Thursday, May 29, 2014

Monday, April 21, 2014

Gapminder Screencast and Analysis

Gapminder #1

Gapminder #2


The first two variables I chose are GDP per Capita (in US dollars) which measures the gross domestic product per person in the country and literacy rate (percent of people 15 years and older) which measure what percent of the population can read and write. The second two variables I chose are improved water source (overall access percentage) which measures the percentage of the population that has access to an improved water source and infant mortality rate (rate per 1,000 live births) which measures how many deaths per live births before the age of one.
GDP per capita is a good indicator of development because it measures how much money people are generally making. The higher the GDP per capita, the more money people have. Literacy rate is also a good indicator of development because if people can afford to have their children to stay in school, it shows that they have that access money to afford to send them to school instead of using the money for everyday needs. The more education a society has, the more people they will have working in the secondary and tertiary sectors of economy. Access to improved sanitation indicates that a society is developed because the government has put in the funds to create access to water attainable. When people have access to sanitary water, they won’t get sick and will have to time and resources to work and provide for their families. A low infant mortality rate is a good indicator of economic development because it shows that people have access to medical care before and after giving birth.
The countries in Europe, East Asia and the Middle East are high on the GDP per capita and literacy graph while countries in Africa are low on the graph. But what is surprising is that several countries in Africa are relatively high on the graph as well, such as South Africa, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. European countries and a few East Asian countries are low on the infant mortality rate scale and high on the improved access to water sanitation scale while countries in Africa are very high on the infant mortality rate scale and low on the improved access to water sanitation. The few outliers however are Papua New Guinea, Yemen and Afghanistan, which are high on the infant mortality rate scale and low on the improved access to water sanitation.
The reason that European, Eastern Asian and Middle Eastern countries are far more developed than African countries is because of their infrastructure, luck in being where they are as to the ability to grow crops and location in the global economy. European countries developed faster because of the Industrial Revolution and the machines invented to make work more efficient.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Crossing the Line GIS Activity


View Larger Map
The boundary that could possibly break apart in in Belgium between Flemish region and Walloon region. The boundary the could possibly merge in North and South Korea to form Korea.

Belgium could break apart into two separate countries because Belgium is already essentially split into two separate countries already. There is an anthropographic boundary between the rich Flemish (Dutch speakers) region and the poorer Walloon (French speakers) region. Local governments both harshly prohibit the use of the other sides language. The Flemish region has pushed for autonomy for years, if not outright independence.
North and South Korea could potentially merge into one Korea because a collapse of the North Korea’s regime would pave the way for the fortified border to open between North and South Korea, and possibly disappear.

The boundary between the Flanders and Walloons is a cultural boundary, specifically a language boundary between the Dutch speakers and the French speakers.
The new boundary merging North and South Korea is eliminating the geometric boundary between North and South Korea.

The Walloon region of Belgium will probably be the most affected economically if Belgium splits up because it is the poorer part of current Belgium.
North and South Korea merging into one Korea will be affected economically, especially regarding North Korea, whose current economy is very poor and lacks stability.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Census Data Mapper Map & Analysis- October 2013


LINK to this map on Google Drive


I am analyzing the percent of people who are 65 years and older. I am noticing that the highest percent of the 65+ population is concentrated in the midwest and west south central regions, mainly in Nebraska and Kansas as well as scattered across the west pacific region. I see a very low percent in the west mountain region as well as a lower percent in the northeast region overall. There is a very high percentage in Florida however.  The whole of alaska has a percentage of 3.5% to 12.5%.
I think the reason that there are many people 65 and older in Florida is because of the warm temperatures and mild seasons and weather. The reason that there are many people in the midwest and south central region is because the culture is more laid back and casual than say in New York or California. There is a low population in Alaska obviously because of the harsher weather and remote living.
The impact that the 65 and older population could have in a region is the overall atmosphere. The economy would be impacted as well because most people who are 65 and older are retired and not generating a large income. This means that they probably live in smaller homes  and in quieter neighborhoods. Life is different in the midwest and Florida because of the people who live there, as is anywhere, but the difference an older population generates is a more laid back culture and also an old culture, not having a lot of new or young energy.