Photographic & Digital Skills (GIS)

Modern geographers use a wide range of digital tools alongside traditional map skills. At GCSE you need to understand how photographs, satellite images and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are used to investigate geographical questions. This lesson covers the interpretation of photographs and an introduction to GIS.

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Types of Photographs

Photographs are a valuable source of geographical evidence. You need to be able to interpret three types:

Ground-Level Photographs

These are taken from the ground — the same perspective as a person standing in the landscape. They are the most common type used in exams.

What you can identify:

• Land use (farmland, urban, industrial)
• Vegetation and physical features
• Building types and their condition
• Evidence of human activity (traffic, pollution, development)
• Weather conditions at the time

Aerial Photographs

These are taken from above, usually from an aircraft. They come in two types:

Type	Angle	What It Shows
Oblique aerial	Taken at an angle	Shows a 3D perspective; easier to interpret
Vertical aerial	Taken from directly above	Like a map; useful for measuring areas

Satellite Images

Taken from space by orbiting satellites. They cover large areas and can show:

• Land use patterns across whole regions or countries
• Vegetation health (using infrared imagery)
• Urban growth over time
• Weather systems and cloud cover
• Environmental change (deforestation, ice melt, flooding)

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Interpreting Photographs

In the exam you may be given a photograph and asked to identify features, describe the landscape, or explain changes. Use this structured approach:

Step 1: Foreground, Middle Ground, Background

Divide the photograph into three zones:

Zone	What to Look For
Foreground	The area closest to the camera — detail is clearest
Middle ground	The central area — main features often found here
Background	The area furthest away — less detail, often shows skyline or horizon

Step 2: Physical Features

• Relief (hills, valleys, flat land)
• Rivers, lakes, coastline
• Vegetation (woodland, grassland, crops)
• Rock type (if visible — cliffs, exposed rock)
• Weather (clouds, rain, sunshine)

Step 3: Human Features

• Settlement type and size
• Transport infrastructure (roads, railways, bridges)
• Land use (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural)
• Evidence of development or change (construction, new buildings, derelict land)
• Tourism infrastructure (hotels, paths, signs)

Step 4: Evidence and Explanation

For higher marks, explain what you see using geographical knowledge:

• "The settlement is located on the floodplain, which is flat and suitable for building, but it may be at risk of flooding."
• "The terraced hillside suggests the area has steep slopes that have been modified for agriculture."
• "The brownfield site in the foreground shows evidence of deindustrialisation — the factory is derelict and overgrown."

Exam Tip: When interpreting photographs, always use geographical terminology rather than everyday language. Say "settlement" not "town", "relief" not "hills and stuff", "land use" not "what the land is used for".

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Comparing Photographs

You may be asked to compare two photographs showing the same location at different times, or different locations. Structure your answer:

1. Similarities — what features appear in both?
2. Differences — what has changed or what is different?
3. Evidence — refer to specific features visible in each photograph
4. Explanation — why might these changes or differences exist?

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Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

A Geographical Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system for capturing, storing, analysing and displaying geographical data. GIS layers different types of spatial data on top of each other to reveal patterns and relationships.

How GIS Works

GIS works by combining data layers. Each layer contains a specific type of information, and they can be overlaid on a base map:

Layer Example	Data Type
Base map	Roads, buildings, boundaries
Land use	Residential, commercial, industrial
Flood risk zones	Areas at risk of flooding
Population density	Number of people per km²
Transport networks	Bus routes, railway lines, cycle paths
Environmental data	Air quality, noise levels, green spaces
Census data	Age, ethnicity, income, health

Advantages of GIS

• Large datasets can be analysed quickly and accurately
• Patterns and relationships between different variables can be identified by overlaying layers
• Maps can be updated easily as new data becomes available
• Visual output — complex data is presented clearly on maps
• Precise measurements — distances, areas and densities can be calculated accurately
• Decision-making tool — used by planners, emergency services, businesses and geographers

Disadvantages of GIS

• Requires specialist software and training
• Data must be accurate and up-to-date — poor data produces unreliable results ("garbage in, garbage out")
• Can be expensive to set up and maintain
• May oversimplify complex geographical issues by reducing them to data layers

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Uses of GIS in Geography

Planning and Development

• Identifying suitable locations for new housing, schools or shops
• Assessing flood risk before approving building developments
• Planning transport routes and infrastructure

Hazard Management

• Mapping flood risk zones to plan defences and evacuation routes
• Tracking the path of tropical storms in real time
• Identifying areas at risk from earthquakes, volcanoes or landslides

Environmental Management

• Monitoring deforestation using satellite imagery over time
• Tracking changes in ice cover in polar regions
• Mapping biodiversity hotspots for conservation planning

Fieldwork

• Creating maps of fieldwork data (e.g. plotting land use survey results)
• Overlaying fieldwork data with existing data layers (e.g. comparing pedestrian counts with distance from the CBD)
• Using GPS coordinates to plot exact sampling locations

Exam Tip: AQA specifically expects you to appreciate the value of GIS. In your fieldwork answers, you can gain marks by explaining how GIS could have been used to extend or improve your investigation.

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Digital Mapping Tools

You should be aware of common digital tools used in geography:

Tool	What It Does
Google Earth	Explore satellite imagery; measure distances; view terrain in 3D
Google Maps	Street-level imagery; route planning; local information
Digimap	OS maps and aerial photographs for schools and universities
ArcGIS / QGIS	Professional GIS software for data analysis and mapping
GPS (Global Positioning System)	Provides exact latitude/longitude coordinates using satellite signals

GPS in Fieldwork