Nature and Scope of Geography

Geography is often thought of as the art of making and studying maps. Maps give us a much more correct and graphic view of the way the Earth’s surface looks compared to a picture of drawing. As earlier, even today geographical information about an area is available through reports, travel diaries and gazeteers. At present maps can be drawn by using satellite images using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools. Computers easily convert the information from satelite images into maps to show what changes development can bring about. Such information is of benefit to the society. Such mapmakers are in great demand today. Nowadays geographers, engineers, environmental scientists, city planners, social scientists, and many others learn to use GIS to understand the Earth better. Geography, not only investigtes what is where on the Earth, but also why it is there. Geographers study the location of the activities, carefully identify patterns using maps and find out the reasons for these patterns. The areas are then described based on the distribution of land forms, population, house type and agriculture.They discover the linkages and movements between places and are able to infer the spatial processes that are working in an area.Today, all over the world there are problems related to providing food security, health, effective energy use and environmental conservation. Equally important are equality issues and sustainable development. All these can be achieved by using our resources in sustainable ways. Study of geography is, therefore, necessary to learn more about environmental processes and to understand how land use planning can help us to overcome problems.

In brief:

1. Geography is a science of space.

2. Maps are an essential tool of geographers.

3. Digital Geographical Information system is a new tool for making maps.

4. Spatial Planning can be done using both maps and the study of geography

Geography is a science that studies interaction between man and his environment, so geography has clear objects and scope. The object of geography basically is divided into two, that is material objects and formal objects.

                                

The material objects of geography are geospheric phenomenan that cover several layers, they are lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and anthorosphere. Meanwhile, the formal objects correspond to points of view on a spatial phenomenon on earth’s surface.

Formal objects are regions on earth surface that have their own characteristics, so they can be distinguished from other regions, usually based on natural and social aspects.

Formal object geography are indicators and differentiators from other sciences, while the scope of geographical study enables man to gets answer to questions from the world around that emphasize on spatial and ecological aspects. Geographical study involves the earth, its aspects and formation process, causal and spatial relation of humans with their environment, also the interaction of humans with the environment around them.

Rhoad Murphey, in his book “The Scope of Geography”, proposed three scopes of Geographical study:

(1) Geography learns the spread and relation of mankind on earth’s surface. Beside, it studies about aspects of humans’ living place also how to use it.

(2) Geography studies mutual relationship between man with physical environment (nature) as part of regional diversity study.

(3) Geography studies a regional frame and analyses a region that has specific characteristics.

From the analysis above, it is clear that the scope of geography is inseparable from natural aspects and human aspects. The meaning of environment in geography is not only limited to natural environment, but also man-made environment.