human geo unit 1 test

absolute direction

Based on the cardinal points of North, South, East, and West. These appear uniformly and independently in all cultures, derived from obvious givens of nature

absolute distance

Exact measurement of the physical space between two places.

absolute location

The exact position of an object or place, measured within the spatial coordinates of a grid system (latitude and longitude)..

census data

Periodic count of a population, in the US every 10 years, which collects data that indicates a myriad of demographic indicators (e.g. ethnic makeup, age profiles, religious beliefs, access to plumbing...); also, significant in the USA for representation in the House of Representatives (federal government).

clustering

Gathering; forming in a group, more densely populated.

dispersal

Movement of individuals away from centers of high population density or their area of origin. Distributing as opposed to clustering.

distance decay

The diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin.

elevation

The height of land above sea level.

environmental determinism

A doctrine that claims that cultural traits are formed and controlled by environmental conditions.

field observations

A study of a phenomenon in a natural setting.

formal/uniform region

An area which shares in one or more distinctive characteristic(s) (either human or physical).

functional/nodal Region

Area organized around a node or focal point/place where there is a central focus that diminishes in importance outward.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

A collection of computer hardware and software that permits spatial data to be collected, recorded, stored, retrieved, manipulated, analyzed, and displayed to the user. Often referred to as the layering of data on a map.

global scale

analyzing data and information at the global level, or patterns across the entire world such as climate regions or international migration

Landscape Analysis

Using field observation, spatial data, and aerial photography to gather data to define and describe landscapes.

land use

Various ways humans use the land such as agricultural, industrial, residential, or recreational.

local scale

analyzing data or information that describes the space where an individual lives or works; a city, town, neighborhood, or rural area

map projection

A way of representing the spherical Earth on a flat surface.

natural resources

Materials or substances such as minerals, forests, water, and fertile land that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.

pattern

The geometric arrangement of objects in space (not off the planet/outer-space). For Geography, the arrangement of objects on Earth's surface (spatial patterns)

perceptual (vernacular) region

An area that only exists as a conceptualization or an idea and not necessarily as an actual entity, based on thoughts and personal perception.

personal interview

A face-to-face conversation in which a researcher surveys an individual to obtain research data.

place

A specific point on Earth distinguished by its human and physical characteristics..

policy documents

Policies are business or government rules and guidelines that ensure consistency and compliance with the strategic direction of the entity. The Policies lay out the business or government's rules under which a company, division, or department will operate.

possibilism

The theory that the physical environment may set limits on human actions, but people have the ability to adjust to the physical environment using innovation and choose a course of action from many alternatives.

reference maps

Maps that show the absolute location of places and general geographic features determined by a frame of reference, typically latitude and longitude. (political maps, physical maps, road maps)

regional scale

Viewing data or a phenomena occurring in an area usually larger than a country (e.g. South Asia or section of the world). Can also be an area within a country (farming regions in a country)

relative direction

Directions such as left, right, forward, backward, up, and down based on people's perception of places.

relative distance

Distance measured in terms such as cost or time which are more meaningful for the space relationship in question.

relative location

The position of a place in relation to another place.

remote sensing

A method of collecting data or information through the use of instruments that are physically distant from the area or object of study (e.g aircraft or satellite).

satellite navigation system

A device used to plot the user's position on a map, using GPS technology to obtain the location.

sustainability

The ability to keep in existence or maintain. A sustainable ecosystem is one that can be maintained.

thematic map

A type of map that displays one or more variables-such as population, or income level-within a specific area. These are referred to as spatial aspects of information

time-space compression

The rapid innovation of communication and transportation technologies associated with globalization that transforms the way people think about space and time.

national or state scale

analyzing data or information by looking at patterns from an entire country.

flows

Referring to the movement of people, ideas, disease, goods, etc from one place to another.

space

occupying a spot on the surface of Earth

spatial pattern

patterns of information that can be tied to specific points on the surface of Earth such as population distribution, migration patterns, etc..

reference maps

provide information about somewhere

reference maps examples:

road maps, physical maps, locator maps

thematic maps

show data by using colors and shapes/symbols

dot distribution

uses dots to show the quantity of something, one dot can represent any amount

isoline maps

uses linens to connect points to represent the data across space

graduated symbol maps

uses different sized symbols to represent amounts

shape distortion

shapes of countries, can be too skinny or too wide, etc.

area/relative size

shapes and sizes of lands can be distorted, country can look bigger than it actually is

distance

distances from place to place aren’t accurate

direction

line from one place to another isn’t accurate

map distortion can impact what is ____ __and__ ___

seen and depicted

are all maps distorted?

yes

are all maps selective in information?

yes

why would businesses benefit from maps with data?

the way that maps present information can be used for propaganda, decision making, used by political organizations

how is data gathered? (examples)

apps tracking location, the census, road usage, zipcode

types of data:

quantitative and qualitative

quantitative data

numbers to measure and record info

qualitative data

based on individuals’ thoughts/feelings

qualitative data is gathered by -

asking for feedback, descriptions of anything, and experiences

data for important issues can ____ businesses and citizens

help

satellite navigation systems:

GIS, satellites are used for geospatial positioning

remote sensing:

GIS, digital images of Earth’s surface are collected from cameras or different types of sensors on satellites

Field observation:

spatial information, physical observation and data collection

media reports:

spatial informatiton, news and surveys

travel narratives:

spatial information, photos, stories, and documentation from traveling somewhere

policy documents:

spatial information, an organization’s rules and guidelines

personal interviews:

in person accounts of something

landscape analysis:

shape of the land is defined and described through precise observation and documentation

photographic interpretation:

observation and analyzation of photos that are used to determine impacts of human or physical elements

“at all scales” meaning

different scales - international, national, stale, subnational, city, local, and regional

personal use of geographical and GIS data

personal decisions, nearest store or school

business use of geographical and GIS data

businesses collect data to target specific customers for coupons/sales, see what’s needed or not needed, find more efficient transportation routes, etc.

organizational use of geographical and GIS data

Police use GIS to find where and when crime happened

governmental use of geographical and GIS data

helps determine the number of representatives in the House, provide access to water/other sources, build new roads

why is the data collected by the government important?

it betters our way of life

census surveys -

provide an important source of information for researchers that are used to calculate spatial statistics, like population density

absolute location

latitude and longitude to represent coordinates of an exact place on Earth

relative location

uses one place to talk about another

what are siste and situation connected to?

places

site factors:

soil quality, flatland, hills, mountains, access to water, etc.

site -

physical attributes of an exact location of something

situation factors -

human or physical features and what they have access o

space -

general objective location or area. used by geographers to center the relationships/patterns between objects that are in a space

spatial relationships

relationships/patterns between objects that are in a space

place and site and situation -

site and situation factors can help define what makes places unique

flows -

movement typically counted or quantified between places and in a specific time period

distance decay -

as you move away from the source, an occurrence will diminish and eventually disappear

time-space compression -

the shrinking of time distance between locations due to improved methods of transportation

globalization

the process of intensified interactions between peoples, governments, and companies around the globe

globalization is related to times-space compression -

interactions between peoples, governments, and companies around the globe

linear pattern

objects in a line

centralized/clustered pattern

objects that are close together

circular pattern

objects that are in a random arrangement of space

random pattern

objects in a random order in space

spatial assoociation

matching patterns of distribution. patterns are related or connected

what is scale of analysis used for?

scale of analysis is used to find patterns

three scales of analysis:

global analysis, regional scale, national scale, and local scale

local scale aka

subnational level

why is scale of analysis important?

help find patterns in data

 How are regions defined?

regions are defined by shared characteristics

human characteristics that define a region

language, religion, supply chains, trade routes