Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Lab #3 Interactive map: Welcome to Taiwan


View Welcome To Taiwan-Taipei Tour in a larger map



     Neogeography provides instant information to its users, however, there are several pitfalls behind it, such as information inaccuracy. Since everyone can access neogeography, we do not know who is sharing and publishing the information; therefore, we can not be 100% sure that the information is correct. For example, everyone can access to Wikipedia and edit the information, so the accuracy of information from Wikipedia is not guaranteed. 
     Moreover, the loss of privacy is also a pitfall of neogeography. The satellite from Google Map can capture the street view from almost everywhere. For example, the picture captured by satellite may include a person appear at a specific place. A satellite may accidentally captures the image of inside view of a person's house. Since everyone can access to neogeography, people can see that person's privacy accidentally or the person may feel uncomfortable of appearing in a public image.
     Despite the inaccuracy and privacy, neogeography can help people in lots of ways, for instance, helping companies make decisions depend on geography. When we get lost at a place, our GPS guides us out. Neogeography really helps the people, but we just need to fix the flaws of neogeography and make it more reliable. 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Lab #2: USGS Topographic maps

1. Beverly Hills
2.Adjacent quadrangle 1: Canoga Park
   Adjacent quadrangle 2: Van Nuys
   Adjacent quadrangle 3: Burbank
   Adjacent quadrangle 4: Topanga
   Adjacent quadrangle 5: Hollywood
   Adjacent quadrangle 6: N/A
   Adjacent quadrangle 7: Venice
   Adjacent quadrangle 8: Inglewood
3. Year 1966
4. North American Datum 
5. Scale 1:24000
6. a) 1200 meters
    b) 1.89 miles
    c) 2.64 inches
    d) 12.5 centimeters
7. contour interval 20 feet
8. a) the Public Affairs Building: 34°4'25" (34.0736°); 118°28'27" (118.4742°)
    b) the tip of Santa Monica pier: 34°0'23" (34.0064°); 118°30'08" (115.5022°)
    c) the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir: 34°08'00" (34.1333°); 118°24'41" (118.4114°)
9. a) Greystone Mansion (in Greystone Park): 620 ft or 188.97 m
    b) Woodlawn Cemetery: 140 ft or 42.67 m
    c) Crestwood Hills Park: 660 ft or 201.17 m
10. Zone 11
11. 361500m.E x 3763000m.N  Zone 11
12. 1000m x 1000m= 1000000 square meter
13.
14. 14°48' East
15. South
16.