Benefits of Maps in Geographical Analysis

Benefits of Maps in Geographical Analysis Maps are the most important and indispensable tool for geographers to use. They help people understand and explore â€Å"relationships† on our planet. A map shows a representation of various phenomenons over all the earth or of a specific area of the land, in a visual graphic format. The earliest maps were drawn on rock surfaces, clay tablets, metal plates, papyrus linen or constructed of sticks. Today maps are usually rendered on a flat surface such as paper or on a computer monitor. Maps are the most successful means of recording and communicating information about the location and spatial characteristics of the natural world and of different societies and cultures. Maps are not perfect, but as technology has improved, so have the quality and accuracy of maps. The science of map making is known as cartography. As maps are so commonly used to convey information, it is important to be able to read and interpret them correctly. Drawn to Scale A map is a reducer; it shrinks an area to a manageable size. The amount of reduction is known as the scale. In order for maps to be useful they are scaled down so that they are small enough to be handled by an individual and so that they fit on the available paper or screen. When scaling down a map, every part of the map is scaled by the same amount. This ensures that every object on the map is the same proportion as everything else on the map. As the earth is round and maps are flat it is impossible to create a map with a perfect scale, some parts of the map will be big and others small. The larger a territory represented by a map, the greater the distortion in the scale. The smaller the area the map represents, the more accurate it is. It is important that we recognise how to read, understand and utilize scale as we examine the different maps we encounter. The scale on the map is used to convert distances on the maps to distances in reality and the scale is depicted on the map as t hree common methods. They are referred to as the graphic (linear) method, the verbal (word) method and the fractional (ratio) method. The graphic method depicts scale using a line with separations marked by smaller interesting lines, similar to a ruler. One side of the scale represents the distance on the map, while the other side represents the true distance of objects in real life. By measuring the distance between two objects on a map and then referring to the graphic scale it is easy to calculate the actual distance between those same items. http://www.bxwa.com/fastbid/instructions_measure_sample.gif The verbal method simply uses words to describe the ratio between the map’s scale and the real world. Simply measure the distance on the map and then follow the verbal directions to calculate the actual distance. [â€Å"Once centimetre on the map equals one hundred and fifty meters on the ground†] The fractional method portrays the scale of a map using a representative fraction to describe the ratio between the map and the real world. http://www.edc.uri.edu/nrs/classes/nrs409509/Lectures/4MapBasics/scale_2quad.jpg 1:24 000, in this example, 1cm on the map represents 2,4km on the ground Large Scale VS Small Scale A map which depicts a relatively small area is referred to as a large scale map. The visual representation is shown in more detail. This is because the area of land being represented by the map has been scaled down less, in other words, the scale is larger. 1:10000 is a relatively large fraction. A map depicting a large area, such as an entire country, is considered a small scale map. In order to show the entire country, the map must be scaled down until it is much smaller. This map is less detailed as it shows a relatively vast area. 1:50000 is a small fraction. Large Scale Map VS Small Scale Map http://basementgeographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mapscale.png Coordinate System Maps are very effective in conveying information about space and location. Relative location defines a place in relation to other places. It is a basic reference tool. It is part of your basic geographic knowledge and critical thinking. Directions such as south, west, next door or down the road are used. Absolute location is crucial for referencing maps and is also known as mathematical location. Coordinate systems are used where as grids consisting of horizontal (parallels of latitude) and vertical lines (meridians of longitude) covering the entire globe are used. The interceptions of these lines create addresses in a global coordinate system giving each location a specific, unique and mathematical placement. Longitude and Latitude Measuring latitude – the North Pole and the South Pole provide two natural reference points because they mark the opposite positions of the Earth’s axis. The equator, halfway between the poles, forms a circle that divides the planet into the Northern hemisphere and the Southern hemisphere. The equator is the reference line for measuring latitude in degrees north or south of the equator = 0’ latitude. From the equator, the angles and their arcs increase until we reach the North and South Pole at the maximum latitudes of 90’ North and 90’ South. Measuring longitude – to describe an east or west position, we need a starting line. Longitude lines run from pole to pole. The global position of the 0’ east-west line for longitude was established by international agreement. The longitude line passing through Greenwich, England (near London) was accepted as the prime meridian, known as the Greenwich Meridian. Grid referencing occurs when you use the lines of latitude and longitude to locate a place or an object. It is measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. When writing down the grid reference, remember to quote the latitude numbers first (numbers on the side of the map) and write South or North afterwards. These are the lines going across the map. Then quote the longitude (numbers from the bottom or top of the map) and write East or West afterwards. Always have 6 digits in your reference and any one digit number must then have a 0 written in front of it. Projecting Our Globe onto a Flat Surface Over the centuries, many different ways of representing the round earth on flat paper have been developed. Each of these methods is referred to as map projections. There are thousands of projections but no â€Å"single† or â€Å"correct† projection. Today it is still impossible to draw a flat map that is 100% accurate. This is due to the impossibility of recreating the surface of a round planet on a flat map. Distortions are common but there mathematical attempts to minimise the distortions. Distortion occurs in area, shape, scale, distance and direction. Map projections are an attempt to correct distortions. The types of projections are cylindrical, conical and planar (Mercator, Lamberts, Universal Transverse Mercator and the Gauss Conformal Projection). Cylindrical projection maps are the most common type of map that we see. The area close to the equator has very little distortion, however the closer to the poles that one travels, the more distorted the map becomes. http://ngwww.ucar.edu/conmaptutor/ezmap/ezmap.figure.id.3.gif Conical projection maps display a more accurate map then the cylindrical map. However, the further we travel down the map, the more distorted and less accurate the map becomes. http://oivdoc90.vsg3d.com/sites/default/files/imported/usersguide/images/UsersGuide-692.png Planar projection maps are not commonly used. http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/images/planar.gif There are many different types of interrupted projection maps. They depict the continents as accurately as possible by leaving out less important blank spaces of the map, such as the ocean. Properties of Map Projections Each of the map projections must consider shape, area, distance, size and direction when depicting the maps. The two most important factors that need to be considered is Shape Vs Size. The challenge is that the more accurate you depict the shape of objects, the less accurate the size of the objects will be and vice versa. Map projections are classified as follows: conformal and equivalent. Conformal maps portray shape accurately. This type of map has many negative aspects that it can get quiet distorted, especially towards both the top and bottom of the map. This creates problems with scale. Equivalent maps portray size accurately. These maps are very useful as no matter what part of the map we examine, the scale will remain accurate. Although the sizes of the objects are accurate their shapes may become distorted. By blending both conformality and equivalency map projections, we create a map that balances the distortion of both size and shape. By compromising these projections a hybrid map between conformal and equivalent is formed. The Key to Understanding Maps Maps can be drawn to represent a variety of information. Cartographic abstraction is when important details are chosen to convey the map’s information, while less relevant details are often not shown. This indicates that the map is not â€Å"complete† as details are simplified or omitted to keep the map legible. Geographic features shown on maps are represented by symbols such as: lines, shapes, colours, dots and units. This information might include things such as roads, churches, diggings and monuments. The objects on a map are represented using symbols. A symbol is a picture on the map that represents something in the real world. Understanding these symbols requires the use of a key/legend. It usually shows a small picture of each of the symbols used on the map, along with a written description of the meaning. http://holderbaum.educationextras.com/map%20key%20small.jpg Maps are important tools in geography and geography students must be able to identify and distinguish between different maps. Maps convey spatial information, through graphic symbols, â€Å"a language of location† that must be able to be read and understood to appreciate and comprehend the rich store of information maps display. Scale, coordinate systems, projections and symbolization are some of the main concepts of the â€Å"language† found on maps.

HR Practices of United Services Automobile Association Essay

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a Fortune 100 company as of the year 2009 that primarily sells life and property insurance to its 7. 7 million members, which consists of active and retired military personnel and their family members (www. biz. yahoo. com). They also offer such services as banking and investment management, focused on helping military persons to manage their money wisely and offer them services at reasonable costs with low interest rates. As of 2009, the company employees 21,500 people and competes in the industry of property and casualty insurance against other companies such as MetLife, State Farm, and Government Employees Insurance Company (www. biz. yahoo. com). USAA is headquartered out of San Antonio, Texas, where twenty-five Army officers founded the company in 1922 and set out to insure each other’s cars while standing firm in the values of honesty, integrity, loyalty and great service (USAA. om). â€Å"USAA’s mission is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates, and their families through provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services; in so doing, USAA seeks to be the provider of choice for the military community,† (usaa. com). This mission statement from USAA’s website shows that the company has established its target market, segmenting it into the realm of military personnel and their families. Their main business strategy in attracting customers and beating out the competition for those customers is not only offering a wide array of financial and insurance services, but also by doing so at reasonable costs, rates, and carrying operations out with superior customer service. As a USAA customer having dealt with their top competitors also, I know firsthand that they initially attract customers by internet and television advertising mostly, and achieve customer loyalty by offering a great product at a great price with superior customer satisfaction relationships; this gives the company a high sustainable advantage in their industry and creates a high customer value in the market. This major corporation can afford to be such a customer-focused one because they are not a publicly traded company; in other words, they answer not to stockholders, but rather to the members of the association to cater to their desires. This is how they are able to beat out the competition and gain the edge on acquiring and sustaining more customers than other companies in their industry. Human Resource Practices The USAA corporate website’s careers section pitches employment with the company to interested potential employees as not simply taking orders from customers, but rather truly making a difference in a military family’s life with each and every call. One thing they do that is effective is putting a section titled, â€Å"What’s in it for you? † under which they share that the company pays competitively against the competition within the labor market and offer benefits such as a great 401(k) plan, fitness programs, and other beneficial incentives (usaa. com). From an employee’s perspective, USAA is a great company to work for because the pay is competitive, the benefits increase the value of the job above the pay rate, and there is tremendous job stability once you become a part of their team. This website shows that the company’s human resource practices focus chiefly on pay and benefits to attract potential employees; furthermore the job qualifications insinuate that they are looking for people that have some sort of military service completed, with a moderate college education but skills that are focused on customer satisfaction and interacting well with other people. Often times, customer service positions have a high turnover rate due to the nature of the position in dealing with disgruntled customers, however, USAA does a great job of attracting and retaining the type of individuals they are seeking by offering great pay and benefits that make the job tough to quit. Ethical Philosophy The USAA company website states that their core values are, â€Å"service, loyalty, honesty, and integrity; the same as the military community we serve,† (usaa. om); this portrays the corporate philosophy and ethical positioning quite clearly. They believe in working hard and faithfully to deliver the best service possible while doing what is best for the â€Å"greater good† of the society in which they operate. When compared with the Kantian Rights discussed in chapter one of our textbook, Fundamentals of Human Resource Management (Noe, page 15), USAA’s company ethics parallel with them quite well. The four traits of service, loyalty, honesty, and integrity would completely support the Kantian Rights of free consent, privacy, freedom of conscience, speech, and due process because these are the very things the military fights to defend, and the military is the market which USAA seeks to serve. Foreign Operations The extent of USAA’s foreign operations is not too great considering they serve the people of the American military forces. However, they do handle customer accounts while they are in foreign lands serving in the military; for instance, USAA offers great financial management support for military personnel who are about to be deployed so that they can use their combat and active duty pay wisely to support themselves and their family. HR Practices and Business Strategy One trait that makes a large difference between successful corporations and lesser successful corporations is the company’s ability to implement its ideals into everyday business operations and sync its human resource practices with the overall business strategy. Seeing as USAA is rated in the top one hundred best companies to work for, they must be lucratively creating an environment in which their human resource practices are complimenting the overall business strategy. This creates loyal and satisfied employees that will, in turn, carry out their tasks with diligence and create the superior customer service that so greatly defines USAA. If the customer service employees at USAA were not satisfied, whether it be for compensation reasons or any reason for that matter, they would not be in a position or attitude to maintain the core values of the company, thus the HR practices would no longer be in harmony with the overall business strategy. It is in this situation that we see the utmost importance of the human resource department and its ability to compliment the company’s business strategy. Due to the company’s competitive pay and long list of great benefits that increase the value of having a career with USAA, it is fair to say that their employees should be satisfied and adequately motivated to carry out the overall business strategy.

Inequalities in the US Judicial System Free Essay Example, 2000 words

There must be loopholes within the system that are contributing to this very shameful phenomenon that continues to undermine our democracy. It is very awkward to believe that Blacks and Hispanics who make up lower portion of the entire population of the country commit more crimes than the Whites and that state and federal prisons fits them more appropriately. Contributing factors There is good evidence that in school, students from African American families receive harsher purnishments than those from White. Students from Blacks as well as Hispanic families constitute more than seventy percent of all the students either arrested or reffered to the law enforcement authorities. Blacks make up fourty percent while Hispanics make up twenty percent of all the youth jailed. According to Snyder and Dillow (2012), African American students make up the largest percentage of the students arrested in schools. During the 2009-2010 academic years, the number of students arrested was ninety six thousand while those reffered to the law enforcement were two hundred and fourty two thousand. Of these students, more than seventy percent came from Blacks and Hispanic families. We will write a custom essay sample on Inequalities in the US Judicial System or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Very harsh purnishments in school, that include suspensions and arrests, have contributed to the large number of youth from Blacks and Hispanic families to fall in the hands of juvenile system of justice and at a very early age. The rate of juvenile incarceration is higher among the youth from African American families and the probability of receiving jail sentences is much higher compaired with their White classmates (Roberts, 2004). Despite the fact that Blacks juvenile youth account for about only sixteen percent of the overall youth population, thirty seven percent of their cases find their way to the the criminal court. From these courts, around fifty-eight percent of Blacks youth find themselves in adult jails. In addition, other contributing factors relate to the family set up, poor forms of parenting, child abuse as well as family violence. While growing up right from birth, a child needs the attachment and the bonding, care and love from all the two parrents. This is what is responsible for the good growth and development of the child (Shonkoff and Phillips, 2000). Lack of supervision and appropriate displinary methods for children greatly contributes to criminal behavior among children when they grow into adults. In addition, absence of father and poverty are also very risky factors to the escalation of the problem.