Mapping Technologies

Mapping Technologies

The topic of this Homework is latitude and longitude, map projections, map scales, and modern mapping technologies. Address the following:

• What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)? Indicate the latitude and longitude of 5 of the following locations (your choice):
  • The Statue of Liberty
  • Mount Rushmore
  • The Eiffel Tower
  • The Taj Mahal
  • The Sydney Opera House
  • Mount Fuji
  • Stonehenge
• List and describe the four types of distortions that can result from map projections.
• List and describe the three ways to indicate scale on a map.
• What are GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing and how do these technologies contribute to more accurate and timely geographic information on Earth?
• How do you use these technologies (if any) in your everyday life?

Mapping Technologies

• What is the difference between a meridian (or longitude) and a parallel (or latitude)?,

• Indicate the latitude and longitude of 5 of the following locations (your choice).,

• List and describe the four types of distortions that can result from map projections.,

• List and describe the three ways to indicate scale on a map.,

• What are GIS, GPS, and Remote Sensing and how do these technologies contribute to more accurate and timely geographic information on Earth?,

• How do you use these technologies (if any) in your everyday life?

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Comprehensive General Answers

1. Difference between meridian (longitude) and parallel (latitude)

• Meridians (longitude): Imaginary lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole, measured east or west of the Prime Meridian (0°) in Greenwich, England. Longitude values range from 0° to 180° east or west.

• Parallels (latitude): Imaginary lines that circle the globe horizontally, parallel to the equator. They are measured north or south of the equator (0°), ranging from 0° to 90° north or south.

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2. Latitude and longitude of five landmarks

• Statue of Liberty, USA: 40.6892° N, 74.0445° W

• Mount Rushmore, USA: 43.8791° N, 103.4591° W

• Eiffel Tower, France: 48.8584° N, 2.2945° E

• Taj Mahal, India: 27.1751° N, 78.0421° E

• Sydney Opera House, Australia: 33.8568° S, 151.2153° E

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3. Four types of distortions in map projections

When projecting the 3D Earth onto a 2D map, distortions occur in:

1. Shape: The true form of areas may be stretched or compressed.

2. Area (Size): The relative size of regions may be enlarged or reduced (e.g., Greenland appears larger than Africa on a Mercator projection).

3. Distance: The measured distance between two points may not be accurate.

4. Direction: The compass bearing from one place to another can be distorted.

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4. Three ways to indicate scale on a map

1. Graphic (bar) scale: A line or bar divided into units of distance (e.g., kilometers or miles) that can be measured with a ruler.

2. Verbal scale: A written statement such as “1 inch equals 1 mile.”

3. Representative fraction (RF): A ratio (e.g., 1:100,000) where one unit on the map equals a proportional number of units on the ground.

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