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f1 Geog Notes

This document discusses maps and geography concepts. It defines maps and plans, explaining that plans show smaller areas with more detail while maps cover larger areas with less detail. It also outlines key map elements like scale, legend, grid system, and directions. Longitude and latitude are explained as well as land use in rural vs urban areas and the Central Business District. The main types of maps and their uses and scales are summarized.

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Tse Ling
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
2K views12 pages

f1 Geog Notes

This document discusses maps and geography concepts. It defines maps and plans, explaining that plans show smaller areas with more detail while maps cover larger areas with less detail. It also outlines key map elements like scale, legend, grid system, and directions. Longitude and latitude are explained as well as land use in rural vs urban areas and the Central Business District. The main types of maps and their uses and scales are summarized.

Uploaded by

Tse Ling
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Section 1 Map Reading

Concept of Geography study


5 Themes of geography
Location
Place
Human/Environment Interaction
Movement
Region

Map and Plan


Difference and similarity of map and plan
Map Plan
Both of them are drawing from above
Both of their scales depend on the ratio of the length of a line on the map or
plan and the actual length
It covers a large area It covers a smaller area
Both large and small scales The scale is generally larger
Less detailed information More detailed information

A plan is similar to the bird-eye-view drawing. It is a view from above. It shows a


small area but provides more details. Floor plans on flat sales department and the
guides on the science museum are examples plans.

When we draw a plan, we just need to draw the objects that are fixed. Others
which can be taken away such as curtains are not included in the plan.

The Nature of map


What is a map?
We usually use a map to locate ourselves and to find new places in our daily lives.
Also a map is an important source of information when we study geography.

Elements of map
From 3D to 2D (bird’s-eye-view drawings)
From real objects to drawing (keys)
From large to small
p.1
Marginal Information
Five kinds of information
Title
- to explain the theme and the function of a map

Direction
- to show the direction of a map
- Maps are usually placed vertically to the north unless pointers show otherwise

Grid squares
- to help readers find a place listed in the index

Scale
- to show the ratio between actual and reduced size of an object shown on the
map

Legend/key
- to explain what the different symbols on the map represent

Functions of map
1. Designed to show where things are.
2. Show the distribution of roads or rivers or country boundaries.
3. Locate ourselves.
4. Find new places in our daily lives.
5. Planning and development.

Kinds of map
Topographic map - mainly shows natural landscape such as mountains and rivers.
Political map - mainly shows the boundaries of different countries and cities.
Thematic map - has a particular theme.
- population map
- land use map
- geological map

p.2
Maps and aerial photos
Aerial photos are taken from the air to show objects on the ground. However, they
cannot show such information as bus routes or names of buildings. As a result, it is
difficult for us to look for a place using an aerial photo. (Aerial photos can be
divided into vertical aerial photos and oblique aerial photos.)

Map shows an area as seen vertically from above. We use different symbols and
colors to represent various objects on a map. As a result, a map gives us a lot of
information that we need to find a place.

Conventional signs
Conventional signs are designed according to the characteristics of the objects
they represent, so it is easy to understand their meanings. In addition, colors of the
conventional signs also give us hints on what they represent. For example, blue
represents features related to water bodies such as rivers and oceans; ✚ represents
features related to medical aspects such as hospitals and clinics.

Color Features represented


Black Artificial objects/Buildings
Red Roads
Green Plants
Blue Water bodies
Brown Landforms/sand and rock

Conventional signs are symbols used to represent features on a map.

Grid system
Grid lines are vertical and horizontal lines that divide the map into a number of
squares. We can use them to tell a location.

Besides using letters and numbers, we can name a grid square by northings and
eastings. Eastings are the vertical lines on a map and northings are the horizontal
ones.

A grid system allows the location of a point on a map on the surface of the earth
to be described in a way that is meaningful and universally understood. p.3
The concept of a 4-figure grid square and a 6-figure grid reference is the same. The
only difference is a 6-figure grid reference can show the location more accurately.

Besides a 4-figure grid square. We can use a 6-figure grid reference to ell a location.
We divide a grid square into one hundred smaller squares. A 6-figure grid reference
is therefore more accurate than a 4-figure grid square.

Map scale
In our daily lives, we usually use ratio to show the number of times things are
enlarged or reduced. Generally a map is smaller than the area it shows, so the scale
of a map shows the number of times the actual features are reduced. This is usually
represented in a fraction, such as 1/20000, 2/5000 and 1/1000. These scales show
that the distance between two points on the map is 20000, 5000, 1000 times less
than the actual distance respectively. Some map use “:” to represent the dividing
line of a fraction, that means to replace 1/20000 by 1:20000.

The maps we use have different scales according to their different fractions.

Item Large-scale map Small-scale map


Area coverage Smaller Larger
Information provide In details In brief
Scale example 1:1000/1:20000 1:10000000/1:100000
Map example Street map, topographic Country map,world map
map

3 types of scales
Representative fraction
Linear scale
Statement scale

Representative fraction (RF)


1:20000
1 cm
Linear scale

0 200 400 600 800 1000 p.4


m
Statement scale
1 cm to 20000 m
1 cm to 200 m

Direction

Compass point (usual)

Whole circle bearing

The compass is divided into 360º counting clockwise from the north.

p.5
Reduced bearing

Reduced bearing is just like the whole circle bearing but it is read from the north or
the south towards the east or the west.

North, south, east, west are the four cardinal points.

Compass - an instrument with a needle that always points north. It is needed to


help tell direction.
Cardinal points - the four major points of direction on a compass - north, east,
south, west.
Whole circle bearing - a way to tell direction by measuring the angle clockwise
from the north.
Reduced bearing - a way to tell direction by measuring the angle from north or
south towards east or west.

Longitude and Latitude


Longitude
Lines of longitude are vertical lines linking the North and the South Poles on a
globe. All of them have the same length. Longitude of 0º is known as the Prime
Meridian. It passes through Greenwich Observatory near London, England.

p.6
Latitude
lines of latitude are horizontal lines round the earth. Latitude of 0º is known as the
equator. It divides the earth into the southern and northern hemispheres. The closer
to the Poles, the shorter the lines of latitude are.

66.5ºN Arctic Circle


23.5ºN Tropic of Cancer
0º Equator
23.5ºS Tropic of Capricorn
66.5ºS Antarctic Circle

Four oceans
Arctic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean

Seven continents
Asia
Europe
Africa
Australia
North America
South America

Section 2 Scramble for land


Land use in Hong Kong
Rural and Urban areas
Rural Urban

Height of buildings Lower Higher


Density of buildings Lower Higher
Population density Lower Higher
Vegetarian cover More Less
Air pollution Less serious More serious

p.7
What is land use?
Land use means the way we use a piece of land.

Information about Hong Kong:


Area: 1,104 km²
Developed: less than 25%
Country parks and nature reserves: 40%
Highest elevation: Tai Mo Shan 958m

Urban land use

1. Commercial land use


Commercial and business activities
(e.g. Offices, shops and banks)
2. Industrial land use
Industrial activities
(e.g. Factories and warehouses)
3. Residential land use
Place we live
(e.g. Housing estates owned by government or private developers)
4. Mixed land use
More than one type of land use on the same piece of land
(e.g. Sham Shui Po, Wan Chai and Tsuen Wan)
5. Recreational land use
Recreation and leisure
(e.g. Parks and playgrounds)
6. Institutional land use
Public use
(e.g. Hospitals, schools and libraries)
7. Transport land use
Transport
(e.g. Roads, airports, railways and piers)
8. Vacant land
Not yet developed

p.8
The Central Business District (CBD)
Land use in the Central Business District
A. Shops
Shops in the CBD mainly sells high-class, rare or expensive goods.
B. Bank Headquarters and Other Financial Institutions
Almost all bank headquarters can be found in the CBD. Moreover, insurance
companies and other financial institutions are also found here.
C. Professional Services
Many professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, accountants and architects, set up
their offices in the CBD.
D. Government Departments
Many government departments and offices are also located in the CBD.

Why are there so many commercial activities in the CBD?

1. Administrative center
The government headquarters are set up in the CBD and many other government
departments are also located there. This can help the daily contact between
commercial companies and the government departments.

2. Good transports
The CBD is located in the focal point of Hong Kong with convenient transport.
There are different types of public transport connecting Central District and Tsim
Sha Tsui with other parts of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New territories, the
outlying Islands and mainland China.

3. A symbol of status
Many businessmen believe that to have their offices in the CBD is a symbol of
status and reputation. This is why they are willing to pay high rents and land prices
to set up their offices there.

4. Many tall buildings


Rents and land prices are expensive in Central District, so buildings are tall to
provide more floor spaces.

Central District is quiet at night and during holidays

p.9
Problems in the CBD

1. Very expensive rent


The rent in Central District is very expensive because of intense competition. This
makes many companies move their offices to other places.
2. Traffic congestion
The problem of traffic congestion is very serious in the CBD during the rush hours
when many people are moving in and out for work.
3. Air pollution
When many vehicles pass through Central District it makes the air pollution more
serious.

Solve it:
A. Traffic congestion
1. Set up restricted area
2. Encourage staggered working hour
3. Reduce the number of bus stops
4. Widen the roads / build flyovers / footbridges / subways

B. Air pollution
What is the major source of the air pollution?
Vehicles
Limited the numbers of vehicles in CBD
Fine the drivers if their vehicles give out black smoke

C. Shortage of commercial land


Develop “secondary” commercial area.
e.g. Causeway Bay and Quarry Bay

p.10
Section 4 Where are our factories moving to?
Production
1. Involves the collection of raw material
2. Manufacturing and
3. Product

Types:
Primary production
- use the natural resources directly
- e.g. Fishing and farming and lumbering

Secondary production
- turn raw materials into products (both semi-finished and finished)

Tertiary production
- refers to the provision of services to customers or other industries
- e.g. Retail, financial and commercial services

What is a system?
A system is a collection of parts that interact to function purposefully as a whole.

What is manufacturing?
Manufacturing means a raw material becomes a product.

Manufacturing system
Input
Process
Output

Input include
- Raw materials
- Capital
- Labour
- Machinery
- Land
- Energy

They are turned into outputs including products and waste

p.11
Classify the manufacturing industries
A. Light and heavy industries
i. Light industry
- light raw materials
- Little space needed
- Light products
- Generally labour-intensive
- e.g. Textile, electronics
II. Heavy industry
- heavy raw materials
- Need more space
- Heavy and bulky products
- Generally capital-intensive
- e.g. Iron and steel, shipbuilding

B. Labour-intensive and capital intensive industries


i. Labour-intensive industry
A lot of labour force is needed
ii. Capital-intensive industry
Much capital is needed by machine

Manufacturing industries in Hong Kong


- Clothing
- Electronics
- Chemical
- Jewellery
- Textile
- Printing and publishing
- Others

Characteristics
1. Industries in Hong Kong are mostly light industries
2. Most of them are labour-intensive
3. Small scale of production
4. Expert-oriented (for oversea market more than Hong Kong people)

p.12

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