Overview
This lecture reviews all major concepts from Unit 1 of AP Human Geography, focusing on maps, data collection, spatial patterns, scales of analysis, and types of regions.
Map Projections and Types of Maps
- All map projections distort direction, shape, area, or distance due to projecting a globe onto a flat surface.
- Mercator projection preserves direction but distorts land size, especially near poles.
- Goode Homolosine projection accurately shows land size/shape but distorts distance and direction.
- Robinson projection spreads distortion evenly, minimizing it overall.
- Gall-Peters projection preserves land size but distorts shape and direction.
- Reference maps display boundaries, place names (toponyms), and features; topographic maps show elevation with contour lines.
- Thematic maps display spatial patterns using quantitative data (e.g., choropleth, dot density, graduated symbol, isoline, cartogram, flowline maps).
Geographic Data Collection & Types
- Geospatial technologies include remote sensing (satellites), GIS (layered data analysis), and GPS (absolute location).
- Field observations, interviews, media reports, government documents, travel narratives, and photo/landscape analysis are data sources.
- Qualitative data is descriptive and subjective, collected via interviews/observations.
- Quantitative data is numerical and objective, e.g., census data.
Scale and Scale of Analysis
- Local scale gives detailed insight; regional and national scales show broader patterns; global scale gives general overviews.
- Scale of analysis refers to how data is organized (global = no country boundaries, national = by country, regional = by regions, local = by counties/cities).
- Small scale maps are zoomed out (more generalization), large scale maps are zoomed in (more detail).
Spatial Concepts & Sense of Place
- Absolute location uses latitude/longitude; relative location describes place in relation to surroundings.
- Physical characteristics: natural features; human characteristics: culture, language, population.
- Sense of place: emotional connection to a location; placelessness: lack of unique features.
- Spatial distribution refers to density (amount), concentration (clustered/dispersed), and pattern (arrangement).
Human-Environment Interaction
- Environmental determinism: environment shapes society.
- Environmental possibilism: humans adapt and modify environment within its limits.
- Land use includes agricultural, industrial, commercial, residential, recreational, and transportation purposes.
- Sustainable development balances current needs with future resource availability.
Types of Regions
- Formal (uniform) regions: defined by shared characteristics (e.g., climate, political boundaries).
- Functional (nodal) regions: organized around a central node (e.g., airport service area).
- Perceptual (vernacular) regions: defined by people's beliefs or perceptions (e.g., "the Midwest").
Key Terms & Definitions
- Distortion — alteration of map properties (shape, area, distance, direction) in projection.
- Reference Map — shows boundaries and geographic features.
- Thematic Map — visualizes spatial data on a specific topic.
- GIS (Geographic Information System) — computer system for analyzing and displaying geographic data.
- Remote Sensing — collecting data from satellites.
- Absolute Location — exact latitude and longitude.
- Relative Location — location described by surroundings.
- Sense of Place — emotional attachment to a place.
- Time-space compression — reduced impact of distance due to technology.
- Distance decay — decreased interaction as distance increases.
- Environmental determinism — belief that environment determines societal outcomes.
- Environmental possibilism — belief that humans can modify environment within limits.
- Formal Region — defined by one or more common attributes.
- Functional Region — area organized around a central focal point.
- Perceptual Region — area perceived differently by different people.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Complete the study guide and check your answers with the answer key.
- Take the unit one practice quiz to prepare for your test.
- Practice identifying and analyzing maps and types of data.
- Review qualitative vs. quantitative data and scales of analysis.