Name three geographical factors that are relevant to this map

Thinking Geographically Chapter 1

The Two Broad Geographic Categories Human Geography −Human Activities Physical Geography −Natural Forces Common Thread: Both Ask Where and Why Questions

Human Geography Human Geography: is the study of the interaction between people and their environment. In other words, how do people affect and change their environment? In today’s world, geographers observe that people are being pulled by two factors −Globalization −Local Diversity

Physical Geography Map: A map is a scale model of the real world. Cartography: The science of map making. Why do Geographers Address Where Things Are?

Early Mapmaking Babylonians – Earliest Surviving – 2300BC Aristotle – Spherical, Shadows, Stars 1571 VS. Satellite Imagery

How Have Maps Changed?

Map Scale Scale: The relationship of a feature’s size on a map to its actual size on earth.

Projection Projection: The scientific method of transferring locations on the Earth’s surface to a flat map.

Map Projection Distortion −Shape −Distance −Relative Area −Direction Problems −Spherical Nature of Earth −Globe −3-D Equal Area Projection Map

Land Ordinance of 1785 Divided much of the country into a system of townships and ranges to facilitate the sale of land to settlers in the West. Townships −6 miles on each side −Principle Meridians – N/S −Base Lines – E/W −36 Sections

Contemporary Tools Beyond The Map −GIS Systems −Remote Sensing −GPS Systems GIS (geographic information system): A computer system the stores, organizes, analyzes, and displays geographic data. −Layers of information can be used to determine and compare relationships −Can be used separately or together

Remote Sensing: Acquisition of data about Earth’s surface from a satellite orbiting Earth or from other long-distance methods. On the LIDAR image above the following colors correspond with the following elevations relative to mean sea level. COLORValue (meters)Value (feet) Dark Green to to 0 Green0 to 300 to Yellow30 to to Magenta100 to to Red150 to to

GPS (Global Positioning System) GPS: A system that determines accurately the precise position of something on Earth through a series of satellites, tracking stations and receivers. September 28, 2001 — NOAA's National Geodetic Survey and Aircraft Operations Center mapped the wreckage of the World Trade Center in support of recovery and cleanup efforts following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. The data are being used to provide a very accurate geographic network. Building and utility engineers will be able to determine the location of original foundation support structures, elevator shafts, basement storage areas and building utility connections enabling them to concentrate their digging and recovery efforts in the proper location. The NOAA team used the global positioning system (GPS) to position both ground and airborne mapping sensors. GPS technology fixes the latitude, longitude and height of a point on the ground and in space within five centimeters.

City Development

Homework: Schools VS. McDonalds Assume You are either an investor or a Cobb County School Board Member. Write an essay about where you would place either (1) a new McDonald’s or (2) a new Cobb County School. You must give two reasons for your location decision, explaining why you have chosen your location. You must include supporting geographical evidence for each reason given.