INTRODUCTORY UNIT: GEOGRAPHY AS A
SCIENCE. MAPS AS THE MAIN TOOL IN GEOGRAPHY.
SUMMARY
PAGE 4
9. MAPS TODAY. COMPUTING OR DIGITAL
MAPPING:
G.I.S. stands for GEOGRAPHIC
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
DEFINITION: any
information system that captures, manages, analizes and displays
all forms of geographically referenced information.
MAIN APPLICATIONS:
- Resource management
- Environmental impact assessment
- Urban planning
- Logistics
Etc.
G.P.S. stands for GLOBAL POSITIONING
SYSTEM
DEFINITION: global
navigation satellite system which provides reliable positioning,
navigation and timing services to worldwide users on a continuous
basis.
MAIN APPLICATIONS:
- Calculate and programme routes for
planes, ships, cars and people.
REMOTE SENSING
DEFINITION:
science or technique of
acquiring information about the Earth's surface without being in
contact with it.
SCIENTIFIC
BASIS: all bodies
emitte or reflect electromagnetic energy sensed and recorded in
digital format by sensors installed on satellites.
MAIN
APPLICATIONS:
-
Weather
forecast
-
Coastal management
-
Crop control
-
Evaluate damages of natural disasters
Etc.
10.
WORKING WITH MAPS:
PROBLEMS
WITH SCALE
Example:
- map scale 1: 20,000,000
- real distance between London and Rome?
*
Measure with a ruler the distance on the map: 8 cm.
*
Multiply the distance measured on the map by the scale denominator:
10 cm x 20,000,000=100,000,000 cm.
*
Change cm to km: 100,000,000 cm : 1000 km.
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