Lab 3

View Survey of Los Angeles Architecture in a larger map

My dynamic map created using Google Maps software illustrates information about significant architectural contributions in the Los Angeles and surrounding areas. The buildings are marked on the map and show a cohesive relationship in describing the area and vicinity around the buildings. The markers when clicked includes a picture and a description of its architectural and regional significance. The potential of neogeography is vast with the introduction and popularity of Google maps and other map API systems the ease of use has been transferred to the public for use. Now anyone can compile data and information of particular interest and create a mashup of information which points to a particular trend. The map then assumes a certain insider's viewpoint that to those on the outside may not have been obvious. With this tool new issues and awareness can be made more readily accessible to a wider audience. What is particular interesting in these map creations is with subjects that do not normally assume a position on the map and is then superimposed on a planar surface. The relationships between the subjects on the map in terms of size and other measures is what helps the viewer in understanding the relative importance of the subject in reality. For example the 2010 social networking map consists of a mashup of social networking sites depicted as countries on the map in relation to each other. This can present the information of how truly large facebook is in comparison to other less known social networking sites or reveal information on other sites not known in the United States.

The potential disadvantages of neogeography include its ease of use factor which leads to many people expressing their information and particular viewpoints. Accuracy becomes less important and certain subjects can be dramatized on a map to show a greater importance than would be expected in reality. When only a certain subject is highlighted on a map, no comparison can be made with other subjects as reference. Detail is another issue in neogeography, the representation of the map created may include full graphical representations but often time in neogeography explanations and details included in traditional maps are left out. The third issue is with the issue of privacy. Information before not easily accessed may now be plotted and integrated in online maps for anyone to view without many restrictions. This can include privacy and security issues with an individual's personal living space as with a satellite image of a home or on information related with national security issues. There are both positive and negative aspects to new technology like neogeography and API-based maps but I believe a majority of the information presented and provided in maps online allow for a greater circulation of knowledge and awareness.

Lab 2

1. Beverley Hills Quadrangle
2. Adjacent Quadrangles beginning with the north west: Canoga Park, Van Nuys,
    Burbank, Topanga, Hollywood, Venice, Inglewood
3. 1995
4. Horizontal Datums: NAD 27 & NAD 83
    Vertical Datum: National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929
5. Scale 1 : 24000
6. a. 1/2400 = 5/x, x = 120000cm, x = 1200 meters on ground
    b. 1/2400 = 5/x, x = 120000in, 1mile/63360 = x/120000, x = 1.89 miles on
        ground
    c. 1/2400 = x/63360, x = 2.64 inches on map
    d. 1/2400 = x/300000, x = 12.5 cm on map
7. 20 ft

8. a. Public Affairs Building 13 in. from western border, 12.8 in. from north
        Quadrangle 26.25 in. total width, 32 in. total length
        x/7.5 = 13/26.25, x = 3.7143, 118º 30' - 3.7143 = 118º 26' 17'' West
        60'/1º = 26/x, 3600''/1º = 17/x, x = 0.4333 + x = 0.0047 = 0.4380, 118.4380º
        West
        x/7.5 = 12.8/32, x = 3, 34º 7' 30'' - 3 = 34º 4' 30'' North
        60'/1º = 4/1, 3600''/1º = 30/x, x = 0.06667 + x = 0.00833 = 0.075, 34.075º
        North
 
    b. Santa Monica 0.25 in. from western border, 30 in. from north
        x/7.5 = 0.25/26.25, x = 0.07143, 118º 30' - 0.07143(60) = 118º 29' 56'' West
        60'/1º = 29/x, 3600''/1º = 56/x, x = 0.4833 + x = 0.0156 = 0.5 = 118.50º West
        x/7.5 = 30/32, x = 7.03125, 34º 7' 30'' - 7.03125 = 34º 0º 28'' North
        60'/1º = 0/x, 3600''/1º = 28/x, x = 0 + x = 0.0078 = 34.0078º North

    c. Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir 19 in. from western border, 1 in. from north
        x/7.5 = 19/26.25, x = 5.4286, 118º 30' - 5.4286 = 118º 24' 34'' West
        60/1º = 24/x, 3600''/1º = 34/x, x = 0.4 + x = 0.00944 = 118.4094º West
        x/7.5 = 1/32, x = 0.2344, 34º 7' 30'' - 0.2344(60) = 34º 7' 16'' North
        60'/1º = 7/x, 3600''/1º = 16/x, x = 0.1166 + x = 0.0044 = 34.1212º North

9. a. Greystone Mansion 580ft / 176.78 meters
    b. Woodlawn Cemetery 140ft / 42.67 meters
    c. Crestwood Hills Park 650 ft / 198.12 meters
10. UTM Zone 11
11. UTM Easting 361000
      UTM Northing 3763000
12. 1000 x 1000 = 1,000,000 m^2
13.

14. 14º / 249 miles
15. North to South
16.

Lab I

 Source: Connecticut's Biography, 03 October 2010, http://www.ctbiography.com/maps/

This map exhibiting the colony of Connecticut and its counties is of interest to me because of the hand drawn style and and attention to detail used in illustrating accuracy. The map contains a general explanation of the surrounding colonies and regions not shown in the lower right hand corner. On the top left shows the rights and plan for the colony of Connecticut written as under the jurisdiction of his Majesty. The map contains both county and township borders along with topographic features like mountains, major rivers and streams. Along with remnants from the past the map includes newer distinctions like separation by color.

 Source: Locals and Tourists, 03 October 2010, http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/

The map is a Geotaggers' World Atlas map of Manhattan island created by Eric Fischer which depicts the density of the number of pictures being taken and tagged in the local area. I chose this map because of the unique presentation and  information depicted on population density particularly with foot traffic. This map can be used in comparison with other similar map of different world cities. Along with indicating high volume areas of traffic the color indicators depict the type of individuals taking the picture. Red indicates pictures taken by tourists, blue by locals, and yellow indicates pictures taken by a mix or unknown origins. Not surprisingly areas around central park and midtown constitute the most tourist while outlying areas like Williamsburg and areas around Columbia University constitute more locals. This density and color overlay can present a conflicting view between what the tourist and the local may find appealing in visiting and taking a picture of.

 

Source: Nationmaster: Map of Biomes, 04 October 2010, http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Biome

This map of the world caught my interest because of the natural depiction of ground landscape that does not seem to correlate with the political borders of countries. The map shows the different biomes and varied types of ground vegetation that exist on earth. A majority of the biomes and vegetation types follow a similar latitude though differences exist in where the vegetation can grow in relating North America and Asia. The biomes cross borders and breaks boundaries, I believe we are use to envisioning the map of the earth in terms of the borders of countries but not necessarily on the natural landscape that really exists below.