Geographic Information Systems

Glossary

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - A tool that analysizes geographic information, where spatial correlations can be made.

Hybrid Map - A type of Google map where streets are overlayed over satellite images.

Large-Scale Map - A map that displays a large amount of detail over a small area. An example of a large-scale map would be a small area of the world such as your city.

Layers - Pieces of information that is displayed on map. (Examples: Streets, rivers, cities)

Panning - Navigating on a map from North to South and East to West.

Scale - Is the ratio for the distance on the map to the distance on the ground. A scale such as 1 inch = 1 mile (or 1:63,360) shows a small area of the world such as your city. A scale such as 1 inch equals 250 miles (1:16,000,000) shows a large area such as your state.

Small-Scale Map - A map that displays a small amount of detail over a large area. An example of a small-scale map would be a large area such as your state.

Theme - A feature on a map that provides information (ex. Roads, Cities, Parks, Rivers)

Zooming - Changes the scale of the map (ex. from small-scale to large-scale or large-scale to small-scale)