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Year 11 - Geography

Using GIS to visualise global trends in urbanisation

Urban change

Unit Summary

This unit teaches pupils about the causes and challenges of rapid urban growth. Pupils will learn about the trends and causes of urbanisationand will study how cities change over time.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use GIS to visualise global trends in urbanisation.

Key Notes

  • For the first time ever, humanity became 'urban' around 2007.
  • GIS can help us to manage and visualise big data about world cities using filters and pop-ups.
  • GIS helps us to manage and visualise big data about trends in urbanisation using choropleth maps and pop-ups.
  • GIS choropleth maps use shapefiles which are 'joined' to attribute using place identifiers in the shapefiles.
  • GIS pop-us can be configured to visualise trends in big data about urban population.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • filter: the selection of some data in a GIS layer to visualise spatial patterns more clearly
  • pop-up: in GIS, a read-only display of attribute information (e.g. text, images, charts) often linked to a location
  • choropleth: a cartographical method used to visualise data for bounded areas (polygons) using shading or colours
  • shapefile: in GIS, a vector data storage format used for location, shape and attributes of geographic features, e.g. borders of polygons showing the outline and area of a country

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • When using filters, selecting the incorrect 'condition'; when configuring pop-ups, using the incorrect formula of words to link with attribute titles.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.

For the first time ever, humanity became 'urban' around 2007. GIS can help us to manage and visualise big data about world cities using filters and pop-ups.

2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'filter'

the selection of some data in a GIS layer to visualise spatial patterns more clearly.

3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.

Mistake: When using filters, selecting the incorrect 'condition'; when configuring pop-ups, using the incorrect formula of words to link with attribute titles. Correction: Advise caution when selecting the 'condition' for a filter; take care when typing text and typing or selecting attribute titles.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 Geography guide library.