Intro to Maps, Spatial Patterns, and Map Types

Map: A two-dimensional model of Earth's surface, or a portion of it.
Purposes of Maps:
- Reference Tools: Show where something is found and how to get there.
- Communication Tools: Depict the distribution of human activities or physical features.
Cartography: The science of mapmaking, which evolved from an artistic endeavor to a methodical discipline using advanced technologies.
Geospatial Technologies:
- Remote Sensing: The process of capturing images of Earth's surface from airborne platforms such as satellites or airplanes; used for studying land use patterns, weather forecasting, and examining disaster impacts.
- Global Positioning System (GPS): A system that accurately determines the precise position of something on Earth via satellites and receivers for navigation, tracking, positioning, or location.
- Geographic Information System (GIS): A computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data for tracking, managing, and decision-making.
- Layers: Specific types of information (such as countries, bodies of water, or place names) displayed on a map.
- Mashups: The practice of combining multiple layers on a map.

Latitude: The distance north or south of the Equator.
Equator: An imaginary line circling the globe halfway between the poles ( $0^\text{degrees}$ ).
Longitude: The distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
Prime Meridian: An imaginary line running from pole to pole through Greenwich, England ( $0^\text{degrees}$ ).
Map Key/Legend: An inset on a map that explains the colors or symbols used and specifies the map scale.
Map Scale: The ratio between the size of things in the real world and their size on a map (expressed as a ratio/fraction, scale, or line).
Toponym: The name given to a place on Earth.
Geographic Data Types:
- Qualitative Data: Data associated with a humanistic approach; collected through surveys, interviews, observations, and artifact analysis; describes open-ended, debatable topics; presented narratively.
- Quantitative Data: Data associated with mathematical models and statistical techniques; collected through surveys, polls, and questionnaires; describes factual topics; presented as statistical analysis.

Location, Distance, and Direction:
- Relative Location: Description of where something is in relation to other things.
- Absolute Location: The precise place where something is found.
- Relative Distance: Distance between two points measured using metrics like time, effort, or cost.
- Absolute Distance: Distance between two points communicated using precise quantitative units of measurement.
- Relative Direction: Direction based on perception and surroundings (e.g., left, right).
- Absolute Direction: Directions according to a compass (e.g., North, East).
Density and Distribution:
- Density: How often or how much something occurs within a space.
- Distribution: Where something occurs within a space.
- Clustered Pattern: High level of density accompanied by a low level of distribution.
- Dispersed Pattern: Low level of density due to a high level of distribution.
Spatial Interaction Theories:
- Distance Decay: Decreasing interaction (flow of goods, people) between two places as the distance between them increases (e.g., Chicago and New York interact more than New York and Miami).
- Time-Space Compression: The reduction in time required to diffuse something to a distant place due to improved communication and transportation technologies (e.g., the Internet enabling instant idea sharing).

Reference Maps: Designed for looking up general spatial information.
- Political Maps: Show human-created boundaries and designations (countries, satellites/states, cities, capitals).
- Physical Maps: Show natural features (mountains, rivers, deserts).
- Road Maps: Show highways, streets, and alleys.
- Plat Maps: Show property lines and details of land ownership.
- Locator Maps: Illustrations used in books and advertisements to show specific locations mentioned in text.
Thematic Maps: Display spatial aspects of information or specific phenomena.
- Choropleth Maps: Use colors, shades, or patterns to show location and distribution of spatial data.
- Dot Distribution Maps: Show specific location and distribution using dots, where each dot represents a specific quantity.
- Graduated Symbol Maps: Use symbols of varying sizes to indicate amounts (larger sizes indicate more, smaller indicate less).
- Isoline Maps: Use lines connecting points of equal value to depict variations in data; distance between lines indicates rate of change.
- Cartograms: Maps where place sizes are scaled according to specific statistics.

Regional Scale of Analysis: Applicable for NGO decisions on building schools for girls in Southern Africa using population density and education maps to identify regions with high girl populations and low access to education.
National Scale of Analysis: Applicable for the UN Secretary General deploying peacekeepers using political maps of Africa or the world to pinpoint countries experiencing conflict or instability.
Local Scale of Analysis: Applicable for city mayors placing new subway stops using city population density and transit maps to locate areas with high population and transportation needs.