1.1 Introduction to Maps and Spatial Patterns

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on maps, cartography, and geospatial technologies.

Map

A two-dimensional representation of the Earth's surface or part of it, used as a reference tool and a communication tool.

Cartography

The science of mapmaking.

Eratosthenes

Ancient Greek mathematician who coined the term geography and calculated the Earth's circumference; created the first world map.

Ptolemy

Ancient geographer whose world map used latitude and longitude and informed mapmaking for over a thousand years.

Latitude

The distance north or south of the Equator. (Horizontal lines)

Longitude

The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. (Vertical lines)

Equator

The imaginary line at 0° latitude that circles the globe exactly halfway between the poles.

Prime Meridian

An imaginary line that runs from pole to pole through Greenwich, England.

Remote Sensing

The process of capturing images of Earth’s surface from airborne platforms or satellites for analysis.

GPS

Global Positioning System; satellites and receivers determine precise location.

GIS

Geographic Information System; computer system to capture, store, analyze, and display geographic data.

Layers

Different types of information displayed on a map (e.g., countries, bodies of water, place names).

Mashups

Combining multiple map layers into a single map.

Qualitative Data

Non-numeric data describing attributes or perceptions, collected via surveys, interviews, observations; descriptive and narrative.

Quantitative Data

Numeric data analyzed with statistics; objective measurements.

Toponym

The name given to a place on Earth.

Map Key/Legend

An inset or legend explaining map symbols, colors, and scale.

Map Scale

The ratio between map distances and real-world distances; can be a ratio, written scale, or a graphic scale.

Relative Location

Description of where something is in relation to other objects.

Absolute Location

The precise position of a place, usually given by coordinates.

Relative Distance

The distance between two points, measured using metrics like time, effort, or cost. Ex. The park is 5 minutes away.

Absolute Distance

The distance between two points, communicated using precise quantitative units of measurement.  Ex. The park is 0.4 miles away.

Relative Direction

Direction based on a person’s surroundings and perception. Ex. Left, right, forward, backward, up, down, etc. 

Absolute Direction

Directions according to a compass. Ex. North, south, east, west

Density

How often or how much something occurs in a space.

Distribution

Where something occurs within a space.

Clustered

When there is a high level of density and a low level of distribution.

Dispersed

When there is a low level of density due to a high level of distribution.

Distance Decay

The theory that the interaction (flow of goods, people) between two places decreases as the distance between them increases.

Ex. Chicago and New York have more interaction than New York and Miami, given their geographic locations. 

Time-Space Compression

The reduction in the time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place, as the result of improved communication and transportation technologies.  

Ex. The Internet allows us to instantly share ideas to far off places, allowing those ideas to spread quickly and widely.