1. De Geograaf (The Geographer) - 1669
Geography Tools
De Geograaf (The Geographer)
Unit 1: Introduction –Geography & Tools

2. Introduction
Geographers use all sorts of tools to help them investigate their questions.
Some common tools they use are:
Maps & Map Scale
Globes
Atlases
Aerial Photographs
Satellite Photographs
Information Graphics
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)

3. Maps
A map is a flat representation of a part of Earth.

4. Image courtesy of TeXample.net Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
Maps
Geographers use many types of maps
Maps can show lots of different information, including locations of places in the world.
Maps use projection to display a round object (Earth) on a flat surface (map)
Cartographers (map makers) have long struggled to find the most accurate projection to use on maps.
Image courtesy of TeXample.net Creative Commons Attribution 2.5

5. Atlas
An atlas is a book of maps.

6. Atlas An atlas contains maps of the world or a region of the world
Some atlases also include more information about the places they include in the maps
Atlases can be very helpful for traveling, instead of bringing many maps, you can bring one atlas.

7. Globe
A globe is a model of the Earth used to avoid distortions in spatial relations on the world.

8. Globe
Maps of the world are distorted during the process of plotting a round object on a flat surface
A globe is round, so it remains accurate
The globe provides an accurate scale of how far apart locations are
A globe can be used to compare the size of different locations

9. Aerial Photography
Aerial photographs are photographs taken from the sky and used to take measurements or create maps

10. Aerial Photographs
Aerial photographs can be taken from airplanes, balloons, or even kites.
You can download satellite photos from USGS at

11. Satellite Photographs
Satellite photos are like aerial photos but taken from space.

12. Information Graphics
Information graphics or infographics are visual representations of data.

13. Infographics Infographics show information using pictures or symbols
They can be as simple as a bar graph or they can be very complex

14. GIS (Geographic Information System)
GIS is a computer based program used to store, manage, and analyze data.

15. GIS (Geographic Information System)
A GIS map is more than a map because it can pull up a lot of information
Geographers use GIS to help make decisions
Imagine you wanted to make sure schools were not near any factories that might pollute the air
With a GIS mapping, geographers can use the database (place that stores information) to show where all the schools are and also show where all the the factories are
The GIS helps geographers see how information relates to locations

16. Reflection
What are some examples of how you would use these geography tools?