The Power of Geographic Data - AP Human Geography

Spatial data and attribute data. Spatial describes location/shape; attribute describes characteristics.

Data that describes the location, shape, and relationships of geographic features. Includes coordinates, geometry, and how features connect spatially.

Data that provides information about characteristics of spatial features. Examples include population, income, or land use type for each location.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Software that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays geographic information.

By using satellites or aircraft to gather information about Earth’s surface. Sensors detect reflected or emitted energy from Earth's surface remotely.

A method to represent the curved surface of Earth on a flat map. All projections involve some distortion of area, shape, distance, or direction.

To represent data values in different areas using variations in shading or color. Darker or brighter colors indicate higher or lower data values.

Global Positioning System. Satellite network that provides precise location coordinates worldwide.

The process of analyzing geographic data to understand patterns and relationships. Uses statistical and computational methods to find spatial trends.

Topographic map. Uses contour lines to represent elevation and terrain features.

To provide information about the data's source, accuracy, and format. Essential for understanding data quality and appropriate usage.

A map that emphasizes a specific theme or subject area. Focuses on specific topics like population, climate, or economics.

Data represented by points, lines, and polygons. Precise geometric shapes that maintain accuracy at any scale.

Data represented as a grid of cells or pixels. Each cell contains a value representing a geographic variable.

Accurate shapes but distorted sizes, especially near poles. Preserves angles but greatly exaggerates areas near the poles.

Population and social statistics. Shows patterns in age, ethnicity, income, and population density.

Economic or commercial map. Displays industries, trade routes, and resource distribution.

The size of the smallest object that can be detected. Determines the level of detail visible in satellite imagery.

Temporal data. Changes over time are crucial for understanding climate patterns.

Estimating unknown values between two known values. Creates continuous surfaces from discrete point measurements.

Lines connecting points of equal value, such as elevation. Contour lines show elevation; isotherms show temperature.

High precision and accuracy in representing geographic features. Maintains exact coordinates and shapes without pixelation.

The measure of how similar or dissimilar data points are in space. Nearby locations tend to have more similar values than distant ones.

Distorts map areas to represent data values. Size of areas reflects data magnitude rather than geographic area.

By using dots to represent the frequency of a variable. Each dot represents a specific quantity of the mapped variable.

Adjusting data to allow for comparison between different datasets. Standardizes data using common units or scales for fair comparison.

Elevation data. Light Detection and Ranging creates precise 3D elevation models.

To show the relationship between map distances and real-world distances. Allows users to measure actual distances using the map.

A database designed to store, query, and manage spatial data. Specialized database optimized for geographic coordinate systems.