Making a mud map

 

Creating a mud map (line, point and area map) for students to use when out of the classroom in school grounds or excursion

Equipment prepared ahead with one set per 3 students:

•         A3 satellite image of a section of Mawson Lakes Campus
•        Tape measure
•          Pencil, coloured pencils and sharpener
•          Erasure
•          Ruler. Protractor and compass
•          Watch/time
•          Tracing paper
•          Sticky tape
•          A3 white paper – same size as aerial photo
•          Window as a light table
•          Observation skills

Step 1: Getting the satellite image of the site      

Download a satellite image of the field site from Google Maps A3.

·       Print one colour copy between 3 students.  

       Step 2:  Observations at the site

•           Determine the scale of the photo by measuring a feature on the map that is a known measurement at the site.
•           Identify the main features of the photo that students will focus on, i.e. buildings and trees as areas, roads as lines and special features as points (parking machine).
•        Orientate North using the sun and a clock, or a compass – place on image.

     Step 3: Using tracing paper digitise the photo to create a vector map (point, line and area map). To do this, trace over the photo to create a map with lines, points and areas  

Step 4: Tracing outline

•   Attach tracing to light table or window & cover with white sheet of paper.
•   Transfer the tracing to the white paper.
•   Use a ruler and protractor to ensure lines are straight.

     Step 5: Complete mud map: 

•          Place North on the map.
•          Put line and Representative fraction (1: …) scale at the bottom left hand corner of the map.
•          Create a legend and place at the bottom right hand corner of the map.
•          Colour for features according to legend.
•          Label key features.
•       Place title at top right hand corner of map.

      Ensure the map has BOLTSS plus R:

•          Border

  ·         Orientation (North)

  ·         Legend

  ·         Title

  ·         Scale

  ·         Source

  ·         Plus Referencing grid

S

What if? A different Australia if all statehood proposals since 1838 had succeeded

 

Map created by Sasha Trubetskoy

The map above shows what Australia might have looked like if all statehood proposals had succeeded.

Since 1838 and right up to 2003, there have been proposals for different divisions (States) of the Australian continent and nearby neighbours. We are used to seeing Australia as 6 States and 8 Territories (yes, 8, see below) but Australia could have 24 states if the proposal/submissions for Australian Statehood were successful. For example, Australia could have included New Zealand (split into North and South islands), Fiji, New Hebrides, East Timor, and the states of Papua and New Guinea. For an interesting summary of these proposals go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposals_for_new_Australian_states. 

The creator of the 24 States of Australia map, Sasha Trubetskoy, has also calculated the relative size and economic importance of each proposed state in 2014. Go to https://brilliantmaps.com/24-states-of-australia/ to see this data. I suggest, the Pilbara State would be rather wealthy by this stage as a result of mineral wealth.

This would be a great spatial what if? exercise for a geography class to show that what we see now may not have been the case if things happened differently. This example also highlights the entwinement of history, geography and civics when we look at a map.  It may seem rather far-fetched to think of such a patchwork of states on the Australian continent and neighbouring countries but we only have to look at Europe to see that Statehood is not about size. I am sure the history of Australia would have been very different and the culture much more varied if Australia had become a patch quilt of States rather than a continent with huge divisions as history and geography has determined.  

** By the 8 Territories of Australia in 2024 are:

Internal territories:

Australian Capital Territory

Northern Territory

Jervis Bay Territory

External territories

Norfolk Island

Christmas Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australian Antarctic Territory

Coral Sea Islands

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

A case study of change and why - let's drink to some geographical analysis!

Map created by Näytä Data

The map above shows how alcoholic drink preferences in Europe are not static. Between 1990 and 2015 several countries switched their preferred alcoholic beverage, most notably Russia and Eastern Europe moving from spirits to beer.

Everything is subject to change over time, alcohol preference is no exception. The above maps are a very relatable and an interesting example of change over a relatively short term. The maps shows what has changed (or not change) in relation to alcohol preference across Europe from 1990 to 2015. Beyond the description of change, the geographical question is what has driven and caused this change. This is a great conversation and an invitation to seek other maps to help explain the change or not the change. For example, economic maps, demographic maps, climate maps, migration maps (and many others) may help explain the change but it could just be that change happens and cannot be explained. As geographers, we are always looking for the reasons for change in cultural, economic, political and environmental terms via the spatial representation of maps. Do you think we would see a similar change across the States of Australia?  

Go to https://brilliantmaps.com/preferred-alcohol-1990-vs-2015/ for an analysis of what the maps show - not why the change or not the change occurs across space.