Lab 3: Neography Map Mash-Up

Using Google Maps (GM) to create my own map was a delighting experience as I was able to  “… us[e] and creat[e] [my] own map, on [my] own terms…by combining elements of an existing toolset” (Turner). I became familiar enough to eventually create a substantive map that coveys information, knowledge, and understanding… using social statistics and location to synchronize data. I quickly took enjoyment (and became slightly addicted) in being able to manipulate data not for myself, but for the viewer who would be interacting with my map. 

It quickly became important to have an idea to illustrate through my map because maps without thought and/or content are void of real connection. Through “shaping context”, I was able to connect information across and through several fields such as: economics, geography, anthropology and sociology. In this map you will find the top 20 most dangerous cities in the world, based on homicide statistics (information is provided by BusinessInsider.com and is sourced through The Citizens' Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice),the world’s 20 poorest countries (information provided by Foxbusiness.com and therichest.org, sourced through the 24/7 Wall Street and the International Monetary Fund, respectively), the world’s ten best places to live (information provided and sourced by Forbes.com ), and the world’s richest cities (information provided by known.pk and is sourced from Mercer Consulting). 

Although choosing sources to become data of illustration is difficult and arbitrary when documenting social statistics and ranking them, consistencies within data paradigms were sought and targeted as viable sources. Questions concerning how studies were conducted and what kind of stringent methodologies were used can shed light onto the verifiability of data. Regardless, information provided is rich with detail and statistics that tell a story of a socially stratified world. Although not surprising, making such statistics visible is much more emotional.

Over the course of creating my map on Google, I did run into some beginning difficulties concerning program familiarities that were easily overcome. Repeatedly interfacing with the GM program made navigating, designing, and incorporating my ideas easier over time. Through the course website, useful links to expand map building information was provided, which guides one through several different applicable Html source codes and pitfalls associated with them.

 I was able to see how the GM program has abilities that can be unlocked by advanced programmers who understand coded language. As every individual has different computer skills, maps can only be created to the extent of knowledge one possesses, and I quickly knew the extent of my skills as some of the advanced features were found to be unavailable to my GM creation skill set. As mentioned before, I was able to learn a lot and found some beginner tricks readily available to me, so I tried to include what I learned into the overall ergonomics of my map. I think neogeography on the whole has unlimited potential especially as other widely and easily distributed map making programs become open for people to use. Until then, people will be limited in software choices…which will unavoidably bring a lot of frustration to the user as well as growth in skill over time.

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View Map Dristributing Semi-Arbitrary International Social Categories in a larger map

Above map illustrates socio-economic points previously mentioned. The (!) symbolizes the world's most dangerous cities while the (P) symbolizes the world's poorest countries. All ($) symbols refer to the world's richest cities, while the house([^]) symbol refers to the world's best places to live.

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View Map Dristributing Semi-Arbitrary International Social Categories in a larger map

 Above map illustrates the northern hemispheres'stark socio-economic advantage over the southern hemisphere.

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View Map Dristributing Semi-Arbitrary International Social Categories in a larger map

 Above map illustrates the southern hemispheres'stark socio-economic inequalities over the northern hemisphere.

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Lab 2: Beverly Hills Map Dialogue

* What is the name of the quadrangle?

The name of the quadrangle is “Beverly Hills”, which is located in Los Angeles, California.

* What are the names of adjacent quadrangles?

1. Canoga Park           4. Topanga                  7. Venice

2. Van Nuys                5. Hollywood              8. Inglewood

3. Burbank                  6. Beverly Hills

* When was the quadrangle first created?

The map topography was compiled in 1966 and the Beverly Hills map was created in 1995.

* What datum was used to create your map?

The National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929, North American Datum 1927 (NAD 27), and NAD 83 information was used to create the Beverly Hills Quadrangle.

* What is the scale of the map?

The map is a 7.5 min map, and the scale is 1:24,000…represented in inches.

* 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 equals 1200 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 equal to 1.89 miles in the ground.

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

1 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?

3 kilometers on the ground is equal to 12.5 centimeters on the map.

* What is the contour interval on your map?

The contour interval on the map is 20 feet.

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

1.      the Public Affairs Building

34 deg 4’22” N, -118 deg 26’24’’ W

Or

34.073 N, -118.440 W

2.      the tip of Santa Monica pier

34 deg 0' 27" N, -118 deg 28' 60" W

Or

34.01 deg N, -118.5 deg W

3.      the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir

34 deg 5' 53" N, -118 deg 24' 43.25" W

Or

34.1 deg N, -118.41 deg W

 

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

a)      Greystone Mansion (in Greystone Park);

550 feet or 167.68 meters

b)      Woodlawn Cemetery;

140 feet or 42.6 meters

c)      Crestwood Hills Park;

800 feet or 243.90 meters

* What is the UTM zone of the map?

The UTM zone of the Beverly Hills map is zone 11.

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

The UTM coordinates on the map are 362000m E, 3763000m N.

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

There are 1 million square meters contained within each square of the UTM gridlines.

* Obtain elevation measurements, from west to east along the UTM northing 3771000, where the eastings of the UTM grid intersect the northing. Create an elevation profile using these measurements in Excel (hint: create a line chart). Figure out how to label the elevation values to the two measurements on campus. Insert your elevation profile as a graphic in your blog.

* What is the magnetic declination of the map?

The magnetic declination of the map is 14 deg East.

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

The water from the Stone Canyon Reservoir flows Southward from the North.

* Crop UCLA Map

Lab 1: 3 Interesting Maps

Map 1: Mapping Ethnic Stereotypes
Mapping Ethnic Stereotypes Link

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     This world map capturing ethnic stereotypes is sourced from Professor Catherine Lavender's "The Peopling of NYC ... honors college seminar webpage." Lavender teaches at Staten Island's City University of New York, and her website is complete with a publicly available syllabus and course readings.
     Such a derogatory map is interesting because it portrays a world map divided by stereotypes. In this portrait, normal country boundaries are shrunk and expanded to enhance such stereotypes. Maps like this one encourage demoralizing and judgmental behavior that have negative socio-cultural ramifications, often aiding in marginalizing groups of people. Beyond the stereotypical "historization" of groups of people lies cultural racism and deeply embedded ignorance that many accusers cannot intelligently justify. Despite this, it seems professor Lavender was using this map in her class as a way to educate her students about the preconceived notions immigrants face when arriving in new countries.
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A response concerning the creation of maps made by indigenous Native American First Nations can be found here.
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Map 2: Peoples Under Threat Around the World

Peoples Under Threat Map Link

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     Presented by "The Guardian Data Blog", this Peoples Under Threat map clearly distinguishes what areas of the world have indigenous populations under severe threat. In fact, half of the top ten most in danger countries are in Africa, with Sudan being number one on the list! On the Guardian website, the map is completely interactive and allows one to entertain facts from locations all over the world.
     This Peoples Under threat Around the World map ranks countries from 0 to 250 and divides the rankings into five categories of threat, red representing the countries in most danger. Six of the most at risk locations are in Africa, while three are in the Middle East, and one in Asia. If a country is represented by light blue or blue, it ranks among the safest 150 countries and have are under no imminent threat. It is clear that the majority of the Western hemisphere is under no threat, unlike the Eastern portion where many societies are in danger. It would be interesting to see how this map evolves over time as societies are eliminated from the Earth.
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Map 3: Mesoamerican Languages
Mesoamerican Language map link 


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     At first when noticing this Mesoamerican language map distributed on Wikipedia, the immediate thought that comes to mind is how convoluted it can look. This map represents language variety in the Mesoamerican sphere where the Mayan and Oto-Manguean languages are the majority.
     Ten Mesoamerican and ancient civilization languages are represented, spread over a small area of Central and Southern Mexico. I found this map interesting because in my beginning studies of Mesoamerica, much is said about the many different languages found. More so than simply representing language variety, this map represents varying cultures in the region as well. Several ethnicities are represented through the languages presented, and can thus draw other logical conclusions. This map is a lot to look at, but it allows the viewer the ability to break down culture contact and its spreading influence.
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