j.b.krygier: geography 222: lecture outline

Geography 222 The Power of Maps and GIS

Geog 222 Lecture Outline: Introduction to Course
Update: 8/22/18

What is it?

This course: Geography 222: The Power of Maps and GIS

Making maps as ancient activity familiar to many different cultures

mapping as an ancient phenomena
- ... but be careful: maps existed but were not really thought of like we think about maps until about 1500
mapping as something different cultures engage in
- ... diverse cultures throughout time have created maps... but they may not look like our maps and were not really thought of the same way we think about maps

Technological changes and effects on maps and mapping

GIS = Geographic Information Systems: digital maps with databases and analytical capabilities.

Looking at the Battle of Gettysburg Through Robert E. Lee's Eyes
Google Maps or Bing Maps or Yahoo Maps
- ...but more than only looking at maps: making maps too (application programming interface or API): Google Maps Mania
- ...all sorts of map mashups: Find A Place to Live
- and free or cheap open-source mapping software: Mapping Walmarts with Modest Maps (library of code for Flash & Python)
Everything about you: Spokeo.com
Demographic Data: Census.gov
Property Data: Franklin County Properties
More Property Data: Delaware County Properties
...and all this means... Jobs

Maps kill!

WWW News) "U.S. jet did not have map that showed ski lift"

"Terrorists use Google maps to hit UK troops" in Iraq

"Islamic Terrorists using Google Maps and GPS systems to Locate, Track and Monitor India's IT and Call Center Outsourcing Hubs."

...or, at least, Maps seem to invade your privacy...

No matter how much we know about mapping (long history, different cultures)

Discoveries with Maps: Plate Tectonics

Discoveries with Maps: Dr. Snow and Cholera

Two classic examples of the power of maps and mapping

They help us look at the world and human and physical phenomena, in ways which help us to understand and make sense of such phenomena

Maps Shape How we See the World

: Peters World Map Projection; Mercator World Map Projection; Orthographic World Map Projection; Enough said.

How has our image of the world been shaped by maps?

Using Maps to Change the World

Making Maps, introduction (pp. i-xviii) ...

The power of maps and GIS...

Old phenomena familiar to many different cultures
Major technological advances and impact
Maps kill!
Discoveries with maps: they help to envision and understand physical and human phenomena
Maps shape how we see the world
Using maps to change the world
Thus the focus on the power of maps in this course

This course: introduction to the fundamentals of maps and mapping, some history, new technologies, and the impact of maps on humans

Also prepare you for more advanced courses in cartography and GIS

All information, syllabus, schedule, exercises, lecture outlines...

What to do next:

Roster: make sure you are registered for the course (official roster as of today)
Review the Course Syllabus
Review the Course Schedule including Readings
GIS Lab: can be used for class work (this class!): Monday - Friday from 7am until 7pm.
- avoid lab during other class (see schedule on door)
- students in Geog 353 course have priority in the Lab: their work is on a particular computer
Get used to using the WWW site and teh internets for this class
I prefer email from your Ohio Wesleyan email account. You can access this account in a number of different ways, including on the WWW. If your email account is not working, simply stop by the Information Systems help desk in Corns and get them to help you. Please send me an email: (jbkrygier@owu.edu) with the following informations:
- Your Name (preferred name)
- The course (Geog 222)
- Major (if known)
- Year at OWU
- Hometown (and state or country)
- Other geography/geology courses you have taken (name or number)
- Other geography/geology courses you have this semester (name or number)
- Reason for taking this course