GEO200 Intro to Human Geography
Name:
Activity: What’s In A Map?
35 Points – 1 point per question unless otherwise noted
Objectives:
1) Students will learn the variety of decisions a cartographer must make when
designing a map.
2) Students will learn the difference between a globe and a map, and how and
why map projections differ.
3) Students will become familiar with different types of maps and their uses.
4) Students will be exposed to contemporary geographic tools including remote
sensing, geographic positioning systems (GPS), and geographic information
systems (GIS).
In a nutshell, this assignment asks you to consider the important decisions
cartographers have to make in terms of scale, projections, and the information to
be included on a map. You will also be introduced to technologically advanced
tools that geographers use.
Directions:
In addition to the websites provided throughout this handout you may also use your
textbook to help answer these questions. Chapter 1 and Appendix A will be the
most useful. If you use definitions from a website, write down where your found
your answer. Put answers in your own words.
To use the links in this Microsoft Word document, roll your mouse over the link and
click the link while holding the Control button on your keyboard, or you can cut and
paste the links into your web browser.
Please print and submit in class. You can delete the directions to cut down on the
printing, but please save the questions.
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Part 1: Map Scale
This section focuses on cartographic scale and the different ways it can be
represented.
1. 2pts. What is the difference between cartographic/map and
observational/methodological scale?
2. What are the four ways scale can be expressed on a map?
GEO210 People and the Land
3. Go to the Google Maps website (http://maps.google.com) and find the scale.
Which of the four ways to represent scale is used in Google Maps?
4. 2 pts. While in Google Maps, use your mouse to toggle the magnifying bar on
the left.
a. Move the bar toward the (+) sign.
Describe what you see: What happens to the map? To the scale
bar?
b. Now move the bar toward the (-) sign.
Describe what you see: What happens to the map? To the scale
bar?
5. When you are zoomed IN all the way, is this a large or small scale map?
6. When you are zoomed OUT all the way, is this a large or small scale map?
7. 2pts. How does the scale a cartographer chooses impact the map they
create?
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Part 2: Projections
This part will help you understand what map projections are and their significance.
In addition to Appendix A in your textbook, these websites will be helpful for this
section.
USGS
http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb//pubs/MapProjections/projections.html
The National Atlas
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/mapping/a_projections.html
ESRI
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GEO210 People and the Land
http://webhelp.esri.com/arcgisdesktop/9.2/index.cfm?TopicName=List_of_support
ed_map_projections
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8. 3pts. Compare and contrast map projections and globes. What are their
strengths and weaknesses? Think about map projections in general, not a
specific type or class or projection.
9. 5 pts. The map below uses the Mercator projection. Jot down at least three
observations about the map before reading anything specific about the
projection. Some characteristics to consider: Do the country shapes/sizes
look accurate? What’s going on with latitude and longitude?
What map projection family (also called developable class/method) does the
Mercator projection fall into? What feature(s) are preserved at the sacrifice of
others? What is the map projection used for?
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GEO210 People and the Land
10. 5 pts. The map below uses a Robinson projection. Jot down at least three
observations about the map before reading anything specific about this
map projection. Some characteristics to consider: Do the country
shapes/sizes look accurate? What’s going on with latitude and longitude?
From ESRI
What map projection family (also called developable class/method) does the
Robinson projection fall into? What feature(s) are preserved at the sacrifice of
others? What is the map used for?
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GEO210 People and the Land
Part 3: Different Kinds of Information, Different Kinds of Maps
In this section you will have the opportunity to look at and analyze two different
kinds of maps.
11. 4pts. Follow this link to the Washington D.C. Metro map:
http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm
What is the purpose of this map? How does the cartographer represent this
information? Be detailed.
What kinds of things are not shown on the map (for example, what sorts of
things could be included but aren’t)? Why do you think the cartographer
didn’t include these?
12. 4pts. Now, take a look at this map:
http://mode.github.io/blog/2014-01-21-basketball-hometowns/index.html
What is the purpose of this map? How does the cartographer represent this
information? Be detailed.
What kinds of things are not shown on the map (for example, what sorts of
things could be included but aren’t)? Why do you think the cartographer
didn’t include these?
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GEO210 People and the Land
Part 4: GPS, GIS, and Remote Sensing
Traditional maps have been important tools for thousands of years. Now,
geographic tools such as remote sensing, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) expand on the analytical capabilities of
researchers. GPS has revolutionized the way many of us find our way to new places.
14) 3 pts. Describe Remote Sensing, GPS, and GIS as geographic tools.
15. 1 pt. Many government agencies utilize publicly available GIS data. King County
has iMAP: http://www.kingcounty.gov/operations/GIS/Maps/iMAP.aspx. We are
going to look up tax data for our school as an example of the kind of info GIS can
help us access.
-Make sure Property Information is selected from the drop down menu.
-Click “Start iMAP.”
Spatial data is organized into “layers” on the right hand side of the screen.
Behind layers is a tab called “legend” where you will find a key to the map
symbols. On the left hand side are buttons representing different tools.
-Click the “Property Search” button from the left hand tool menu. Then click the
Search by Address link that appears toward the bottom middle of the screen.
-Look up the address for the North Seattle College and paste it into the search space
for the Address.
-Click “Get Assessors Report,” and then the “Property Tax Bill” button at the top.
-On the screen that appears click search in the Real Property Tax box.
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GEO210 People and the Land
You have now pulled up the tax information for North Seattle College for the
last few years. What is the total North Seattle College owes for 2014?
Extra Credit 2 points:
The Mercator and Robinson are just two of many different kinds of
projections. If we considered all different types of projections, what is the
“best” map projection?
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