Urbanization and Indiana
RULES: No shoes allowed on the map. Please have students remove shoes before walking on the map.
Socks Required!
Purpose: In order to better understand a GIS, students will study historic, modern, and future population and
urbanization trends in the state of Indiana, then, will apply their skills and knowledge to global nations/nation
states/countries.
Grade Level: high school
National Geography Standards:
1. How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and
report information.
3. How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface.
4. The physical and human characteristics of places.
12. The process, patterns, and functions of human settlement.
17. How to apply geography to interpret the past.
18. To apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.
Indiana Social Studies Academic Standards -- Geography and History of the World: (A variety of
standards across all disciplines could be addressed depending upon the direction that you want to take this
activity.)
3.1 Map the distribution of the world’s human population for different time periods. Analyze changes in
population characteristics and population density in specific regions. (Spatial Variation, Change Over
Time, Spatial Distribution, Human Environment Interactions)
3.2 Identify the push-pull factors* that resulted in the migration of human population over time and detect
changes in these factors. (Origins, Change Over Time, Spatial Interaction)
3.5 Analyze population trends in the local community and suggest the impact of these trends on the future of
the community in relation to issues such as development, employment, health, cultural diversity, schools,
political representation, and sanitation. Propose strategies for dealing with the issues identified. (Change
Over Time, Spatial Organization, Human Livelihoods, Cultural Landscape, Sense of Place)
5.1 Ask and answer geographic and historical questions about the origin and growth of towns and cities in
different regions of the world and in different time periods. Compare and contrast the factors involved in
the location and growth of towns and cities for different time periods. (Origins, Changes Over Time,
Human Environment Interactions, Spatial Variation)
©
5.2 Describe, using maps, timelines, and/or other graphic presentations, the worldwide trend toward
urbanization. Assess the impact of factors such as locational advantages and disadvantages, changing
transportation technologies, population growth, changing agricultural production, and the demands of
industry on this trend. (Diffusion, Change Over Time, Human Environment Interactions, Human
Livelihoods, Spatial Interaction)
5.5 Analyze and assess the impact of urbanization on the physical and human environments in various parts of
the world. (Spatial Variation, Change Over Time, Cultural Landscape, Human Environment Interactions,
Sense of Place, Physical Systems)
9.3 Identify ways in which humans have used technology to modify the physical environment in order to settle
areas in different world regions. Evaluate the impact of these technologies on the physical and human
environments affected. (Human Environment Interactions, Spatial Interaction, Change Over Time, Physical
Systems)
Advanced Placement Human Geography:
 Use and Think About Maps and Spatial Data: Geography is fundamentally concerned with the ways in
which patterns on Earth's surface reflect and influence physical and human processes. As such, maps and
spatial data are fundamental to the discipline, and learning to use and think about them is critical to
geographical literacy. The goal is achieved when students learn to use maps and spatial data to pose and
solve problems, and when they learn to think critically about what is revealed and what is hidden in
different maps and spatial arrays.
 Define Regions and Evaluate the Regionalization Process: Geography is concerned not simply with
describing patterns, but with analyzing how they came about and what they mean. Students should see
regions as objects of analysis and exploration and move beyond simply locating and describing regions to
considering how and why they come into being -- and what they reveal about the changing character of the
world in which we live.
 Characterize and Analyze Changing Interconnections Among Places: At the heart of a geographical
perspective is a concern with the ways in which events and processes operating in one place can influence
those operating at other places. Thus, students should view places and patterns not in isolation, but in terms
of their spatial and functional relationship with other places and patterns. Moreover, they should strive to
be aware that those relationships are constantly changing, and they should understand how and why change
occurs.
Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson/activity, students will be able to...
1.
2.
3.
4.
locate data about various spatial features for the state of Indiana,
analyze historic data to interpret trends,
apply historic and modern data analysis to project future trends, and
explain what a GIS is and how it helps humans.
©
Materials Required:
 Giant Traveling Map of Indiana (from GENI, e-mail request to geni@iupui.edu)
 Internet access to http://www.indianamap.org to obtain the Indiana Map data
 Outline map of Indiana
Procedures:
1. Ask the students to define or explain GIS. Write the answers down on a flip chart, chalkboard, white
board, Smart Board…
2. From the answers/explanations provided, gather the correct information and define for the students. GIS =
Geographic Information Systems (or Science) or Geospatial Information Studies, “is a system designed to
capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data. In
the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology.”
(Wikipedia)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Students will study the Giant Traveling Map of Indiana observing the 15 largest urban areas based on the
2000 Census Data. Students write down observations on a piece of paper.
All observations will be turned in and will be summarized. The summary data will be presented on an
overhead/white board/Smart Board… Discuss the observations making note of the most common
observations.
Students will visit the IndianaMap website at http://www.indianamap.org. Click onto the “Start Using
Your IndianaMap”; you may have to wait a few seconds between data acquisition and upload. Look to the
right-hand column; click on Demographics. Then, preview the items that are already uploaded onto the
map – indicated by a checkmark ( ). For example, in the predetermined information for the IndianaMap,
you will already see Place Names and Urban Areas already uploaded.
Explore the IndianaMap data to answer the questions on the hand-out. The
symbol means to open a
map key (index) in order to gain a better understanding of the visual map information. The
symbol
means to close a map key when you no longer need to view the information. The
means to view the
metadata, which is information about the data (where it came from, dates, resources…). The
means to
download the data to your computer; you may not want to do this unless you absolutely know how to
transfer the data from source software to your software.
indicates a database in a raster format.
indicates the scale of the data, which may not always be visible on the map until you zoom in or out.
Study Cincinnati (OH), Chicago (IL), Louisville (KY), Pittsburgh (PA), New York (NY), Houston (TX),
and Los Angeles (CA). Seek similar population change information as the information you explored for
Indianapolis. Compare and contrast.
Assessment: Successful completion of the Worksheet demonstrating comprehension of the material from a
spatial perspective.
Adaptations/Extensions: Research another topic seeking data from a spatial perspective: accessible fresh
water, agriculture, fast food, poverty, medical facilities, soup kitchens…
Resources:
 U.S. Census
 FactFinder U.S.
 Giant Traveling Map of Indiana
©
Urbanization and Indiana
Student Worksheet
Name:
Date:
1.
From the data available via the IndianaMap (http://www.indianamap.org), what information is visible
when the IndianaMap first appears? How many map layers is this?
2.
Looking under the Demographics Data, select Census Data (Historical). What do you observe? Where
did people settle Indiana? Why?
3.
Does a settlement relationship exist with water supply (hydrography)? You need to zoom into a
particular area in order to visualize the water (indicated in blue) resources (rivers, lakes, springs,
aquifers…). Why or why not?
4.
What about relationships to other local resources? Canals, mines, coal, gravel, petroleum, sand, caves?
Create an answer that addresses each item mentioned. View many of these under the Geology link.
5.
Visit the U.S. Census website to observe Indiana’s 2010 census data.
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data. What types of population changes do you observe – from the
IndianaMap 2000 demographic data and from the IndianaMap historic demographic data?
6.
Visit http://factfinder2.census.gov in order to find more detailed information about the 2010 Census.
Project changes that might occur in your local community, based on historic population trends for
©
Indiana, in Indiana’s urban areas for the 2020 census. Use the terms population trends,
increase/decrease, ethnic group changes, age, births, income, vehicles, poverty. Note other key
geographic factors that you find interesting that may address urbanization.
©
Answer Key
1.
Reference: counties, states, elevation (3 map layers)
Demographics: place names, urban areas (2 map layers)
Infrastructure: interstates, roads, roadways (3 may layers)
Environment/Biology: none
Hydrology: rivers, lakes (2 map layers)
Geology: none
10 map layers total are combined to create the one visible map image.
2.
Looking under the Demographics data, select Census Data (Historical). What do you observe? Where
did people settle Indiana? Why? Generally, people settled in seemingly random places throughout
Indiana. Surprisingly, not all settlements were along waterways. In order to gain a better idea about
where humans settled in Indiana, zoom into find local waterways and historic canals. Population data
dates from 1890, which had already seen Indianapolis as the capitol and many of the major areas of
settlement were already established by the French, English, Native Indians, and pioneers.
3.
Does a settlement relationship exist with water supply (hydrography)? You need to zoom into a
particular area in order to visualize the water (indicated in blue) resources (rivers, lakes, springs,
aquifers…). Why or why not? Generally, humans settled along waterways as the water was a primary
route of transportation as explorers traveled. Water also provided an easier mechanism for transporting
goods (for trade). Water was a necessary resource for survival: drinking/cooking, watering crops and
livestock, fishing, travel/transportation.
4.
What about relationships to other local resources? Canals, mines, coal, gravel, petroleum, industry
minerals, sand, caves? Create an answer that addresses each item mentioned. Historically, population
settlement tended to follow waterways, but settlements along canals in Indiana were not typical.
Settlement around areas of mining (coal, gravel, sand, industry minerals) was not on a permanent basis
as people would mine out a particular item until it was no longer available; then, they would move onto
the next job. Temporary settlements were typical around mines. Caves may be a factor in settlement as
access to fresh water might be available, but, generally, permanent settlements around a cave – unless
the cave provided a resource that could be used economically – were not typical.
5.
Visit the U.S. Census website to observe Indiana’s 2010 census data.
http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data. What types of population changes do you observe – from the
IndianaMap 2000 demographic data and from the IndianaMap historic demographic data? Indiana’s
population has grown steadily since the IndianaMap historic demographic data from 1890-2000. The
urban areas have grown much larger, while the rural areas have not grown much. People still settle in
the urban areas instead of rural areas – access to diverse resources.
©