole to the South Pole, passing through Greenwich, England, marking 0° longitude.

Relative Location

The position of a place in relation to other places, not defined by coordinates but by its surrounding context.

Absolute Scale

The fixed, unchanging scale that is used in geospatial analysis, such as global or regional measurements.

Relative Scale

The scale of analysis based on context and how different scales can be interpreted, such as global, national, or local perspectives.

Connectivity

The degree to which different locations are connected through transportation, communication, or trade networks.

Accessibility

The ease with which people can reach a location or the availability of resources in a given area.

Absolute Distance

The exact measure of distance between two locations, often in units like miles or kilometers.

Relative Distance

The perceived or measured distance between two locations, considering factors like travel time or cost.

Types of Distribution

Patterns of how phenomena are spread across an area. These include linear, clustered, dispersed, circular, geometric, and random distributions.

Clustered Distribution

When phenomena are concentrated in a specific area or pattern.

Linear Distribution

When phenomena are arranged along a straight line, often influenced by factors like transportation routes.

Dispersed Distribution

When phenomena are spread out over a wide area with no concentration.

Circular Distribution

When phenomena are arranged in a circular pattern, often seen in natural or cultural features.

Geometric Distribution

When phenomena are distributed in a regular, predictable pattern, such as a grid.

Random Distribution

When phenomena are spread without any particular pattern or order.

Landscape Analysis

The examination of the physical and cultural features of a region, looking at both human and natural processes.

Spatial Data

Information that is associated with specific locations or geographic coordinates on the Earth's surface.

Aerial Photography

Images taken from an aircraft or satellite, used for mapping and analysis of Earth's surface.

Field Observations

The collection of data through direct observation of places and phenomena in their natural settings.

Remote Sensing

The process of gathering information about an area from a distance, often using satellites or drones.

Fieldwork

The practice of collecting data directly from the environment, typically through surveys, observations, or interviews.

Geovisualization

The use of visual representations, such as maps and graphs, to interpret and communicate geographic data.

GPS

Global Positioning System, a satellite-based navigation system used for determining precise locations on Earth.

GIS

Geographic Information System, a system used for storing, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data.

Remote Sensing

The acquisition of data about Earth's surface through satellite or aerial sensors, often used in environmental and geographic analysis.

Community-Based Solutions

Approaches to solving problems that involve local communities in the planning, decision-making, and implementation of solutions.