Lab 3

Google Maps - New York City Trip Planner

Neogeography is usually applied to “the usage of geographical techniques and tools used for personal and community activities or for utilization by a non-expert group of users.” In this lab, we learn to use a pre-existing mapping toolkit, Google Maps, to create maps of our own. The map I create is a map that provides information about New York City and some places that might be interesting for tourists of New York City. By using the Google Maps toolkit, it is easy to indicate places and landmarks on the map. Also, the text edit box of the Google Maps is very helpful for putting in information of the places and landmarks, such as pictures, URL of the official websites, videos, and addresses. As more and more people create their own maps and shows information on their maps, the Google Map users are able to absorb more knowledge of the area and its surroundings.

However, there are some pitfalls of using the Google Maps toolkits to create our own maps. For example, I can add a placemark at anywhere and indicate that it is the Statue of Liberty, but in fact it is not where the Statue of Liberty really located. The false information can lead other people who use my map as a reference to the wrong place. Moreover, the accuracy of the map should also be questioned. When I put down a placemark or draw lines that indicate the route, I am not sure that whether the placemark or route is accurate or it is actually off places, I sometimes can only indicate the approximate location and routes.

Lab 2

The 7.5 Minute Map

1.     What is the name of the quadrangle?

The name of the quadrangle is “Beverly Hills”.

2.     What are the names of the adjacent quadrangle?

The names of the adjacent quadrangle 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 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 99.97 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 1.89 miles on the ground.

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

one 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?

three 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 is 20 feet on the map.

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

a)     the Public Affairs Building;

34˚N26’30”

b)    the tip of Santa Monica pier;

118˚W04’30”

c)     the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir

34˚N07’30”

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

a)     Greystone Mansion (in Greystoe Park);

540 feet or 164.6 meters

b)    Woodlawn Cemetery;

140 feet or 42.7 meters

c)     Crestwood Hills Park;

600 feet or 182.9 meters

10.  What is the UTM zone of the map?

The UTM zone of the map is 11.

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

37 62 000

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

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

13.  Skip

14.  What is the magnetic declination of the map?

The magnetic declination of the map is 14˚ east.

15.  In which direction does water flow in the intermittent stream between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservoir?

The water flow south in the intermittent stream between the 405 freeway and Stone Canyon Reservior.

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

Lab 1

 

This map is found on the website, "Who's Your City", by Richard Florida. This is a map of the United States of American with indications of several metro areas. There are blue and red circles on the map where blue circles represent the number of single men and the red circles represent the number of single women. And the size of the circles indicates how many more single men or women are there in each metro area. It shows on the map that there are more blue circles on the west side and there are more red circles on the east side. I find this map interesting that there seems to be more single men in West United States and more single women in East United States. In N.Y., Northern N.J, there are 210,820 more single women than men, while in L.A, Long Beach, and Santa Ana, there are 89,459 more single men than women! Perhaps this is because that the women on the East Coast are more independent and they do not need to marry men and can still provide for themselves.

                      

This is a map that is found in the article, "Early World Maps," of Wikipedia. This is a reconstruction of Anaximander's map. Anaximander is known for creating one of the first maps of the world. On the map Anaximander drew, it shows that the world is shaped in circle with the three continents, Europe, Asia, and Libya, while Europe and Asia are divided by the Black Sea and the Phasis River, Asia and Libya are divided by the Nile River, and Europe and Libya are separated by the Mediterranean Sea. And all these continents are surrounded by the ocean. I think it is really interesting that back in the ancient time, people believed that there are only three big lands, two rivers, and two seas in the entire world. However, I am pretty surprised that Anaximander drew the map in the shape of circle, which means that by the time, people have already known that the world is a circle, rather than a flat surface.

This is a map from the blog, "Amazing Maps," and it shows the numbers of Starbucks stores in each country in 2003. This map also shows the countries of coffee bean source, paper source for cups, and sugar source. The map indicates that the United States and Canada has the most Starbucks stores within the Western Countries, while within the Eastern countries, Japan has the most Starbucks stores. On the map, it shows that there are many countries that provide coffee bean to Starbucks, and most of the paper sources are from North European countries and some are from Canada. And sugar sources are mostly from Brazil and Australia. I find this map really interesting because it shows that how much Americans like Starbucks! And I believe this is the reason that Starbucks stores have been increasing their numbers in the United States. Also, I find another thing that is interesting is that Japan is the top three countries that has the most Starbucks stores! I have always thought that Starbucks is more like a Western culture thing, but this map shows that many Eastern countries like Starbucks just as much as the Westerners!