U.S. Census Maps

Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a helpful way to analyze large amounts of data such as U.S. Census Data. In this Lab we used data from the 2000 U.S. Census. Retrieving the data once collected by the bureau is a simple process of downloading information. Fixing the data so that it is fit for GIS analysis is a little more difficult because it takes a lot of attention to detail to ensure that this info in portrayed in a proper manner. As a beginner with GIS, this exercise was tedious but it was helpful in learning basics.

According to the U.S. Census 2000, the black population is more concentrated on the Eastern side of the states. Even more specifically, the Southern region of the east side is the most populated in comparison the rest of the United States. In this part of the U.S., Black populations range from over 50% to about 80%. This is an extremely high percentage as compared to the rest of the population percentages, most of which are under 12%.

The term "Other Population" is defined by individuals who do not fall under the categories: White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. In comparison to the Other Population concentrations in other counties, these individuals are concentrated on the West Coast with the highest concentrations in some Southern California counties and Texas. Most of these said counties in California and Texas have counties with populations ranging between 24% to 43%.

The percentage of Asian population is relatively evenly widespread across the country in comparison to the other percentages of Asians. The highest concentrations are in the Southern California region. The rest of the populations across the United States are low, most of which are less than 5%. This five percent is a small percentage compared to the 20-46% concentrated in the Southern California region. 

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)

3-D Model

Extent

Top: 34.5591666657748

Bottom: 34.213611110196

Left: -118.469444445439

Right: -117.842500000952

I chose an area in the Southern California region to carry out this Digital Elevation Model. I selected an area near the beginning of mountainous range so that we can see different elevations. I used Spatial Analysis methods to get most of these graphs. These Spatial Analysis features utilize raster inputs to carry out these functions. For all the maps, the geographic coordinate system used is the North American 1983 as said in the properties table of the maps.

Map Projections

Distances between Washington D.C., USA and Kabul, Afghanistan:

• Mercator: 10,112.12 miles
• Stereographic: 9,905.71 miles
• Equidistant Conic: 7,083.97 miles
• Azimuthal Equidistant: 8,348.19 miles
• Eckert IV: 7,862.56 miles
• Cylindrical Equal Area: 10,106.32 miles

Map projections help portray a geographic area in a way that would fit the purpose of the graph. Different map projections can cater to help show true direction, shape, distance, or area. However, the major fault of these map projections is that not all of these features can be depicted simultaneously. Above I have pictured six different type of map projections, all of which cater to a specific need. Although these are six different types of projections, they are just the few of many map projections that are under constant revision. 

Conformal maps help with proper display of angles. This feature means that direction is always preserved on the map. Area, shape, and distance are not preserved in Mercator maps. In fact, these features are distorted to help create a neat, rectangular shaped map which is useful for making it easy for visuals. Most of the distortions are at the poles and the most accurate distances are close to the equator. In Stereographic maps, distances are true from the center point and the scale increases as you move away from the center of the map. This map is useful for solving spherical geophysical problems and for maps of the polar regions.

Equidistant maps show true scale between two points. Equidistant Conical projections are useful for displaying regions in the mid-latitudes as it utilizes two standard parallels. Just like the last two map projections, distortion also increases as we move away from the two standardized parallels. Distances are also true along the standardized regions but change as the distortion increases. For Azimuthal Equidistant maps, both direction and distance are true from the center of the point projection. As long as the lines from two points run through the center point, the distance is true. Therefore, as you can compare the distances, the distance between Washington D.C. and Kabul are distorted because they do not run between the center point.

Equal Area maps distort the distances of the oceans to ensure that the continents are distorted as little as possible. The Eckert IV map is very different because it is neither a circle or rectangular map. The curved sides and variation of distances between lines help with reducing polar distortions. Cylindrical Equal Area maps compress the distances at the poles. The polar regions of the map are therefore distorted in shape and may not always be clear to individuals. However the distances at both the poles at two latitudes that lie north and south of the equator. The positive thing about having multiple standard parallels is that distortion of area are minimized at these lengths. 

My Map

Lab 3 - Make Your Own Map

Here is my map that tours Pilipino historical landmarks in San Francisco.


View Lab 3 in a larger map

Topographic Maps

1. The name of the quadrangle is Beverly Hills located in Los Angeles County, California.
2. The adjacent quadrangles of Beverly Hills are: Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Burbank, Topanga, Hollywood, Venice, and Inglewood.
3. The quadrangle was first created in 1995.
4. The North American Datum of 1927 and 1983 were used to create this map.
5. The scale of the map is 1:24000 which means one inch is equivalent to 24000 inches.
6. a) Using the conversion of 1cm = 0.3937in, 5cm on the map is equivalent to 1.9inches. 1.9 inches on the map is 47,244 inches on the ground which is also 3,937 feet. Multiplying the measurement in feet by 0.3048 as indicated on the map to find meters, 5cm on the map is equivalent to 1,200 meters.
    b) Five inches on the map is equivalent to 120,000 inches, or 10,000 feet. Since 1 mile is 5,280 feet, 5 inches on the map is equivalent to 1.894 miles.
    c) One mile on the ground is equivalent to 63,360 inches. On the map, 1 mile is 2.64 inches, or 6.70 centimeters.
7. The contour interval on the map is 20 feet.
8. What are the approx. grographic coordinates in both degrees/min/sec and decimal degrees of:
    a) PubAff building: Longitude: 34 degrees 5 minutes 5 seconds, Latitude: 118 degrees 26 minutes 15 seconds;
    b) Tip of SM Pier: Longitude: 34 degrees 15 seconds, Latitude: 118 degrees 30 minutes
    c) Uppter Franklin Canyon Reservoir: Longitude: 34 degrees 6 minutes, Latitude: 118 degrees 24 minutes  50 seconds
9. Approx. elevation in both ft and m of:
    a) Greystone Mansion (in Greystone Park)? 560 ft, or 170.7 meters
    b) Woodlawn Cemetery? 140 ft, or 42.7 meters
    c) Crestwood Hills Park? 760 ft, or 231.5 meters
10. UTM zone of map? UTM zone 11
11 UTM Coords for lower left corner of map?
12. How many sq. m are contained w/in each cell of UTM gridlines? 1,000,000 sq. meters
13.

14. Magnetic declintion of map? 14 degrees

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

16.

This map is from the Philippine's Bureau of Soils and Water Management. This map lays out the areas that have communal irrigation systems (CIS) or national irrigation systems (NIS). I find this map interesting because it shows the lack of irrigation throughout the island. Many different areas of the Philippines are not very urbanized or modern. Most of the people still live in villages and provinces. For myself, being a of Pilipino descent, it helps remind me of the day-to-day struggle that the people have to endure in order to gain access to clean water. Family members travel many miles, as scaled on the map, to get water.

 This map is made from data collected by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). This map shows the seismic activity within the Philippines. I think this map is interesting because it displays where in the Philippines that natural hazards (ex. earthquakes, volcano eruptions, etc.) can affect the islands. This information is very valuable because it allows for us to analyze the risks and effects these environmental risks pose. It also relates to the type of maps we will be making/analyzing throughout the course, or even throughout my courses as an environmental science major. Maps like this also allow me to connect issues that affect areas I take personal interest in, which in this case is the country in which I gain much of my cultural influence from.

This map is from the Commission on Higher Education in the Philippines. It shows the distance of state colleges in the Philippines. The circles give a 50 mile radius reference. I think this map is interesting because it shows the few number of state colleges within this region of the Philippines. We could use these locations and compare them with geographical data such as topography, or data on access to transportation to analyze the ease of access to these institutions.

Hello

Test post.



That is all.