Cartography, landscapes and new technologies

2. CARTOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPES AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

CARTOGRAPHY

Maps: - Basic component of any geographic study.

-Functions: 1. Help us learn about our surrundings.

2. Analyse the distribution of variables.

Geographers: they make and interpret maps.

LEARNING ABOUT OUR PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS

1.

PANORAMIC VIEWS - Geographers take photos from the air (aerial photography) to study the landscapes because in this manner they have visual knowledge about the area of study and they can analise it in a better way.

2. SATELLITE IMAGES - They allow us improve cartography.

3. THEMATIC MAPS - Symbols and/or colours are used to represent the distribution phenomena within a geographic area.

4. TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS AND ROAD MAPS - Topographic map is a graphic representation of cultural (roads, bridges, buildings…) and natural features ( rivers, hills…) on the ground.

- Roads maps allow us to orientate ourselves in space.

2. CARTOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPES AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES GEOGRAPHY AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES - The first Geographic Information System (GIS) (SIG in Spanish)was created in the 1960s.

GIS - They are computer systems that incorporate and relate different elements; users, data, software…

- They allow us to create, analyse, store and present all kinds of geographical data. (It is a database of geographical information) - They use big data represented on a digital map to analyse spatial patterns (patrones) and create predictive models.

2. CARTOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPES AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

- They are used by: - goverments, intelligence services, public sector, private firms, univrsities, research centres an geographers.

- Also, they are used by general public providing free access to spatal data for any place in the world.

- Video about a GIS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AlH5TvFoLw