Graphs, data and GIS

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Reading Climate Graphs

A climate graph combines a bar chart for monthly rainfall with a line graph for monthly temperature.
The months of the year run along the x-axis (horizontal axis).
Temperature is read from the y-axis on the right, usually in °C; rainfall is read from the y-axis on the left, usually in mm.
Look at the overall shape: bars show wet and dry seasons, the line shows hot and cold seasons.
Always check the scale on each axis before reading values, because the two axes often use different scales.

Reading Population Pyramids

A population pyramid is a special type of bar graph showing the number or percentage of males and females in each age group.
Males are shown on the left side and females on the right side.
Age groups are stacked from youngest at the bottom to oldest at the top.
The horizontal axis shows population (number or percentage), and the vertical axis shows age group.
A wide base means a high birth rate; a narrow top means fewer older people.
A pyramid shape suggests a growing population; a more rectangular shape suggests a stable or ageing population.

Choropleth Maps

A choropleth map uses different shades or colours to show the average value of a variable in each area.
Each area is shaded according to a key that links colour to a range of values.
Darker shades usually represent higher values and lighter shades lower values, but always check the key.
Choropleth maps are useful for comparing regions, such as countries or counties, at a glance.
They show patterns but can hide differences within an area, because the whole area gets one colour.

Line and Bar Graphs

A line graph is best for showing change over time, such as temperature or population growth.
A bar graph is best for comparing amounts in different categories, such as rainfall in different months.
The x-axis usually shows the category or time period; the y-axis shows the value.
Always give the graph a title, label both axes, and include the units.
Choose a sensible scale so the graph fills the space and is easy to read.

Interpreting Aerial Photographs and Satellite Images

Aerial photographs are taken from aircraft and show the ground from above; satellite images are taken from space.
Look for shape, size, pattern, shadow, tone and texture to identify features.
Shadows can help you work out the height and shape of buildings or landforms.
Patterns such as regular rectangles often indicate human features like fields or housing estates.
Satellite images can show changes over time when images from different dates are compared.

What is a GIS?

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyse, edit, output and visualise geographic data.
GIS links data to location using coordinates: longitude (x), latitude (y) and elevation (z).
Location acts as the key index variable, allowing previously unrelated information to be related.
A GIS can include people, procedures and organisations as well as the computer system.
The academic study of these systems is called GIScience, often seen as a branch of technical geography.

How GIS Uses Layers

GIS data is organised into layers, each representing a different theme, such as roads, rivers or land use.
Layers can be overlaid to see how different features relate to one another.
The idea of layers dates back to early map-making, when separate layers were used for contours, vegetation and water.
Modern GIS layers are linked to a database, so the map can be queried and analysed.
Overlaying layers helps solve problems, such as finding the best site for a new school or planning a route.

GIS in the Real World

GIS is used in engineering, planning, management, transport, logistics, insurance, telecommunications and business.
It is also used in the natural sciences, including forestry, ecology and Earth science.
Location intelligence applications rely on GIS to analyse and visualise geographic data.
An early example of spatial analysis was John Snow's 1854 map of cholera cases in London, which helped identify the source of the outbreak.
The first true operational GIS was the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS), developed in 1963 by Roger Tomlinson.

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1.What does the abbreviation GIS stand for?
Easy
- AGeographic Information System
- BGlobal Investigation Survey
- CGeological Index Standard
- DGraphical Internet Service
2.Which person first coined the phrase 'geographic information system'?
Medium
- AJohn Snow
- BRoger Tomlinson
- CCharles Picquet
- DWaldo Tobler
3.In which country and city was the world's first true operational GIS developed in 1963?
Medium
- ALondon, United Kingdom
- BOttawa, Canada
- CParis, France
- DNew York, United States
4.Which of these was the main purpose of the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS)?
Medium
- ATo track cholera outbreaks in cities
- BTo store and analyse data for the Canada Land Inventory
- CTo produce weather forecasts for rural areas
- DTo design street networks for the census
5.Which early mapping technique allowed maps to be split into separate layers, such as one for vegetation and one for water?
Medium
- APhotozincography
- BChoropleth mapping
- CSatellite remote sensing
- DGlobal Positioning System
6.In 1854, John Snow used spatial analysis to identify the source of which disease outbreak in London?
Medium
- ACholera
- BInfluenza
- CMeasles
- DTuberculosis
7.Which of the following are typical components of a Geographic Information System (GIS)? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AComputer hardware and software
- BSpatial database
- CHuman users and support staff
- DProcedures and workflows
- EPrinted paper maps only
8.The first true operational GIS was developed in the 1960s.
Easy
True or false?

Plus de questions

9.Match each person or development to its correct description.
Medium
- Roger Tomlinson
- John Snow
- Charles Picquet
- Waldo Tobler
- Coined the phrase 'geographic information system'
- Used spatial analysis to find the source of a cholera outbreak
- Created a map of cholera deaths in Paris using colour gradients
- Wrote the first publication on using computers for cartography
10.Put these events in the correct chronological order, from earliest to latest.
Medium
- Charles Picquet's map of cholera deaths in Paris
- John Snow's map of cholera cases in London
- Waldo Tobler's publication on computers and cartography
- Development of the first true operational GIS in Ottawa
11.Which statement best explains why John Snow's 1854 cholera map is considered an early example of spatial analysis?
Hard
- AIt was the first map to use colour gradients to show death rates.
- BIt plotted cases and water sources to identify the source of the outbreak.
- CIt was the first map to be printed using photozincography.
- DIt used a computer database to store geographic data.
12.What was the main advantage of using plastic film instead of glass plates for map layers in the early 20th century?
Medium
- AIt was lighter, used less storage space and was less brittle.
- BIt allowed maps to be printed in colour for the first time.
- CIt made it possible to store maps in a digital database.
- DIt could be used to draw contours more accurately.
13.Which of the following are appropriate uses of a choropleth map? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AShowing population density by local authority area
- BShowing average rainfall totals by region
- CShowing the exact location of every individual school in a city
- DShowing the percentage of households with internet access by district
- EShowing the route a walker took through a national park
14.Match each type of graph or map to the data it is best suited to showing.
Medium
- Climate graph
- Population pyramid
- Choropleth map
- Line graph
- Average monthly temperature and rainfall for one place
- The age and sex structure of a population
- Average values shaded across defined areas
- Change in a value over time
15.Put these stages of creating and using a GIS layer in the correct order, from first to last.
Medium
- Collect the raw geographic data
- Enter the data into the GIS as a layer
- Analyse the layers together
- Display the results as a map
16.Which of the following are true about the layering of data in a GIS? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- ADifferent types of data, such as roads and rivers, can be stored as separate layers.
- BLayers can be switched on and off to show different combinations of information.
- CA GIS can only display one layer at a time.
- DLayers can be combined to reveal relationships between different datasets.
- EAll layers in a GIS must use exactly the same symbols and colours.
17.A satellite image can be used to identify changes in land use over time by comparing images taken in different years.
Easy
True or false?
18.A student has a table showing the population of five towns. Which type of graph would be most suitable for comparing the populations of the five towns?
Medium
- AA bar chart
- BA line graph
- CA climate graph
- DA population pyramid
19.Which of the following questions could be answered using a GIS that contains layers for roads, schools and population density? (Select all that apply.)
Hard
- AWhich schools are located in areas of high population density?
- BHow many schools are within 1 km of a main road?
- CWhat is the average temperature in each school's catchment area?
- DWhich areas have both a high population density and no school within 2 km?
20.Match each term to its correct definition.
Medium
- GIS
- Choropleth map
- Population pyramid
- Spatial analysis
- A computer system for storing, managing and analysing geographic data
- A map that uses shading to show average values across areas
- A graph showing the age and sex structure of a population
- Examining data to understand patterns and relationships between locations
21.Why was John Snow's 1854 map of a London cholera outbreak different from earlier maps that simply showed where things were?
Medium
- AHe used the map to analyse clusters of cases and identify the water source causing the outbreak.
- BHe was the first person to draw a map of London at a scale of 1:50,000.
- CHe used colour gradients to show the number of deaths per 1,000 people in each district.
- DHe drew the map on a glass plate so that it could be split into separate layers.
22.Charles Picquet's 1832 map of Paris showed the number of cholera deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in each of the forty-eight districts. Which mapping technique did he use to represent these values?
Medium
- AHalftone colour gradients
- BContour lines
- CPopulation pyramids
- DAerial photographs
23.Photozincography in the early 20th century allowed maps to be split into layers. Why was this especially useful for drawing contours?
Medium
- AContours could be worked on as a separate layer without other map detail confusing the draughtsman.
- BContours could be printed in more than one colour on the same plate.
- CContours could be linked automatically to a spatial database.
- DContours could be photographed from an aircraft without visiting the area.
24.Why is the early 20th-century photozincography process NOT considered a GIS, even though it used layers?
Hard
- AThe maps were just images and had no database linking data to locations.
- BIt was done by hand rather than by computer.
- CIt could only show vegetation and water, not other features.
- DIt used plastic film instead of glass plates.
25.Which of the following statements explain why GIS is described as using location as a 'key index variable'? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AIt allows previously unrelated information to be related to one another.
- BLocations can be recorded using x, y and z coordinates representing longitude, latitude and elevation.
- CIt stores all data in the same file format so no conversion is needed.
- DRecords can include the date and time of occurrence as well as position.
- EIt replaces the need for any human users or support staff.
26.A GIS contains layers for roads, schools and population density. Which of the following questions could it help to answer? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AWhich schools are located in the most densely populated areas?
- BWhich schools are more than 5 km from the nearest main road?
- CHow many students in each school achieved a particular exam grade?
- DWhich areas have both a high population density and no school within 2 km?
- EWhat was the average temperature in each school's area last year?
27.Which statement best explains why a GIS is more useful than a single paper map for planning a new supermarket?
Medium
- AA GIS can combine several layers of data and analyse them together to compare possible sites.
- BA GIS always shows a larger area than a paper map of the same place.
- CA GIS is printed at a larger scale so it shows more detail.
- DA GIS does not need any data to be collected before it is used.
28.In a GIS, data about soils, agriculture, recreation, wildlife, waterfowl, forestry and land use were mapped at a scale of 1:50,000. What does a scale of 1:50,000 mean?
Medium
- A1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm (0.5 km) on the ground.
- B1 cm on the map represents 50,000 km on the ground.
- CThe map covers an area of 50,000 square kilometres.
- DThe map shows 50,000 different features.
29.A GIS is used to help decide where to build a new hospital. The system contains layers for roads, population density, existing hospitals and flood risk. Which of the following is the most likely consequence of building the hospital on a site with a high flood risk?
Hard
- AThe hospital may be inaccessible or damaged during a flood, so the site is less suitable.
- BThe population density around the hospital will automatically increase.
- CThe existing hospitals will be removed from the GIS.
- DThe road layer will no longer be needed in the analysis.
30.In a GIS, layers of data can be combined so that information from one layer can be analysed together with information from another.
Easy
True or false?
31.John Snow's 1854 cholera map was the first map ever to show the locations of water sources in London.
Medium
True or false?
32.The Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) was developed to store, analyse and manipulate data collected for the Canada Land Inventory.
Medium
True or false?
33.A choropleth map is the best choice for showing the exact route of a new road.
Medium
True or false?
34.Match each term to its correct description.
Medium
- Choropleth map
- Population pyramid
- Climate graph
- Satellite image
- Uses shading to show the value of a variable in each area
- Shows the age and sex structure of a population
- Shows average monthly temperature and rainfall for a place
- A picture of the Earth's surface taken from space
35.Match each development in the history of GIS to its correct description.
Medium
- Photozincography
- DIME system
- Design with Nature
- Waldo Tobler's 1959 publication
- Allowed maps to be split into layers for printing
- Introduced a street network into the U.S. Census Bureau
- Described a map overlay method
- Detailed the use of computers to facilitate cartography
36.Why did the introduction of plastic film instead of glass plates help the development of layered maps in the early 20th century?
Medium
- APlastic film was lighter, used less storage space and was less brittle than glass.
- BPlastic film could store a spatial database linked to each layer.
- CPlastic film allowed contours to be printed in more than one colour.
- DPlastic film made it possible to take aerial photographs from aircraft.
37.A GIS is used to compare two satellite images of the same area taken ten years apart. What is the most likely reason for doing this?
Hard
- ATo identify changes in land use over time, such as new buildings replacing farmland.
- BTo measure the exact height of every building in the area.
- CTo find out the names of the people living in each building.
- DTo calculate the average temperature of the area over ten years.
38.Which of the following are consequences of using GIS to relate previously unrelated information through location? (Select all that apply.)
Hard
- ANew avenues of scientific inquiry and studies can be opened up.
- BData from different sources can be compared if they share a real physical location or extent.
- CAll geographic data automatically becomes accurate and up to date.
- DLocation-enabled services can rely on geographic analysis and visualisation.
- EPaper maps are no longer needed for any purpose.
39.A GIS layer stores the location of a school using x = 14, y = 9 and z = 32. What does the z value represent?
Medium
- AThe elevation of the school
- BThe longitude of the school
- CThe latitude of the school
- DThe date the school was built
40.A GIS contains a satellite image of a coastal town taken in 2005 and another taken in 2015. Which of the following statements about using these images are true? (Select all that apply.)
Medium
- AComparing the two images can show how much land has been built on in the ten years.
- BThe images can be used to identify changes in land use over time.
- CThe 2015 image alone can show exactly what the town looked like in 2005.
- DThe images can be used to measure the area of new housing estates.
- EThe images prove that the population of the town increased by exactly 10%.
41.What is the name of the academic discipline that studies GIS and its underlying geographic principles?
Medium
42.In which year was the world's first true operational GIS developed?
Medium
43.Complete the sentence about the first operational GIS.
Easy
The first true operational GIS was called the ____ ____ ____ and was developed by ____.
44.Complete the sentence about GIS data.
Medium
In a GIS, information is stored in ____ that can be displayed one on top of another.
45.What is the name of the graph that shows average monthly temperature and rainfall for a place?
Medium
46.A map has a scale of 1:50,000. Two towns are 6 cm apart on the map. How many kilometres apart are they in reality?
Medium
47.A GIS layer records elevation using x, y and z coordinates. A point has an x value of 12, a y value of 8 and a z value of 45. What is the elevation of this point?
Medium
48.A GIS layer records elevation using x, y and z coordinates. A point has an x value of 20, a y value of 15 and a z value of 60. What is the elevation of this point, in the same units as the coordinates?
Medium
49.What is the name of the graph that shows average monthly temperature and rainfall for a place? Give the two-word name.
Easy
50.A map has a scale of 1:50,000. Two villages are 8 cm apart on the map. How many kilometres apart are they in reality? Give your answer in kilometres.
Medium
51.In a GIS, which coordinate represents elevation? Give the single letter.
Medium
52.Complete the sentences about reading a climate graph.
Medium
On a climate graph, temperature is usually shown as a ____ and rainfall is shown as ____.
53.Explain how John Snow used spatial analysis to identify the source of the 1854 cholera outbreak in London.
Hard
54.Explain why a GIS is more useful than a single paper map for planning a new supermarket.
Hard
55.Explain why John Snow's 1854 map of a cholera outbreak in London was different from earlier maps that simply showed where things were.
Hard
56.In which year was the world's first true operational GIS developed?
Medium
- A1767
- B2159
- C1963
- D2355
57.A map has a scale of 1:50,000. Two towns are 6 cm apart on the map. How many kilometres apart are they in reality?
Medium
- A4 km
- B5 km
- C2 km
- D3 km
58.A GIS layer records elevation using x, y and z coordinates. A point has an x value of 12, a y value of 8 and a z value of 45. What is the elevation of this point?
Medium
- A45 m
- B55 m
- C50 m
- D40 m
59.A GIS layer records elevation using x, y and z coordinates. A point has an x value of 20, a y value of 15 and a z value of 60. What is the elevation of this point, in the same units as the coordinates?
Medium
- A54
- B72
- C66
- D60
60.A map has a scale of 1:50,000. Two villages are 8 cm apart on the map. How many kilometres apart are they in reality? Give your answer in kilometres.
Medium
- A5 km
- B4 km
- C3 km
- D6 km

Notes de révision

## Graphs, Data and GIS — Revision Notes ### Reading and drawing graphs - **Climate graphs** show temperature and rainfall for a place, usually month by month. - **Population pyramids** show the structure of a population by age and sex. - **Line graphs** show change over time; **bar graphs** compare amounts between categories. - **Choropleth maps** use shading or colour to show how a value varies across areas. ### Aerial photographs and satellite images - Aerial photographs are taken from above the ground and show what an area looks like. - Satellite images cover very large areas and can be used to observe patterns and changes on the Earth's surface. ### What is a GIS? A **geographic information system (GIS)** consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data. Much of this often happens within a spatial database, but this is not essential to meet the definition of a GIS. In a broader sense, a GIS can also include human users and support staff, procedures and workflows, the body of knowledge of relevant concepts and methods, and institutional organizations. ### Layers of data - GIS data is organised in **layers** — for example one layer for vegetation and another for water. - Layers can be combined to solve problems, such as finding the best location for a new facility. - The map overlay method was promoted by Ian McHarg in *Design with Nature*. ### Location as the key - GIS relates previously unrelated information by using **location as the "key index variable"**. - Locations and extents are recorded with date and time, plus x, y and z coordinates: **longitude (x), latitude (y), and elevation (z)**. - All Earth-based, spatial–temporal, location and extent references should be relatable to one another, and ultimately, to a "real" physical location or extent. ### History highlights - 1832: Charles Picquet mapped cholera deaths in the 48 districts of Paris using halftone colour gradients. - 1854: John Snow plotted cholera casualties and nearby water sources on a map of London, identifying the source of the outbreak — an early use of spatial analysis. - Early 20th century: photozincography allowed maps to be split into layers (e.g. vegetation, water, contours). - 1963: the world's first true operational GIS, the **Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS)**, was developed in Ottawa by Roger Tomlinson. - The term "geographic information system" was coined by Roger Tomlinson in the mid-1960s. ### GIScience - **GIScience** is the academic discipline that studies GIS and its underlying geographic principles; it is often considered a subdiscipline of geography within technical geography. ### Where GIS is used Engineering, planning, management, transport/logistics, insurance, telecommunications, business, forestry, ecology and Earth science.

Geographic information system (GIS): Integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data.
Spatial database: A database in which much GIS work often happens; however, this is not essential to meet the definition of a GIS.
GIScience: The academic discipline that studies GIS and their underlying geographic principles; often considered a subdiscipline of geography within technical geography.
Key index variable: Location — the characteristic of GIS that allows previously unrelated information to be related.
Coordinates in GIS: Longitude (x), latitude (y), and elevation (z), recorded with the date and time of occurrence.
Layers: Separate sets of map data (for example vegetation, water or contours) that can be worked on individually and then combined; a typical feature of a contemporary GIS.
Choropleth map: A map that uses shading or colour to show how a value varies across areas.
Climate graph: A graph showing temperature and rainfall, usually month by month.
Population pyramid: A graph showing the structure of a population by age and sex.
Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS): The world's first true operational GIS, developed in Ottawa in 1963 by Roger Tomlinson for the Canada Land Inventory.
Roger Tomlinson: The person who first coined the phrase "geographic information system" in the mid-1960s.
John Snow: An epidemiologist and physician who in 1854 used spatial analysis — plotting cholera casualties and water sources on a map — to identify the source of a London outbreak.
Charles Picquet: French cartographer and geographer who in 1832 mapped cholera deaths in the 48 districts of Paris using halftone colour gradients.
Photozincography: An early 20th-century process that allowed maps to be split into layers, such as one layer for vegetation and another for water.
Map overlay method: A method of combining map layers, promoted by Ian McHarg in Design with Nature.

Cartes mémo

What is a climate graph used to show?

A climate graph shows average monthly temperature and rainfall for a place, helping you compare patterns across the year.

On a climate graph, which type of graph is usually used for temperature?

Temperature is usually shown as a line graph, so you can see how it rises and falls through the year.

On a climate graph, which type of graph is usually used for rainfall?

Rainfall is usually shown as a bar graph, with each bar representing the total for a month.

What does a population pyramid show?

A population pyramid shows the number or percentage of males and females in each age group of a population.

How are males and females arranged on a population pyramid?

Males are usually shown on one side and females on the other, with age groups stacked from youngest at the bottom to oldest at the top.

What is a choropleth map?

A choropleth map uses different shades or colours to show how a value varies across areas, such as districts or countries.

What does a line graph show?

A line graph shows how a value changes over time by joining plotted points with a line.

What does a bar graph show?

A bar graph uses bars to compare amounts or totals between different categories or places.

What is an aerial photograph?

An aerial photograph is a view of the ground taken from above, often from an aircraft or drone.

What is a satellite image?

A satellite image is a picture of the Earth's surface taken from a satellite in space.

What does GIS stand for?

GIS stands for Geographic Information System.

What is a Geographic Information System (GIS)?

A GIS is computer hardware and software that stores, manages, analyses, edits, outputs and visualises geographic data.

What is a key feature of a GIS?

A key feature is the use of layers of data that can be combined and analysed together.

How does a GIS use location?

A GIS uses location as a key index variable to relate previously unrelated information.

What coordinates does a GIS use to record locations?

It uses x, y and z coordinates, representing longitude, latitude and elevation.

Who first coined the phrase 'geographic information system'?

Roger Tomlinson first coined the phrase in the mid-1960s.

What was the first true operational GIS and when was it developed?

The Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) was developed in 1963 in Ottawa, Canada.

What was the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) used for?

It was used to store, analyse and manipulate data for the Canada Land Inventory, mapping land capability.

How did John Snow use spatial analysis in 1854?

He plotted cholera deaths and water sources on a map of London to identify the water source responsible for the outbreak.

Why was John Snow's map important?

It was one of the earliest successful uses of a geographic methodology to pinpoint the source of a disease outbreak.

What did Charles Picquet's 1832 map show?

It showed the number of cholera deaths per 1,000 inhabitants in the 48 districts of Paris using colour gradients.

What is photozincography?

A process developed in the early 20th century that allowed maps to be split into layers, such as vegetation and water.

Why is layering useful in mapping?

Layering lets different types of data be worked on separately and then combined, without confusing the draughtsman.

What is GIScience?

GIScience is the academic discipline that studies GIS and their underlying geographic principles.

Name two areas where GIS is used.

GIS is used in many fields, including engineering, planning, transport, logistics, forestry, ecology and Earth science.

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