What is a reference map?
A map showing locations of places and geographic features.
What is a thematic map?
A map that tells a story about a place by showing the distribution of a particular phenomenon.
What is map scale?
The relationship between distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground.
What is large scale map?
Shows a small area with great detail.
What is small scale map?
Shows a large area with less detail.
What is geometric data?
Describes the shape and size of features (points, lines, polygons).
What is topographic data?
Shows elevation and landforms.
What is attribute data?
Describes the characteristics of features (e.g., population, income).
What is network data?
Shows connections between features (e.g., roads, pipelines).
What is temporal data?
Shows how things change over time.
What is GPS?
Global Positioning System; uses satellites to pinpoint your exact location on Earth.
What is GIS?
Geographic Information System; a tool for managing, analyzing, and visualizing spatial data.
What are DEMs?
Digital Elevation Models; show the shape of the Earth's surface.
What are the causes and effects of map projection distortion?
Cause: Projecting a 3D sphere onto a 2D surface. Effect: Distortion of shape, area, distance, or direction.
What are the causes and effects of using census data?
Cause: Need for population characteristics. Effects: Informing policy decisions, allocating resources, planning for the future.
What is map projection distortion?
Distortion is inevitable when projecting a 3D sphere onto a 2D surface; it affects shape, area, distance, or direction.
Explain the Mercator projection.
Preserves shape and direction, but distorts area; useful for navigation.
Explain the Robinson projection.
A compromise projection that minimizes overall distortion; good for general use.
Explain the Gall-Peters projection.
Preserves area, but distorts shape; useful for showing relative size.
What is the importance of spatial information?
Crucial for many AP Human Geo topics; it's the foundation for understanding relationships between things in space.
Explain the concept of trilateration in GPS.
GPS receivers calculate their distance from multiple satellites to determine their position.
What is the role of data input in GIS?
Importing spatial data from various sources into the GIS system.
What is the role of data storage in GIS?
Organizing spatial data into layers within the GIS system.
What is the role of data analysis in GIS?
Using tools to analyze spatial patterns and relationships within the GIS system.
What is the role of data output in GIS?
Creating maps, reports, and other visualizations from the GIS system.
Explain the difference between vector and raster data.
Vector data uses points, lines, and polygons, while raster data uses grid cells.
What is the purpose of census data?
To understand the characteristics of populations for policy-making and resource allocation.
