Exam 1 - Spatial Grounding

What are the properties in Geography?

Scale* Space Location Distance

What is Scale?

a partitioning of space (and time) wherein different physical/natural events as well as political, economic and social problems play out.

Examples of Spatial Scale

International/Global, National, State, Local, Regional

Examples of Temporal Scale

Long term (Climate), Short Term (weather)

What is Space?

a physical or geographical location…. It can be measured in absolute, relative, and cognitive terms.

What is absolute space?

• Space that has an existence independent of the existence of material things and relations.

• Space as a permanent boundless container…

What is Topological Space?

• Can be thought of as relative space

• Space is understood through events, and relationship such as the connectivity between locations

What is Cognitive Space?

s space that is defined and measured in terms people’s beliefs experiences perceptions about the places they interact with

What is Location?

– the role of space, it provides a reference to locate a particular place or position. Location can be measured in absolute and relative terms.

What is absolute location?

Defining the location of place using a grid or 2D/3D coordinate systems. For example latitude and longitude.

What is Relative Location?

location of place relative to other information/landmarks and can be measured.

Geographers often define relative location using information about site and situation

What is a Site?

The physical attributes of a place (location)

E.g., terrain, soil, vegetation, water sources, built environment, etc.

What is situation?

Location of a place relative to other places and human activities

E.g., 80 miles from Atlanta, near raw materials, far from job opportunities, etc.

What is Cognitive Location?

refers to the personal cognitive images of places and regions compiled from personal knowledge, experiences, and impressions

What is Distance?

e refers to the amount of space between two things or places. Distance can be measured in absolute, relative and cognitive terms.

What is Absolute Distance?

Refers to the physical units of measure between two objects.

Uses units of measurement that are meaningful and appropriate such as feet or miles…

What is Relative Distance?

Is a measurement of distance that includes the cost of overcoming the absolute distance between two places. Can be defined in terms of time, effort, or cost.

What is Cognitive Distance?

Is a measurement of distance which depends on an individuals perception about the amount of spatial interaction between two points.

Why do we need to concern ourselves with these fundamental concepts of spatial analysis?

Because geography (and GIS) is concerned with the examination of space and these concepts give us the means to accurately discuss them!