Exclusive timelapse: See climate change, deforestation and urban sprawl unfold as Earth evolves over 30 years.
Via Seth Dixon
Join Scoop.it for Free
Share ideas that matter on the social web and experience
the benefits of curating the world's best content.
I don't have a Facebook, a Twitter or a LinkedIn account
Already have an account: Login
 Your new post is loading...
Scoop.it!
Via Seth Dixon Delete the scoop?
Are you sure you want to delete this scoop?
Yes
Scoop.it!
Home page of USGS Topographic Maps...
The last paper editions of USGS topographic masp came out in 1973 and 1992. If you are waiting for the next print edition, you'll be waiting a long time. Like so many other agencies with information distribution, the USGS topo maps have gone digital. In 2001 the USGS announced the production of a current, seamless digital National Map. You can still quadrangle chunks of the National map and download them for free as PDFs (with geospatial extensions for measuring).
Tags: mapping, cartography, geospatial. Via Seth Dixon Delete the scoop?
Are you sure you want to delete this scoop?
Yes
|
Scoop.it!
“Nothing tells us more about the spread of humans across the Earth than city lights.”...
"For three weeks spread out over April and October of this year, the Suomi NPP satellite (jointly of NASA and NOAA) scanned all the Earth's land as it appeared at night. Scientists then mapped the satellite's data -- 2.5 terabytes of it -- over an earlier Blue Marble image, transforming that picture's daytime blues, browns, and greens into a nightime palette of blues, blacks, and gold."
This video is a great compliment to the classic Earth at Night composite image as well as the adjusted cartogram for population density.
Questions to Ponder: What do these lights "tell us" about human geography? What does the intensity of the lights indicate? Via Seth Dixon Delete the scoop?
Are you sure you want to delete this scoop?
Yes
Scoop.it!
This is a clip from the TV show West Wing (Season 2-Episode 16) where cartography plays a key role in the plot. In this episode the fictitious (but still on Facebook) group named "the Organization of Cartographers for Social Justice" is campaigning to have the President officially endorse the Gall-Peters Projection in schools and denounce the Mercator projection. The argument being that children will grow up thinking some places are not as important because they are minimized by the map projection. While a bit comical, the cartographic debate is quite informative even if it was designed to appear as though the issue was trivial.
Questions to Ponder: Why do map projections matter? Is one global map projection inherently better than the rest?
Tags: Mapping, geospatial, video, visualization. Via Seth Dixon 
Lydia Blevins's comment,
September 13, 2012 6:17 AM
I think it is very important that we start using more accurate maps. In school, the maps we use are so different from how the world actually is. I agree that children will grow up thinking some places are less important because they are minimized by the map projection.
Greg Atkinson's comment,
October 10, 2012 12:31 PM
Great clip. I use it in my WRG class as a comedic introduction to the power of projection.
Mary Patrick Schoettinger's curator insight,
December 18, 2012 3:01 PM
This absolutely the best video clip for SS teachers EVER! Delete the scoop?
Are you sure you want to delete this scoop?
Yes
|
I suggest you watch to see the spatial patterns emerge!
Very useful visual tool for exploring patterns of change
Exciting!!