Example SURE 329 Exam Questions
- What transpired in
Cartography during the Medieval Period?
- What was the most distinctive
feature of early Chinese cartography and how was it used?
- What is the difference
between a nominal and an ordinal measurement scale? Give an example of
each. Generally, the measurement sophistication increased and the degree
of information generalization decreases from nominal to ratio levels.
Explain. In the article on measurement levels (scales), N. Chrisman states
that the measurement levels developed by Stevens (and described within the
textbook) "do not provide an adequate structure for geographic
measurement." Explain.
- Describe three criteria that
are used to select an appropriate map symbol.
- There are two classes of
phenomena: discrete and continuous. Describe each.
- Describe the construction of
the Tissot Indricatrix.
- Address the issue of distance
measurements as it pertains to geographic phenomena.
- Describe four characteristics
of a 1:24,000-scale USGS quad map series. Define index contour, carrying
contour. Describe the quadrangle system of map layout (up to
1:100,000-scale) showing both the extent of coverage and scale. Identify
the features that are depicted with the following colors: brown, black,
blue, gray, red, pink, purple, green.
- How is the equal-step
classification performed? Classification of phenomenon using equal steps
may be inadequate when grouping only a few values at one or the other extreme.
Explain. Describe how the mean and standard deviation are used in classification.
- Classify the following data
using quintiles: 21, 45, 7, 40, 42, 29, 8, 20, 9, 6, 7, 38, 29, 40, 21, 8,
40, 15, 30, 35, 37, 33, 10, 6, 40.
- What is a choropleth map and
how is it created?
- What are the advantages of
dot mapping? What are the basic steps involved in dot map design?
- What are the advantages of
circles over other symbols such as squares and triangles?
- What is proportional point
symbol mapping?
- In the paper by J. Miller
("Number of Classes and Choropleth Pattern Characteristics")
four attributes of choropleth maps were studied: blackness, aggregation,
complexity, and contrast. Describe two of these attributes.
- What is the difference
between an isometric map and the isopleth map?
- Describe the difference
between CRM errors and method-produced errors in isarithmic mapping. It is
known that the size and shape of the unit area and the method of assigning
control points all affect the degree of accuracy of isopleth maps. If the
cartographer has control over their selection (generally they do not) the
preferred shape is hexagonal. Why?
- Describe the elements of map
aesthetics.
- What is vignetting? Show an
example.
- Describe the four elements of
generalization. What is the difference between the generalization
processes of selection and classification? What is simplification? In
mapping, the cartographer needs to decide what is to be discarded and what
features to retain. What factors affect this decision? Describe the
controls of generalization. Topfer's radical law can be expanded as nc
= nsCeCf (Sc/Ss)0.5.
What is the significance of the two variables Ce and Cf?
- One method of classification
involves clustering. Describe the two methods available for clustering and
give an example.
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This page is maintained by Bob Burtch and
was last updated on 12 December 1999.
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