AP Human Geography Unit 1 Summary

Overview

• Focus on major concepts from Unit 1.
• Accompanying study guide available in the Ultimate Review Packet, with additional resources for exam preparation.

Maps and Projections

• Distortion in Maps:

  • Every map has distortion in direction, shape, area, or distance.
  • Projection from 3D to 2D leads to these distortions.

• Types of Projections:

  • Mercator Projection:
    • Conformal, good for direction, used in naval expeditions.
    • Distorts size and location of land masses (e.g., Greenland vs. Africa).
  • Good Homolosine Projection:
    • Equal area projection, retains size and shape of land masses.
    • Distorts distances, not good for direction.
  • Robinson Projection:
    • Distortion near poles, minimizes distortion across map.
  • Gall Peters Projection:
    • Accurate land size, distorts shape and direction.

Types of Maps

• Reference Maps:

  • Show boundaries, toponyms, geographic features.
  • Types include topographic maps (use contour lines for elevation).

• Thematic Maps:

  • Display spatial patterns using quantitative data.
  • Types include:
    • Choropleth Maps: Use color shades to represent data.
    • Dot Density Maps: Show spatial distribution with dots.
    • Graduated Symbol Maps: Use symbols to show data location and quantity.
    • Isoline Maps: Connect areas with similar data (e.g., weather maps).
    • Cartogram Maps: Represent data dynamically by area size.
    • Flowline Maps: Show movement of goods, people, ideas.

Geographic Data Collection

• Geospatial Technologies:

  • Remote Sensing: Collects data from satellites.
  • GIS (Geographic Information Systems): Analyzes and displays geographic data.
  • GPS (Global Positioning System): Provides absolute location.

• Field Observations and Interviews:

  • People visit places to collect firsthand data or conduct interviews.

• Media Reports & Government Documents:

  • Provide insights into cultural values and governing systems.

• Travel Narratives and Photo Analysis:

  • Offer personal perspectives and environmental impact insights.

Types of Data

• Qualitative Data:

  • Subjective, often in word form, collected through observations and interviews.

• Quantitative Data:

  • Objective, number-based, collected via censuses and demographic studies.

Use of Geographic Data

• Scale and Insight:

  • Changing scale from local to global offers different insights.

• Government and Business Use:

  • Local to global governments use data for planning and policies.
  • Businesses use data to understand customer needs and optimize operations.

Spatial Concepts

• Absolute vs. Relative Location:

  • Absolute: Exact (longitude & latitude).
  • Relative: Contextual (surrounding features).

• Physical and Human Characteristics:

  • Physical: Natural features (rivers, climate).
  • Human: Cultural aspects (languages, religions).

• Spatial Distribution:

  • Consists of density, concentration, and patterns.

• Human-Environment Interaction:

  • Environmental Determinism: Environment dictates society's success.
  • Environmental Possibilism: Society can adapt and modify the environment.

Land Use and Sustainability

• Types of Land Use:

  • Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Recreational, Transportational.

• Natural Resources:

  • Renewable vs. Non-renewable resources.
  • Importance of sustainability to meet future needs.

Scale and Scale of Analysis

• Map Scale:

  • Relation of map distance to Earth's surface distance.

• Scale of Analysis:

  • Global, national, regional, local; affects data representation.

Regional Analysis

• Types of Regions:
  • Formal Regions: Common attributes (economic/political).
  • Functional Regions: Organized around a center or node.
  • Perceptual Regions: Based on people's perceptions and opinions.

Conclusion

• Completion of Unit 1 with resources for further study and preparation for Unit 2.