Collecting Data

Methods by which data are collected includes observing and systematically recording information, reading and interpreting maps and other graphic representations of spaces and places, reading reports, and interviewing people.

Quantitative Data is information measured by numbers.

Qualitative Data is interpretations of data (observations)

Who collects Data? Private and public organizations

Census is the official count of a number of people in a defined area.

Geographic information systems is the development of sophisticated mapping software systems called GIS - it captures, stores, organizes and displays geographic data that can be used to configure both simple and complex maps.

Topography is the shape and features of land surfaces.

GIS maps support geovisualization, which is the process of creating visualizations for geographic analysis using maps, graphs and multimedia.

GIS can be used at various scales. It can be used at the local scale or the international scale.

Other Remote Sensing Tools

Remote Sensing is gathering data without making physical contact.

Remote Sensing images are brought into GIS along with other data for comparison and analysis.

Global Position System (GPS) is an integrated network of at least 31 satellites in the US system that orbit Earth and transmit location data to handheld receivers.

Mapmaking

Cartographers are people who create maps.

Spatial features tend to be clustered, dispersed or linear.

Absolute distance is distance that can be measured using a standard unit of length.

Relative distance is measured in another criteria like time or money.

Absolute direction is the cardinal direction (north, south, east, west)

Relative direction is left, right, up, down, front, behind based on people’s perceptions.

Large scale maps show less land and more detail.

Medium scale maps are larger areas with fewer details than large-scale

Small-scale maps show more land and less detail

Map scale is the mathematical relationship between the size of a map and the part of the real world it shows. It can be shown three ways: a representative fraction, a written scale, or graphically.

Map Projections

Projection is any method used to represent the world or part of the world. We have different projections because it’s too hard to create something three-dimensional onto a two dimensional projection.

1. Robinson Projection

   • Preserves: Overall visual appeal and relative sizes.

   • Distorts: Shapes and angles, especially near the poles.

2. Mercator Projection

   • Preserves: Angles and shapes of small areas (conformal).

   • Distorts: Size, especially near the poles (landmasses appear larger).

3. Gall-Peters Projection

   • Preserves: Area (equal-area).

   • Distorts: Shapes, making landmasses appear elongated.

4. Azimuthal Projection

   • Preserves: Direction from a central point.

   • mDistorts: Area and shape as distance from the center increases.

Types of Thematic Maps

1. Isoline Maps:

   • Description: Use lines to connect points of equal value (e.g., elevation, temperature).

   • Best For: Displaying continuous data and showing gradients.

2. Graduated Symbols:

   • Description: Use symbols of varying sizes to represent data values at specific locations.

   • Best For: Comparing quantities across different locations.

3. Cartogram:

   • Description: Distorts the size of geographic areas based on a specific variable (e.g., population).

   • Best For: Visualizing data in relation to size and importance.

4. Dot Map:

   • Description: Uses dots to represent a specific quantity of a phenomenon.

   • Best For: Showing distribution and density of a variable.

5. Choropleth Map:

   • Description: Uses different shades or colors to represent data values in predefined areas (e.g., states).

   • Best For: Displaying statistical data across regions.

Diffusion is a cultural trait spreading from one place to another over time.

Sure! Here’s a mnemonic to help you remember the types of thematic maps:

Mnemonic Phrase: "Clever People Can Always Show Beautiful Data"

Breakdown:

• Clever - Chloropleth Map

• People - Proportional Symbol Map

• Can - Cartogram

• Always - Aspect Map

• Show - Spatial Distribution Map

• Beautiful - Base Map

• Data - Dot Density Map

Explanation of Each Map Type:

1. Choropleth Map: Uses different shades or colors to represent data values in predefined areas (like states or countries).

2. Proportional Symbol Map: Uses symbols (like circles) of varying sizes to represent data quantities at specific locations.

3. Cartogram: Distorts the size of geographic areas based on a specific variable (like population) rather than land area.

4. Aspect Map: Shows the orientation of the terrain, indicating slopes and aspects of the land.

5. Spatial Distribution Map: Displays how a particular phenomenon is distributed across space.

6. Base Map: A simple map that provides context for thematic data, often showing physical features.

7. Dot Density Map: Uses dots to represent the presence of a feature or phenomenon, where each dot represents a specific quantity.

Sure! Here’s a mnemonic to help you remember some common map projections: "Molly's Peters Go To Robinson's Mercator".

Each word in the mnemonic corresponds to a map projection:

• Molly's - Mollweide

• Peters - Peters

• Go - Gall-Peters

• To - Transverse Mercator

• Robinson's - Robinson

• Mercator - Mercator

A cultural hearth is where a trait originates.

Types of Diffusion

1. Relocation Diffusion: The spread of a cultural trait through the physical movement of people from one place to another.

2. Expansion Diffusion: The spread of a cultural trait in a snowballing effect, where the trait spreads to new areas while remaining strong in its original location.

3. Contagious Diffusion: A subtype of expansion diffusion where a cultural trait spreads rapidly and widely, often through direct contact (e.g., viral trends).

4. Hierarchical Diffusion: The spread of a cultural trait from a person or place of power to other people or places, often skipping over some areas.

5. Stimulus Diffusion: The spread of an underlying principle or idea, even if the specific trait does not spread (e.g., adaptations of a technology).

Major Difference

• Relocation vs. Contagious Diffusion: Relocation involves the movement of people carrying traits, while contagious diffusion involves the rapid spread of traits through direct contact without the need for physical movement.

Cultural Spread

In the real world, culture often spreads through a combination of these diffusion types due to the interconnectedness of societies and the influence of technology, media, and migration.