Theme Parks in California

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&client=safari&ie=UTF8&hq=theme+parks+in+california+google+maps+webb&hnear=&t=h&msa=0&msid=116960201893282761245.000475d422a4aace006bc&z=6

View Theme Parks in California in a larger map

            Neogeography is changing the way people use maps and the way information is presented.  Neogeography is useful because it conveys information about a location to individuals.  One of the pitfalls of neogeography is that the information provided may not always be correct or the most accurate.  For example, in the above map, although I tried my best to present the most accurate information, it is still possible that I left out theme parks in California or some of the parks may no longer be operating.  Neogeography depends on the amount of data available to the creators and users, therefore if the data is not up-to-date, the map will represent incorrect content.

            The potential of neogeography is limitless.  People have the flexibility to share whatever content they would like and present it in anyway they chose.  The possibilities of neogeography are endless because users can always create different maps that display a variety of content.  Neogeography also allows users to become mapmakers.  Therefore, amateurs and non-professionals have the ability to make maps with little to no formal training.   In a sense, everyone is a mapmaker.  Neogeography is expanding the way people think about geographic content and the way it is presented.

            One of the consequences of neogeography is that since everyone has the potential to make a map without training, it is difficult to know if the content is reliable.  Neogeographers may or may not have a background in map making and therefore it is difficult to know how credible a map is if it is not distributed through the government or a specific company.  Another consequence of neogeography is that formal maps may not have as much of an impact on its users because individuals become accustomed to user-friendly interfaces.  By exposing the population to neogeography, formal maps will become more foreign to individuals.  It is important to recognize both the positives and negatives of neogeography in order for neogeography and its users to be successful at conveying geographic content.

The 7.5 Minute Map

1. What is the name of the quadrangle?

Beverly Hills Quadrangle

 

2. What are the names of the adjacent quadrangles?

The adjacent quadrangles are: Canoga park, Van Nuys, Burbank, Topanga, Hollywood, Venice, and Inglewood

 

3. When was the quadrangle first created?

The quadrangle was first created in 1966.

 

4. What datum was used to create your map?

The North American Datum of 1927 was used to create this map.

 

5. What is the scale of the map?

The scale of the map is 1:24 000.

 

6. At the above scale, answer the following:

a) 5 centimeters on the map is equivalent to how many meters on the ground?

5 centimeters on the map is equivalent to 240 meters on the ground.

 

b) 5 inches on the map is equivalent to how many miles on the ground?

5 inches on the map is equivalent to 1.894 miles on the ground.

 

c) one mile on the ground is equivalent to how many inches on the map?

1 mile on the ground is equivalent to 2.64 inches on the map.

 

d) three kilometers on the ground is equivalent to how many centimeters on the map?

3 kilometers on the ground is equivalent to 12.5 centimeters on the map.

 

7. What is the contour interval on your map?

The contour interval on the map is 20 feet.

 

8. What are the approximate geographic coordinates in both degrees/minutes/seconds and decimal degrees of:

a) the Public Affairs Building;

The approximate geographic coordinates of the Public Affairs Building are 34º04’09”N or 34.6692º for latitude and 118º4’4”W or 118.6678º for longitude.

 

b) the tip of Santa Monica pier;

The approximate geographic coordinates of the tip of the Santa Monica pier are 34º00’27”N or 34.0075º for latitude and 118º00’08”W or 118.0022º for longitude.

 

c) the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir;

The approximate geographic coordinates of the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir are 34º07’12”N or 34.1195º for latitude and 118º24’39”W or 118.5083º for longitude.

 

9. What is the approximate elevation in both feet and meters of:

a) Greystone Mansion (in Greystone Park);

The elevation of Greystone Mansion is approximately 560 meters or 1837 feet.

 

b) Woodlawn Cemetery;

The elevation of the Woodland Cemetery is approximately 140 meters or 459 feet.

 

c) Crestwood Hills Park;

The elevation of Crestwood Hills Park is approximately 700 meters or 2297 feet.

 

10. What is the UTM zone of the map?

 The UTM zone of the map is zone 11, with 10,000-foot ticks.

 

11. What are the UTM coordinates for the lower left corner of your map?

The UTM coordinates for the lower left corner are 3763000 for the north and 362000 for the west.

 

12. How many square meters are contained within each cell (square) of the UTM gridlines?

There are 1,000,000 square meters contained within each square of the UTM gridlines.

13. Obtain elevation measurements, from west to east along the UTM northing 3771000, where the eastings of the UTM grid intersect the northing. Create an elevation profile using these measurements in Excel (hint: create a line chart). Figure out how to label the elevation values to the two measurements on campus. Insert your elevation profile as a graphic in your blog.

 

 

14. What is the magnetic declination of the map?

The magnetic declination of the map is 14º.

 

15. In which direction does water flow in the intermittent stream between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservoir? (estimate, ex: north to south)

The direction of water flow between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservoir is from north to south.

 

16. Crop out (i.e., cut and paste) UCLA from the map and include it as a graphic on your blog.

Obesity Rates in Britain

This map shows obesity rates in Britain as reported by health care organizations for the years 2006-2007. The map can be found on the BBC website at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7584191.stm.
On this map there are five different colors that each represent an obesity rate. Yellow areas represent the lowest obesity rates. Orange areas represent a medium rate of obesity. Red areas show the highest rate of obesity. Scotland, the northern half of the map, tends to have lower obesity rates than Wales and England. Scotland’s highest obesity levels are on the island to the northwest. England is fairly diverse in its obesity rates. The lowest obesity rates in England are in the south. Wales has the highest obesity rates and most of Wales has high and highest obesity color ratings. This map is interesting because it shows obesity rates, but the map does not explain what a low, medium, and high rate of obesity mean. By looking at the map, the reader does not know what percentage of individuals are obese or how close the obesity rates are compared to one another. On the article that accompanies the map, obesity rate percentages are listed for some cities. Another interesting feature about the map is the north and south ends of mainland Britain overall tend to have a lower rate of obesity. It would be interesting to find out why these areas tend to have lower obesity rates than the middle regions of Britain.

Ecological Regions of the U.S.-Mexico Border

This map depicts ecological regions around the United States and Mexico border. This map can be found on the USGS website at: http://borderhealth.cr.usgs.gov/maps/Ecoregions.pdf.
Six different ecological regions and eight different environmental health zones are depicted on this map. The environmental health regions are smaller than the ecological regions. The Chihuahuan Desert is the biggest ecological region on the map shown in green. The two largest environmental health areas are number five and six, which are both part of the Chihuahuan Desert. An interesting point to take away from this map is that these ecological regions are shared by both the United States and Mexico, making it essential for both countries to be aware of these areas and any areas of concern, including environmental health regions, shared between the two countries. Another interesting point of the map is that roughly half of the environmental health regions are in the United States and the other half are in Mexico. However, for the ecological regions, more of the land is in Mexico, especially the Chihuahuan Desert. The United States-Mexico border is important in terms of geography and ecology.