digtal mapping

  

1. WORLDMAPPER CARTOGRAMS

Hopefully you see how cartograms represent phenomena spatially and how they differ from the thematic maps we analyzed last week. Now we’ll utilize World Mapper, an online tool that allows the creation of cartograms using some pretty interesting measures.

a)  Open a web browser and navigate to http://www.worldmapper.org/

b)  On the Worldmapper home page, click to view the map of Land Area.

Question: What projection property or properties are preserved in the map?

c) On the Worldmapper home page, click to view the map of Total Population.

d) Now click on the “Map Categories” link at the top.

e) Click on “Movement.” Then click on “Net Immigration.”

Question: Briefly, what variable does this map display or describe?

Question: What part(s) of the world are absorbing the great numbers of migrants?

f) Go back to the list of maps under the “Movement” category and open the map for “Net Emigration.” 

Question: What part(s) of the world have the most people emigrating to other nations?

g) Under map categories, select “Goods.” Then click on “Toys Exports.”

Question: What spatial patterns do you see in toy exports?

h) Under map categories, Select “Goods.” Then click on “Toys Imports.”

Question: What spatial patterns do you see in toy imports?

Question: What might you conclude about the relationship between Toy Imports and Toy Exports?

Analyzing Cartograms

i)  Choose a map from Worldmapper for a variable that you have not yet viewed as part of this lab.

Take a screen shot of the map (ATL key + Print Screen Key) and paste it below.

PASTE SCREENSHOT HERE.YOUR SCREENSHOT MUST INCLUDE THE MAP TITLE (answer the following questions):

1. What variable did you map?
2. What patterns do you see expressed in      the map?
3. Why do you think you see these      patterns? Write at least 3-4 sentences, drawing on your knowledge      of economic conditions, history, landscapes in different regions, etc.
4. What does this cartogram show that a      regular choropleth map might not have conveyed as well? Conversely, what      do you think a choropleth map might have showed better than the cartogram? 

Map comparisons and analysis

j) Compare the spatial distribution of different variables by finding three pairs (6 maps total) of maps that fall under different categories on Worldmapper. 

For each of the three pairs, paste a screen shot of both maps (ATL key + Print Screen Key) and write a paragraph that answer the following questions:

1. explain why you think you see these      patterns drawing on your knowledge of economic conditions, history,      landscapes in different regions, etc.
2. explain how the spatial patterns in the      map relate (or do not relate) to one another 
3. explain why the spatial patterns      evident in the maps are similar or different. Use the base of knowledge      you already have OR if you are unfamiliar with the variables, generate      questions that would help you explore and understand these variables.

You MUST address all components for all three map pairs to receive full credit for this section.

a) First pair: Two maps that have the same spatial patterns.

PASTE SCREENSHOTS HERE. YOUR SCREENSHOTS MUST INCLUDE THE MAP TITLE

Variables:

A. 

B.

b) Second pair: Two maps that have directly opposite spatial patterns.

PASTE SCREENSHOTS HERE. YOUR SCREENSHOTS MUST INCLUDE THE MAP TITLE

Variables:

A. 

B.

c) Third pair: Two maps that do not seem to relate to each other spatially (i.e they are not the same nor are they directly opposite of each other)

PASTE SCREENSHOTS HERE. YOUR SCREENSHOTS MUST INCLUDE THE MAP TITLE

Variables:

A. 

B.

d) Finally, answer the following question. Reflecting on the variables you’ve mapped in the previous steps, critically analyze the data (how were they collected, any caveats or conditions about the way it was reported). Do you have any concerns about the data? Or concerns about generalizations drawn from mapping this variable at the country scale?