AP Human Geography: Unit 1 Summary

Introduction

• Overview of study guide and resource packet
• Focus on achieving success in class and on the national exam

Map Projections

• Distortion: Maps are distorted representations of the globe due to projecting a 3D object onto a 2D surface.
• Types of Map Projections:
  • Mercator Projection: Conformal, accurate direction, used for naval purposes; distorts size and location of landmasses (e.g., Greenland appears larger than Africa).
  • Goode Homolosine Projection: Equal area, pseudo-cylindrical; accurate land mass size and shape, but distorted distances.
  • Robinson Projection: Minimizes distortion by spreading it across entire map; more distortion near poles.
  • Gall-Peters Projection: Accurate land mass size, distorts shape and direction.

Types of Maps

• Reference Maps: Show geographic features, boundaries, and toponyms; used for directions, property lines, political boundaries, etc.
  • Topographic Maps: Use contour lines to show terrain and elevation changes.
• Thematic Maps: Display spatial patterns using quantitative data.
  • Choropleth Maps: Use colors/shades to represent data quantities.
  • Dot Density Maps: Display data distribution with dots; can be clustered or dispersed.
  • Graduated Symbol Maps: Use symbols to show data quantity; can overlap.
  • Isoline Maps: Connect areas with similar data values (e.g., weather maps).
  • Cartogram Maps: Represent data with area size (e.g., population).
  • Flowline Maps: Show movement of goods, people, ideas.

Geographic Data Collection

• Remote Sensing: Satellites collect information for geographic information systems (GIS).
• GIS: Analyzes and displays geographic data in layers.
• GPS: Provides absolute location data.
• Field Observations: In-person or digital data collection through observation.
• Personal Interviews: Collect unique perspectives via questioning.
• Media Reports: Use newspapers and media to gain insights.
• Government Documents: Laws and policies provide cultural and system insights.
• Travel Narratives: Personal perspectives and experiences.
• Landscape/Photo Analysis: Study changes and human impact through geospatial images.

Types of Data

• Qualitative Data: Word-based, subjective; collected via observations and interviews.
• Quantitative Data: Number-based, objective; collected through census and demographic data.

Use of Geographic Data

• Changing Scale: Provides different insights at local, national, and global levels.
  • Local Scale: Detailed view, sees data points clearly.
  • National Scale: Understands spatial relationships within countries.
  • Global Scale: Observes broader patterns, generalizes data.
• Applications:
  • Governments: Plan zoning, infrastructure, laws based on data.
  • Businesses: Understand markets, economic trends.
  • Individuals: Use for navigation, moving, and understanding global context.

Spatial Concepts and Interaction

• Absolute vs. Relative Location: Exact coordinates vs. relation to surrounding area.
• Sense of Place: Emotional response to a place, influenced by unique features and personal memories.
• Spatial Associations: Observe density, concentration, and patterns.
  • Density: People/objects in an area.
  • Concentration: Clustering or dispersal of people/objects.
  • Pattern: Arrangement of objects (e.g., grid, linear).
• Time-Space Compression: World feels smaller due to technological advancements.
• Distance Decay: Interaction decreases with increasing distance.

Human-Environment Interaction

• Environmental Determinism: Environment dictates societal success.
• Environmental Possibilism: Society can adapt and modify environment.
• Land Use:
  • Agricultural: Crop and animal production.
  • Industrial: Factories and manufacturing.
  • Commercial: Business and retail spaces.
  • Residential: Housing areas.
  • Recreational: Leisure spaces like parks.
  • Transportational: Roads, railways, airports.
• Natural Resources: Renewable vs. non-renewable; importance of sustainability.

Scale and Scale of Analysis

• Scale: Relationship between map distance and Earth's surface.
  • Global, National, Regional, Local levels.
• Scale of Analysis: How data is organized; affects the detail and generalization of data.

Regional Analysis

• Types of Regions:
  • Formal Regions: Shared attributes, commonalities (e.g., political boundaries).
  • Functional Regions: Organized around a central node (e.g., urban areas).
  • Perceptual Regions: Based on opinions and beliefs (e.g., "The Middle East").
• Regions can change, overlap, and be contested based on scale changes.