Lab 7: Census 2000 Data

This map shows the percentage of black people relative to the total population in the U.S. According to this map, the black population is mostly concentrated in the Southeast region of the country. This pattern makes sense, as the black population were enslaved in the South for centuries. In contrast, there is a very small black population in the North and Northwest parts of the country. There are small pockets of black people in the Midwest and Northeast, as well as California.  

This map shows the percentage of Asians living in the country relative to the total population. The Asian population is mostly concentrated in the West, particularly in California. As in the previous map, this trend makes historical sense, as large waves of Asian immigrants arrived in California in the Twentieth Century. The second largest concentration is in the Northeast, and there are smaller pockets located in Florida and the Midwest. 

This map shows the percentage of people who identify as some race that is different from the racial categories specified by the Census Bureau. In the West and Southwest, there is a high percentage of people who fall into this category. One possible explanation for this trend is that immigrants often locate in the states that share a border with Mexico, including Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. There are additional pockets of people who identify with this category in Florida and parts of the Northeast, however there are very few in the Midwest and Northern regions of the country.  

These geographic maps, derived from Census 2000 are very interesting because they illustrate that people of different backgrounds tend to live in the same areas. Overall, GIS is an excellent tool that can be used to create visual images of spatial data, such as the dispersion of demographic groups in the United States, fairly easily.  

Lab 6: DEMs in ArcGIS

These four maps depict various topographical features of a southern mountain range in Nevada. In decimal degrees, the area included in the maps is between 39.83 N and 39.38 N, -105.79 E and -104.97 E. The geographic coordinate system used to produce this data was the GCS North American 1983. The maps highlight the types of spatial analysis that can be achieved using ArcGIS; once data is obtained, one can input, assess, and draw conclusions about it.

Lab 4: ArcGIS Tutorial

As a geographic information systems tool, ArcMap has become one of the most widely used data systems to date. Overall, the program has opened doors to contemporary mapping technology and allowed geographers to share and compile complex information.

ArcMap is extremely useful for several reasons. For example, it can be used to store detailed spatial data. Moreover, it provides very precise measurements that are useful when trying to determine distance and sizes of different geographical features. Finally, ArcMap is useful because it can create multiple map layers in order to highlight the relationship between different topographical features. In this way, users can manipulate several data sets simultaneously, rather than having to work with a number of separate maps at the same time. Therefore, ArcMap is very helpful for inputting and analyzing spatial information.

Despite its positive attributes, ArcMap also has noteworthy shortcomings. Because the program has an extensive set of features, the program becomes very confusing for new users trying to input and manage a lot of data. In this way, the program is not one that anybody with a computer or internet connection can use; instead, ArcMap requires extensive knowledge about mapping and data systems to be of use.

Evidently, ArcMap has positive and negative attributes. Although it is widely utilized by professionals, it is not an easily accessible program.

(Lab 3) Livin' in the City: A Lesson on Neogeography

View Must-See Attractions in The City of Angeles in a larger map

Thoughts on Neogeography
       Neogeography has impacted the contemporary world tremendously. Since its beginning, neogeography has had several positive consequences on the way people interact and engage with the real world. In particular, the ability to create maps and share geographic data relatively easily has resulted in greater access to information. Anyone with a computer and internet connection can produce detailed information about different locations and geographic attributes. Therefore, there is a higher volume of information available in the world. As a result, people do not have the same difficulties getting hold of the information that they need, precisely because there are millions of sources to draw from.
       Despite the positive effects that neogeography has on society, it also has its pitfalls. For example, it can lead to the spread of misinformation. Because anyone can create a map, there is a high possibility that people fabricate or provide completely incorrect information. This means that neogeography can be unreliable and untrustworthy. Nevertheless, neogeography does have great potential, because it has the power to create networks and connect people and social groups across the globe. For instance, governments can use maps to relay political and economic data to one another, in order to establish trade partnerships. Advocates of anti-abuse campaigns can share information about safe zones and escape routes for victims to follow. Thus, neogeography has the potential to solidify social networks and, in some cases, save lives. Altogether, the concept of neogeography has profound implications for present and future societies.

Lab 2: USGS Topographic Maps

1. Beverly Hills Quadrangle
2. The adjacent quadrangles are Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Burbank, Topanga, Hollywood, Venice and Inglewood.
3. The quadrangle was first compiled in 1966.
4. There are three sets of datum used to create the map. For horizontal datum, the North American Datum of 1927 was used; this was later revised using North American Datum of 1983.  Finally, contour line datum were taken from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929.
5. The scale of the map is 1:24000. This ratio indicates that one unit shown on the map are equivalent to 24,000 of the same units in the real world. This scale is typical of USGS quadrangles, which include 7.5 minutes of longitude and latitude.
6. a. 5 centimeters on the map is equivalent to 1200 meters on the ground.
    b. 5 inches on the map is equivalent to 1.89 miles on the ground.
    c. 1 mile on the ground is equivalent to 2.64 inches on the map
    d. 3 kilometers on the ground is equivalent to 12.5 centimeters on the map.
7. The contour interval of the map is 20 ft.
8. a. Public Affairs
       -DMS: 34°04'05"N, 118°26'23"W
       -Decimal Degrees: 34.068N, -118.440E
    b. Tip of Santa Monica Pier
       -DMS: 34°04'05"N, 118°30'57"W
       -Decimal Degrees: 34.008N, -118.516E
     c. Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir
       -DMS: 34°7'9"N, 118°24'29"W
       -Decimal Degrees: 34.119N, -118.408E
9.  a. Greystone National Park; 600ft = 182m
     b. Woodlawn Cemetery; 140ft =42.7m
     c. Crestwood Hills Park: 700ft = 213m
10. Zone 11
11. 3,763,000mN, 361,500mE
12. 1000m x 1000m = 1,000,000 sq. meters
13.

14. The magnetic declination of this map is 14°.
15. The stream flows from North to South.
16.

Where in the World...?

...can I find religion?  

http://www.kidsmaps.com/geography/The+World/Sociological/Religions+of+the+World

In this image, provided by Kids Maps, one can see which religions dominate geographical regions of the world. Without taking into account differences in population size per county, it appears that Christianity is the most widely cited religious affiliation worldwide. The map specifically shows that the majority of people living in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Sub-Saharan Africa recognize themselves as Christians. Islam is the second largest religion, and Buddhism appears to be the third most prevalent faith. What I find most interesting about this map is that Judaism seems completely absent from it. Without prior knowledge of Judaism, the map would lead people to conclude that it is not a prominent religion at all. In this regard, it must be taken into account that the map does not acknowledge religious diversity within different regions. For example, by  looking at the map, one could not deduce that many Americans are Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist; instead, it appears as though everyone living in the United States is Christian. As such, religious diversity is neither recognized within countries, nor the focal point of the map. In contrast, the map is designed to show religious majorities by geographic region. Therefore, Judaism obviously would not be shown, as it is not a majority religion in any large region of the world. Overall, this map lends itself to further studies about religious distribution and how it relates to political, economic, and social interactions on a global scale. 

...should people go to drink? 
 
(http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/02/global_alcohol_consumption).  

Above is a map provided by The Economist, which illustrates levels of alcohol consumption across the globe. One finds that rates of alcohol intake are highest in Europe and lowest in Northern Africa and Indonesia. East and Southeast Asia have relatively low consumption rates, while Australia and the Americas have mid-range levels. This map is interesting when analyzed alongside the map of religious patterns by region. Looking at the two, one could argue that alcohol consumption directly corresponds to religious affiliation; for example, there is a pattern of very low consumption within predominately Muslim areas like Northern Africa and Indonesia.  In predominately Christian continents, such as North and South America, Australia, and Europe, there are much higher rates of consumption. This information can be particularly useful for investigating the relationship between religion and popular culture.


...can I retire happily? 

http://giszone.blogs.bucknell.edu/2011/04/06/mapping-happiness/

This map was constructed by a Ph.D. student from the University of Cambridge, who calculated happiness levels in the United States. Using Twitter posts as a primary indicator of nationwide emotion levels, he analyzed words and terms, generally associated with happiness or sadness, to create a statistical model that could predict happiness levels in each of the 50 states. Based on the data, it appears that people living in parts of the Northeast, the Great Plains, and the Deep South are happiest, while the states in the northern half of the country and northern parts of New England are the least happy. This can possibly be attributed to temperature and weather patterns; while the northern-most parts of the country tend to be cold and subject to intense weather trends, thereby contributing to sadness, the southern regions are warmer and, thus, generate happiness. This would also explain why Alaska, characterized by long periods of cold and gloomy weather, is also considered one of the least happy states.  Even more interesting is the wide range of emotion across the country, as opposed to one relatively consistent pattern of happiness. I expected to find more homogeneity than is actually shown on the map. Overall, it is enlightening to see where people are perceived to be the happiest, because such a study opens the door to further research about psychological and social trends across the country.