Map Types & Projections
What is a choropleth map?
A thematic map that uses differences in shading, coloring, or symbols within predefined areas to indicate statistical values.
What is absolute location?
The precise coordinates or physical location of a place on Earth, often expressed using latitude and longitude.
What is a large-scale map?
A map that covers a small geographic area (like a neighborhood) with a high level of detail is classified as having this relative map scale.
What is qualitative data?
Non-numeric descriptive data collected through methods like narrative descriptions, visual observations, and personal interviews.
What is sustainability?
The practice of using resources in a way that satisfies current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
What are isoline maps?
Maps that use continuous lines of equal value (such as elevation contour lines or temperature gradients) to represent spatial distributions.
What is site?
The internal physical characteristics of a place, such as its climate, elevation, water sources, and soil.
What is the local scale of analysis?
This scale of analysis examines geographic data at the smallest, most immediate level, such as within a single city, neighborhood, or school district.
What is GPS (Global Positioning System)?
A system of satellites and receivers used to determine the exact absolute location of a point on Earth.
What is a dot density map?
A thematic map that uses uniform points placed across an area, where each dot represents a specific count or quantity of a feature.
What is distance decay?
The concept that the interaction between two places decreases as the distance between them increases.
What is scale of analysis?
The level at which data is aggregated and analyzed, ranging from global and national to regional and local.
What is GIS (Geographic Information System)?
Computer software designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, and display layered spatial data.
What is a cartogram?
A map that intentionally distorts the geometric size of geographic areas to reflect a specific variable, such as population or GDP.
What is a functional region?
A region organized around a central focal point or node, linked by transportation, communication, or economic activity.
What is a national scale of analysis?
If a map shows demographic data comparing entire countries against one another globally, it uses this scale of analysis.
What is a census?
A complete, official count of a nation's population conducted at regular intervals—such as every 10 years in the United States—used to gather critical demographic, social, and economic data.
What is a topographic map?
A reference map that shows detailed physical and human-made features of the landscape, using contour lines to illustrate elevation and relief.
What is a vernacular (or perceptual) region?
A region defined by people's feelings, attitudes, and cultural perceptions rather than objective scientific boundaries.
What is rescaling?
The action of shifting the perspective of an inquiry from a local focus to a global focus (or vice versa) to reveal different patterns.