Unit 1 (2 & 3):Introduction to Maps & Reading Recap

Topic 2: Data Gathering and Geospatial Technologies

  • Data can be gathered in the field by organizations or individuals.
  • Geospatial technologies include:
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
    • Satellite navigation systems
    • Remote sensing
    • Online mapping and visualization
  • Spatial information sources:
    • Written accounts (field observations, media reports, travel narratives, policy documents)
    • Personal interviews
    • Landscape analysis
    • Photographic interpretation

Topic 3: Applications of Geospatial and Geographical Data

  • Geospatial and geographical data (census data, satellite imagery) are used at all scales for:
    • Personal decision-making
    • Business and organizational decision-making
    • Governmental decision-making

Geographic Data: Importance and Collection Methods

  • Geographic data is needed to understand our changing world and the impact of human activity on the physical environment.
  • Data collection categories:
    • Individuals:
      • Collect data for geographic problem-solving and analysis (research projects, community assistance).
      • Methods:
        • Conduct field observations (visit locations, create maps/sketches).
        • Conduct interviews.
        • Take photos.
        • Analyze satellite images/photos, media outlets.
        • Examine government data.
      • Dissemination: Make information available via scholarly journals or the internet.
      • Impact: Solves local and world problems.
      • Examples:
        • Regional: A professor studies the occurrence of a disease in a specific area to determine the cause.
        • Local: Analyzing traffic at an intersection to justify building a traffic light.
    • Government Organizations:
      • US Census Bureau (every 10 years):
        • Displays demographic data (race, age, gender, language) and socioeconomic data (income, health insurance status, etc.) in regions of the US.
        • Used by government, businesses, organizations, and individuals.
      • Impact:
        • Determines the number of seats in the House of Representatives.
        • Distribution of public funding for schools, daycare, hospitals, retirement homes, highways, and infrastructure.
    • Businesses/Government:
      • Businesses: Analyze population and income data locally, or labor laws globally.
      • Government: Use local data to determine where to build new schools or improve intersections with high accident rates.
      • Government: Use national data to determine federal funding allocation and change tax policies.

Methods of Geographic Data Collection

  • Fieldwork/Field Observations:
    • An individual physically visits a location and records firsthand information.
    • Examples: Written accounts, travel narratives, media reports, policy documents, interviews, photographs, landscape analysis.
  • Geospatial Technologies:
    • Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
    • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
    • Remote Sensing
    • Utilized by businesses, organizations, individuals, and government agencies for decision-making.

Global Positioning System (GPS)

  • How it works: GPS receivers on the Earth's surface use the locations of multiple satellites to determine and record the receiver's exact location.
  • Uses:
    • Locating borders precisely.
    • Navigating ships, aircraft, and cars.
    • Mapping lines (trails) or points (fire hydrants).
    • Farmers use it for longitude/latitude to maximize fields with fertilizer/pesticides.

Geographic Information System (GIS)

  • How it works: A computer system stores, analyzes, and displays information from multiple digital maps or geospatial datasets as layers; users can add/subtract layers of data.
  • Good for problem-solving; shows patterns and trends of an area.
  • Uses:
    • Analyzing crime data.
    • Monitoring the effects of pollution.
    • Analyzing transportation/travel time.
    • Planning urban areas.

Remote Sensing

  • Cameras or other sensors mounted on aircraft or satellites collect digital images or video of the Earth's surface above the atmosphere.
    • Aerial photography is within the atmosphere by planes/drones.
  • Uses:
    • Determining land cover and use.
    • Monitoring environmental changes (e.g., Aral Sea).
    • Assessing the spread of spatial phenomena.
    • Farmers use it to determine which parts of crops need more water.
  • More light in an area (imaged by remote sensing) often indicates more developed countries (MDCs) with more access to electricity, more industries, and probably less farming.
  • Example: Amnesty International uses satellite imagery to gather information about human rights situations in North Korean prison camps due to restricted access for human rights investigators.
    • Satellite imagery analysis has shown the use and expansion of political prison camps and the blurring of boundaries between prison camps and surrounding villages.

Importance of Geographic Data

  • Helps experts have a better understanding of how the Earth is changing, where problems are, and find solutions at all scales (local, regional, etc.).
  • Examples:
    • South Sudan: Aerial photos highlight humanitarian concerns, such as conflict resulting in a lack of clean water and infrastructure like hospitals and schools.
    • Tracking COVID-19 to save lives in hotspots.
  • Mosquito-borne illnesses are more common in tropical areas. Because tropical areas provide the ideal environment for mosquitoes to live.