Maps & GIS
Geographic Information Systems
Remote sensing is defined as....
...scanning Earth from satellites or high-flying aircraft to obtain information without visiting the area.
A satellite is defined as...
A manufactured object launched by a rocket to orbit Earth for communication or observation.
False Colours are....
Colours that are artificially added to satellite images and are not the colours people would actually see from space.
This GIS software platform is used to create maps and analyse geographic information.
What is ArcGIS?
A city has one map showing population density and another showing hospital locations. What could GIS help planners investigate by comparing these layers?
Which neighbourhoods have many residents but limited access to nearby hospitals.
These are the two types of remote sensing.
What are aerial photographs and electronic satellite images?
At about 36,000 km above the equator, a satellite in this orbit stays over the same position and can continuously observe weather.
What is a geostationary orbit?
Shades of red commonly represent these features in false-colour images.
What are crops and other vegetation?
This map uses a progression of colours or shades to represent different values or amounts.
What is a graduated colour map?
A GIS map stores roads, rivers, schools, and population as separate layers. Explain why separate layers are more useful than one map where all the information is mixed together.
Each layer represents a different kind of geographic information, allowing users to select, compare, and analyse relationships relevant to a particular question.
This type of remote sensing can produce 3-D images of Earth's surface and help make topographic maps.
What are aerial photographs?
This kind of satellite orbit travels north-south while Earth rotates west-east, helping cover the whole Earth over time.
What is a Geostatic satellite?
Blue to black represents these features in false color images.
What is shallow and deep water?
This term means an organised collection of information that can be searched or updated.
What is a database?
A town is deciding where to build a new school. Name two GIS layers it should examine and explain what each layer would help planners understand.
Examples include population density (where students may live), roads or transport routes (accessibility), existing schools (areas already served), or available land (possible building sites). Both layers must be explained.
This type uses electronic images and usually covers more area but shows less detail.
What are satellite images?
The combination of a satellite's north-south movement and Earth's west-east rotation allows full coverage over time.
What is the orbit cycle?
This Canadian satellite sends microwave signals toward Earth and records the signals reflected back.
What is Radarsat?
Different ranges of this part of the electromagnetic spectrum can reveal different Earth characteristics, such as vegetation types or soil moisture.
What are wavelengths?
Name two ways modern maps can differ from many maps made in the past.
For example: they are digital rather than hand-drawn, easier to update, layered, searchable, or based on satellite/GPS data?
A farmer compares images of a field over time to spot changes in vegetation and decide where to investigate. What is the benefit of remote sensing?
It helps monitor a large area without visiting every part of it and can reveal patterns in crop conditions.
Why is a geostationary satellite useful for weather observation?
It stays above the same position and provides continuous observations of changing weather.
Give two facts about Radarsat.
It launched in 1995; monitors environmental changes/resource development; orbits at about 800 km; travels about 7 km/s; circles Earth about 14 times/day; covers Canada in 3 days; uses reflected radar/microwave signals.
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