Introduction to GeographyIntroduction to Geography

Chapter 1: Introduction to Chapter 1: Introduction to GeographyGeography

What is your perspective?What is your perspective?

GeographyGeographyThe study of the interaction of all The study of the interaction of all

physical and human phenomena at physical and human phenomena at individual places and of how individual places and of how

interactions among places form interactions among places form patterns and organize space.patterns and organize space.

What Is Geography?What Is Geography?► PhysicalPhysical► HumanHuman

CulturalCultural

► CartographyCartography Making mapsMaking maps

► Remote SensingRemote Sensing Mapping Earth from Mapping Earth from

satellites & aircraft satellites & aircraft

► Geographic Geographic Information Systems Information Systems

► A way of thinking about problems, with interacting A way of thinking about problems, with interacting factors in a placefactors in a place

5 Themes of Geography5 Themes of Geography► Location Location

Where is it?Where is it?► Place Place

What is it like?What is it like?► Human-environment Human-environment

interactioninteraction How do people relate to How do people relate to

the physical world?the physical world?► RegionRegion

How are places similar or different?How are places similar or different?► MovementMovement

How do people, goods, ideas, etc. get from one place to How do people, goods, ideas, etc. get from one place to another?another?

Location Place

Region Movement

Human – Environment Interaction

The Science The Science of Geographyof Geography

►LocationLocation Absolute Absolute

locationlocation Relative Relative

locationlocation Answers the Answers the

question question “where?”“where?”

The Science of GeographyThe Science of Geography► RegionRegion

Area with uniform Area with uniform characteristicscharacteristics►For example, topography, For example, topography,

climateclimate

The Science of GeographyThe Science of Geography►Human-environment Human-environment

interactioninteraction How humans interact with How humans interact with

the natural environmentthe natural environment Effects humans have on Effects humans have on

the environmentthe environment Effects the environment Effects the environment

has on humanshas on humans

The Science of GeographyThe Science of Geography►MovementMovement

Across the earth’s Across the earth’s surfacesurface

Includes:Includes:►CommunicationsCommunications►TransportationTransportation►CirculationCirculation►DiffusionDiffusion

The Science of GeographyThe Science of Geography

►PlacePlace Characteristics make each place uniqueCharacteristics make each place unique No place is exactly the same as anotherNo place is exactly the same as another

Development of Development of GeographyGeography

► Classical Western WorldClassical Western World ErastosthenesErastosthenes Hipparchus Hipparchus

►Non-European WorldNon-European World The Tribute of YuThe Tribute of Yu Phei HsiuPhei Hsiu KangnidoKangnido

Ptolemy 150 A.D.Ptolemy 150 A.D.

Since the 1400’s…Since the 1400’s…►General General

geographygeography Bernhard VarenBernhard Varen

►Special geographySpecial geography RegionalRegional

►General geographyGeneral geography Topical or Topical or

systematic systematic

► Human-Human-environment environment traditiontradition Alexander von Alexander von

HumboldtHumboldt►CosmosCosmos

Contemporary GeographyContemporary Geography

► 3 approaches3 approaches Area analysisArea analysis Spatial or locational analysisSpatial or locational analysis Geographic systems analysisGeographic systems analysis

““The information that any citizen needs in order The information that any citizen needs in order to make an informed decision on an important to make an informed decision on an important question of the day is largely geographic.”question of the day is largely geographic.”

Area AnalysisArea Analysis►SiteSite

Exact location of a placeExact location of a place►Situation or relative locationSituation or relative location

Location of a place relative to other placesLocation of a place relative to other places AccessibilityAccessibility Constant changeConstant change ScaleScale

►GlobalizationGlobalization

Internal Asian Trade Routes in 1400

RegionsRegions► Formal regionsFormal regions

Essential uniformity in one or more physical or Essential uniformity in one or more physical or cultural featurescultural features

►Functional regionsFunctional regions Defined by interactions among Defined by interactions among

placesplaces I.e. trade or communicationsI.e. trade or communications

RegionsRegions

Television station viewing

areas within Iowa

►Vernacular regionsVernacular regions Widespread popular perception of Widespread popular perception of

existenceexistence

RegionsRegions

Spatial AnalysisSpatial Analysis

►DistributionDistribution► 3 properties 3 properties

of distributionof distribution DensityDensity ConcentratioConcentratio

nn PatternPattern

MovementMovement►DistanceDistance

MeasurementsMeasurements►AbsoluteAbsolute►TimeTime►CostCost

Friction Friction of of distancedistance

►Distance Distance decaydecay As distance increases, importance As distance increases, importance

of a particular phenomena of a particular phenomena decreasesdecreases

DiffusionDiffusion►HearthHearth

Place where idea Place where idea beginsbegins

► Relocation diffusionRelocation diffusion► Contiguous or Contiguous or

contagious diffusioncontagious diffusion►Hierarchical Hierarchical

diffusiondiffusion► Barriers to diffusionBarriers to diffusion

Distance & timeDistance & time Physical barriersPhysical barriers Cultural barriersCultural barriers

4 Physical Systems4 Physical Systems

► Atmosphere (air)Atmosphere (air)

► Lithosphere (Earth’s Lithosphere (Earth’s solid rocks)solid rocks)

►Hydrosphere Hydrosphere (water)(water)

► Biosphere (living Biosphere (living organisms)organisms)

Human-Environmental Human-Environmental InteractionInteraction► Reciprocal interactionReciprocal interaction

► CultureCulture Everything about the way people liveEverything about the way people live Language, food, religion, social ceremoniesLanguage, food, religion, social ceremonies

►Natural landscapesNatural landscapes Without evidence of human activityWithout evidence of human activity

► Cultural landscapesCultural landscapes How humans modify local environmentHow humans modify local environment

The Geographic GridThe Geographic Grid► LatitudeLatitude

Location on Earth’s Location on Earth’s surface between equator surface between equator & N Pole or S Pole& N Pole or S Pole

0-900-90° ° N or SN or S ParallelsParallels

► LongitudeLongitude Measures distance E & Measures distance E &

W around globeW around globe Prime MeridianPrime Meridian International Date Line International Date Line 0-1800-180° ° E or WE or W

Prime Meridian and Standard Prime Meridian and Standard Time   Time   

► Prime Meridian in 1884 & GMT establishedPrime Meridian in 1884 & GMT established► Time zones – 1 hour for each time zoneTime zones – 1 hour for each time zone

360 deg / 24 hr = 15 deg / hr (rotation of earth)360 deg / 24 hr = 15 deg / hr (rotation of earth)

International DatelineInternational Dateline► 180180thth meridian meridian►One day later west of this lineOne day later west of this line► Each day officially begins here at 12:01 amEach day officially begins here at 12:01 am

International Dateline

Map MakingMap Making

► CartographyCartography► ScaleScale

FractionFraction 1/24,0001/24,000 RatioRatio 1:24,0001:24,000 Written statement “1 inch equals 1 mile”Written statement “1 inch equals 1 mile” Bar styleBar style

► Detail and areaDetail and area Small scale map = less detail, large denominator Small scale map = less detail, large denominator

(1:1,000,000)(1:1,000,000) Large scale map = more detail, small Large scale map = more detail, small

denominator (1:100,000) denominator (1:100,000)

0 1 2 43

Seattle, WA at different scales

Globe vs. Flat Map Globe vs. Flat Map     

►GlobeGlobe Scale model of EarthScale model of Earth

►Best model representing Best model representing Earth – 3DEarth – 3D

►Not practicalNot practical Not easy to carryNot easy to carry Only see ½ at a timeOnly see ½ at a time Only “small scale” Only “small scale”

►Maps are 2D Maps are 2D DistortionDistortion

►Projections try to minimize Projections try to minimize distortiondistortion

ProjectionProjection

►Scientific method of transferring Scientific method of transferring locations on Earth’s surface to a flat locations on Earth’s surface to a flat mapmap

►4 types of distortion4 types of distortion ShapeShape SizeSize

Conformal and Equal Area Conformal and Equal Area ProjectionsProjections

Interrupted ProjectionInterrupted Projection

Robinson ProjectionRobinson Projection►One of the most popular compromises One of the most popular compromises

between equivalent and conformal between equivalent and conformal projectionsprojections

Automated CartographyAutomated Cartography►Manual techniques expensiveManual techniques expensive► Computer-aided Drawing (CAD)Computer-aided Drawing (CAD)► Application to map makingApplication to map making

Sophisticated, specialized digital cartography systemsSophisticated, specialized digital cartography systems Drawing & editing Drawing & editing

on video monitor on video monitor before printingbefore printing

Fast, inexpensive, Fast, inexpensive, easy editing & easy editing & updatingupdating

Remote sensingRemote sensing► Acquiring data from high-flying aircraft or Acquiring data from high-flying aircraft or

satellites orbiting Earth satellites orbiting Earth

SatellitesSatellites►Landsat Landsat

First: 1972First: 1972 Most recent (Landsat 7): Most recent (Landsat 7):

19991999 Next: 2012Next: 2012 Sensors measure radiation Sensors measure radiation

of colors of visible lightof colors of visible light►PixelPixel

Size of area sensedSize of area sensed Measure of resolutionMeasure of resolution

►Weather satellitesWeather satellites Very large pixelsVery large pixels

Aerial Photo of Banda Aceh CoastAerial Photo of Banda Aceh CoastBefore TsunamiBefore Tsunami

Aerial Photo of Banda Aceh CoastAerial Photo of Banda Aceh CoastAfter TsunamiAfter Tsunami

Remotely Remotely Sensed DataSensed Data

►WeatherWeather►History & archaeologyHistory & archaeology►Environmental impactsEnvironmental impacts►Farmland qualityFarmland quality►Stream flowStream flow►Urban expansionUrban expansion►Military intelligenceMilitary intelligence►Commercial informationCommercial information

Landsat images of Shenzen, China showing dramatic urban development in

8 years

Global Positioning Systems Global Positioning Systems (GPS)(GPS)

►Developed for military useDeveloped for military use►Now available to civiliansNow available to civilians►Works via satellite signalsWorks via satellite signals►Device must be outdoors, Device must be outdoors,

unobstructed by trees unobstructed by trees►Uses:Uses:

TransportationTransportation Land surveyingLand surveying Environmental assessmentEnvironmental assessment Automobile travelAutomobile travel HikingHiking

GISGIS►Database software that includes spatial Database software that includes spatial

information information Boundaries or coordinatesBoundaries or coordinates Identifying locator Identifying locator

(i.e. address)(i.e. address)►Locates item in spaceLocates item in space

►LayersLayers Information with specific Information with specific

characteristicscharacteristics Can be combined for Can be combined for

analysisanalysis

Digital Geographic Digital Geographic InformationInformation

►RasterRaster Grid cells of dataGrid cells of data PixelsPixels

►VectorVector Point, line, Point, line,

polygon datapolygon data X & Y coordinatesX & Y coordinates

►Different uses & Different uses & spatial accuraciesspatial accuracies

Digital DataDigital Data► Conversion of paper to digital formatsConversion of paper to digital formats

DigitizingDigitizing ScanningScanning

► Available types of dataAvailable types of data Topographic mapsTopographic maps

►Digital Raster Graphic (DRG)Digital Raster Graphic (DRG)►Digital Line Graph (DLG)Digital Line Graph (DLG)

US Fish and Wildlife Service US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands InventoryNational Wetlands Inventory

Census Bureau maps of Census Bureau maps of streets with addressesstreets with addresses

GIS Spatial AnalysisGIS Spatial Analysis►Calculating densities and distribution of populationCalculating densities and distribution of population►Monitoring environmental changesMonitoring environmental changes►911 emergency response911 emergency response

Links landlines to physical addressesLinks landlines to physical addresses Links cellular phones to Links cellular phones to

transmission towerstransmission towers►Relational databasesRelational databases►Online address mapping Online address mapping

& directions & directions►Disparities in availability Disparities in availability

of information of information Lack of resourcesLack of resources Government secrecyGovernment secrecy

GIS ExamplesGIS Examples

►http://www.esri.com/http://www.esri.com/►www.maps.google.com www.maps.google.com ►http://www.dcassessor.org/gis-http://www.dcassessor.org/gis-

mappingmapping►http://maps.sarpy.com/sims20/http://maps.sarpy.com/sims20/►Remote sensing and GIS by NASA Remote sensing and GIS by NASA

ConnectConnect

End of Chapter 1