Maps and geographic technologies

6. MAPS AND GEOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIES • TYPES OF MAPS:  TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS: show the main natural and man-made features of an area (mountains, rivers, roads…)  THEMATIC MAPS: show a particular feature of an area, using simbols or colours (climate, population density…)  PLANS: Are very large scale maps of a small area, they include a lot of details (town, village…)

6. MAPS AND GEOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGIES OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OF THE EARTH • Technological progress (computers and communication satellites) allow us to improve the representations of geographic data.

• GIS: Is a geographic information system which gives us several types of information:  Aerial photography gives us images of the Earth from aeroplanes.  Space images are taken from man-made satellites in space.  Remote sensing is the collection of information from a distance.

Information is processed by a computer and is converted into digital images.  Virtual maps: are created on computers. They show great detail

7. HOW TO READ A TOPOGRAPHIC MAP • TOPOGRAPHIC MAP: has information of physical and manmade features of an area.

• It always point North and has scale and geographic coordinates.

• A key shows the symbols used: o o o o o o o o

Contour lines: show land elevation Mountain peaks: small triangle Water: blue lines or areas Vegetation: green areas or symbols Roads: lines in different colours. Motorways are red.

Paths: thin black lines.

Railway lines: black lines with small marks crossing them.

Settlements: red areas.