Assignment: Lab 2: Displaying Spatial Data - I. Contour Maps

Spring 2020 - Geologic Hazards (GEOL-3400-01, GEOL-3400-10, GEOL-3400-11, GEOG-3400-12)
2019-12-20T18:11:50Z

Due:

Spatial (positional) information is important to us in many ways. To find our way from one location to another requires spatial information. Locating areas of the Earth's surface subject to various geologic hazards also requires spatial information. Characterization of position requires three dimensions. Typically, we represent spatial information using a 3- dimensional globe or a two-dimensional electronic or print map (Figure 1). Both have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Geology is a science that is very dependent upon spatial information. Geologists use maps for all kinds of purposes: locating transportation corridors, displaying and interpreting subsurface geologic information, showing land ownership and use, identifying the location of Earth resources, delineating areas subject to different geologic hazards, etc. Therefore an understanding of spatial information and maps, in particular, is a useful and necessary skill for a geologist. Understanding maps is also important for non-geologists. The ability to read a road map insures a motorist will reach her destination with minimal problems. Hikers and backpackers should know how to read and interpret a topographic map if they are to safely navigate the back country. When you buy a house, a floodplain map showing the location of your future property could save you a lot of heartache and financial loss. Even if you use modern global positioning system (GPS) devices and Geographical Information System (GIS) applications for any or all of these tasks, it is useful to know the fundamental underlying principles that underpin these modern computer applications

Figure 1:Ancient maps were works of art as well as conveyors of spatial information. Unfortunately, much of the spatial information they presented was wrong and often based on belief, speculation, and conjecture, not factual observation.

This lab introduces spatial information and the various ways we portray that information using maps. Having completed this lab, you will have developed the skills necessary to read most types of maps that you may encounter both in this class and in real life.

Information Source: 2 map lab text.pdf

Activities:

Activity 1 Map Scale Determining Size.pdf

Activity 2 Interpreting ContourLines.pdf

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Activity 4 Maps - constructing contour maps.pdf

Spatial (positional) information is important to us in many ways. To find our way from one location to another requires spatial information. Locating areas of the Earth's surface subject to various geologic hazards also requires spatial information. Characterization of position requires three dimensions. Typically, we represent spatial information using a 3- dimensional globe or a two-dimensional electronic or print map (Figure 1). Both have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Geology is a science that is very dependent upon spatial information. Geologists use maps for all kinds of purposes: locating transportation corridors, displaying and interpreting subsurface geologic information, showing land ownership and use, identifying the location of Earth resources, delineating areas subject to different geologic hazards, etc. Therefore an understanding of spatial information and maps, in particular, is a useful and necessary skill for a geologist. Understanding maps is also important for non-geologists. The ability to read a road map insures a motorist will reach her destination with minimal problems. Hikers and backpackers should know how to read and interpret a topographic map if they are to safely navigate the back country. When you buy a house, a floodplain map showing the location of your future property could save you a lot of heartache and financial loss. Even if you use modern global positioning system (GPS) devices and Geographical Information System (GIS) applications for any or all of these tasks, it is useful to know the fundamental underlying principles that underpin these modern computer applications

Figure 1:Ancient maps were works of art as well as conveyors of spatial information. Unfortunately, much of the spatial information they presented was wrong and often based on belief, speculation, and conjecture, not factual observation.

This lab introduces spatial information and the various ways we portray that information using maps. Having completed this lab, you will have developed the skills necessary to read most types of maps that you may encounter both in this class and in real life.

Information Source: 2 map lab text.pdf

Activities:

Activity 1 Map Scale Determining Size.pdf

Activity 2 Interpreting ContourLines.pdf

-

Activity 4 Maps - constructing contour maps.pdf