Geography: Map Types and Distance Concepts

Map Types

• Thematic Map: Emphasizes a specific theme or topic, showing spatial data distribution and patterns. Useful for finding correlations between data in different locations.
• Reference Map: Shows locations of geographical and political data. Used for finding places.
• Cartogram: Distorts land areas to represent variations in a value.
• Chloropleth Map: Uses different colors or shades to visually represent changes in a value across an area.
• Dot Distribution Map: Represents values using dots, with more dots indicating higher values.
• Graduated Symbol Map: Uses symbol sizes to represent values; larger symbols indicate higher values.
• Isoline Map: Uses lines to connect areas with the same value.

Distance and Direction

• Absolute Distance: Measurable distance using standard units (e.g., miles, kilometers).
• Absolute Direction: North, south, east, west.
• Relative Distance: Distance not measured in standard units, but rather in terms of time or perception.
• Relative Direction: Directions like "left," "right," "up," "down," or descriptions (e.g., "next to").

Spatial Patterns

• Clustering: Grouping of similar items or people close together.
• Dispersion: Spacing of items or people within geographic boundaries.

Map Projections

• Robinson Projection: Accurately shows size, shape, and distance of most regions, appearing globe-like. Less accurate at the poles.
• Mercator Projection: Shows true direction, good for navigation. Distorts area, especially at higher latitudes.
• Gall-Peters Projection: Shows approximately accurate area of continents. Distorts shape and ocean sizes.
• Polar Projections: Preserves direction and distances from the projection center. Distorts areas and shapes.