Podcast
Questions and Answers
How does computer mapping primarily differ from traditional mapmaking methods?
How does computer mapping primarily differ from traditional mapmaking methods?
- It avoids the use of satellite imagery.
- It relies solely on manual drawing techniques.
- It focuses exclusively on coastline sketching from ships.
- It uses digitized data for storage, processing, and display. (correct)
What is the process of converting map locations into numerical data that computers can store?
What is the process of converting map locations into numerical data that computers can store?
- Digitizing (correct)
- Pixelation
- Triangulation
- Surveying
Which component of a satellite image contains information about the color and brightness of a specific area on Earth's surface?
Which component of a satellite image contains information about the color and brightness of a specific area on Earth's surface?
- Pixel (correct)
- Polygon
- Coordinate
- Vector
Which data sources are utilized by computer mapmakers to generate maps?
Which data sources are utilized by computer mapmakers to generate maps?
How do scientists identify specific features on a Landsat satellite image?
How do scientists identify specific features on a Landsat satellite image?
What is the primary function of Landsat satellites?
What is the primary function of Landsat satellites?
Which of the following best describes the Global Positioning System (GPS)?
Which of the following best describes the Global Positioning System (GPS)?
How does a computer translate digitized data from a satellite image into colors when the image is printed?
How does a computer translate digitized data from a satellite image into colors when the image is printed?
In satellite imagery, what color is commonly used to represent areas covered by grass, trees, or crops?
In satellite imagery, what color is commonly used to represent areas covered by grass, trees, or crops?
What does the term 'surveying' refer to in the context of mapmaking?
What does the term 'surveying' refer to in the context of mapmaking?
What is one advantage of using computer mapping over traditional mapmaking methods?
What is one advantage of using computer mapping over traditional mapmaking methods?
Which of the following can Landsat images show about the land surface?
Which of the following can Landsat images show about the land surface?
What is the width of the strip of Earth's surface that a Landsat satellite collects data about?
What is the width of the strip of Earth's surface that a Landsat satellite collects data about?
What is the primary reason satellite images from different years are compared?
What is the primary reason satellite images from different years are compared?
Which of the following best describes the information that each painting of pixel would have?
Which of the following best describes the information that each painting of pixel would have?
What type of electronic devices primarily collect computer data about the land surface?
What type of electronic devices primarily collect computer data about the land surface?
Data used in computer mapping must be in what form?
Data used in computer mapping must be in what form?
What is the term for pictures of the surface that are constructed using the data collected from electronic devices?
What is the term for pictures of the surface that are constructed using the data collected from electronic devices?
Which practice helped to develop more accurate maps by helping determine different distances and elevations?
Which practice helped to develop more accurate maps by helping determine different distances and elevations?
What is the name used to describe when mapmakers convert the location of map points to numbers?
What is the name used to describe when mapmakers convert the location of map points to numbers?
Flashcards
What is surveying?
What is surveying?
The process of determining distances and elevations using instruments and geometry.
What is digitizing?
What is digitizing?
Converting location of map points to numbers a computer can understand (0s and 1s).
What are pixels?
What are pixels?
Tiny dots that make up a satellite image; each dot has color/brightness info.
What are satellite images?
What are satellite images?
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What is the Global Positioning System (GPS)?
What is the Global Positioning System (GPS)?
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What is a key advantage of computer mapping?
What is a key advantage of computer mapping?
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How do satellites gather data for satellite images?
How do satellites gather data for satellite images?
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What do Landsat images show?
What do Landsat images show?
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Study Notes
- Computer mapping has revolutionized mapmaking since the 1970s
- Mapmakers can store, process, and display map data electronically with computers.
- All data used in computer mapping must be written in numbers by digitizing the location of map points.
- These numbers are stored as 0s and 1s, displayed on a screen, modified, and printed.
Key Concepts
- Computer mapping differs from earlier mapmaking by electronically storing, processing, and displaying map data, a process expedited by computers.
- Data is gathered from multiple sources including satellites and the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Key Terms
- Surveying: Determining distances and elevations using instruments and geometry.
- Digitizing: Converting map point locations into numbers.
- Pixel: A tiny dot that makes up a satellite image; contains color and brightness data for a small part of Earth's surface.
- Satellite Image: A picture of the surface based on data collected by electronic devices on mapping satellites.
- Global Positioning System: A system for finding latitude, longitude, and elevation using a network of satellites.
Discover Activity: Making a Pixel Picture
- Each square in the grid represents a pixel, or a bit of information about the picture.
Sources of Map Data
- Computer mapmakers use up-to-the-minute data to produce maps quickly and easily.
- Computers can automatically make maps that might take a person hundreds of hours to draw by hand.
- Data comes from many sources, including satellites and the Global Positioning System.
Data from Satellites
- Much of the data used in computer mapping is gathered by mapping satellites.
- Mapping satellites use electronic devices to collect computer data about the land surface.
- Pictures based on these data are called satellite images.
- A satellite image is made up of thousands of tiny dots called pixels.
- Each pixel in a satellite image contains information on the color and brightness of a small part of Earth's surface.
- When a satellite image is printed, the computer translates digitized data into colors.
- Beginning in 1972, a series of Landsat satellites were launched to observe Earth's surface.
- As a Landsat satellite orbits Earth, it collects and stores data about a strip of the surface that is 185 kilometers wide.
- The satellite relays the data back to a station on Earth, where computers use the data to create images.
- Landsat images indicate land cover such as plants, soil, and water.
- Scientists identify features by their "signature," the combination of colors and shapes in the image.
- In a satellite image grasses, trees, or crops are often shown as red, water as black or blue, and cities as bluish gray.
Data from the Global Positioning System
- Mapmakers can collect data for maps using the Global Positioning System, or GPS.
- The Global Positioning System is a method of finding latitude, longitude, and elevation of points on Earth's surface using a network of satellites.
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