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Who gathers geographic data and why?
What is their goal?
Why do they collect geographic (geospaical) data (information)? The two types of people who gather this data? Examples of them?
Human geographers such as university professors or government workers gather data to understand human activity and its effects on the environment around them.
Their goal is to study the patterns of people and their effects.
- To create maps, help communities, determine sustainability, help politicians with their campaigns, and decision-making.
- The two types of people who gather this data are individual data gatherers and people who work for organizations.
- An example of an individual data collecters are perhaps a professor trying to develop research on a disease in a specific geographic area.
- An example of a person who works in a large organization is a employee for the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Who are individual data gatherers?
What are some examples of them?
What might they be researching for? (Three things). How do they collect information?
Individual data gatherers collect data as a research project, to assist communities, and to collect information about sustainabilty.
Some examples are professors, people trying to collect info, etc.
- They might be researching for a project, trying to help with sustainability, or trying to help their community.
- In collecting this information, they make observations in the field, create maps, analyze photographs and satellite images, and examine government collected data.
What is geographic (geospatial) data?
What does it identify?
What types could the features be? Explain the types. Can it only be from a small area?
Geographic information is any information connected to a location that includes data about physical and human characteristics.
It identifies the location of features on Earth’s surface.
- These features could be natural (such as mountain ranges, oceans, etc.) or created by humans (such as stores, buildings, etc.)
- Yes, some data can be from small geographic areas, like a small town. However, other data can summarize data from larger regions, like countries, continents, and even the whole world.
Remote Sensing
A process of collecting information about the Earth’s surface from satellites orbiting the Earth.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
A computer system that can collect, analyze, and display geographic data.
Place
A specific point on the Earth’s surface that has one or more unique characteristics. For the analysis of large amounts of data.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
A network of satellites that are used to determine the location of something on the Earth’s surface. For emergencies, fast route data, and tracking.
Field Work
Field work is the process of collecting data firsthand, without technology, being gathered in the real world.
Media reports
Things like breaking news, interviews, and social media posts can help geographers collect data without having to collect it firsthand. these reports can give accurate data on how something is feeling or what another person is experiencing..
Qualitative Data
Information that is presented in world form and is often up for interpretation and debate.
