Welcome to Geography Fieldwork!
Have you ever wondered how geographers study the world around them? They don't just sit in classrooms reading books—they put on their coats, grab clipboards, and head outside! This is called fieldwork.
Fieldwork means going out into the real world to observe, measure, record, and present information about a local area. In these notes, you will learn how to gather clues about your surroundings, draw plans and field sketches, display your findings in neat graphs, and use clever digital tools like digital maps and satellite views. Don't worry if any of this feels new—we will take it step by step!
1. Observing and Measuring: Human vs. Physical Features
When you step outside to do fieldwork, you will see two main types of features:
1. Human Features: Things that have been made or changed by people.
Examples: Roads, footpaths, zebra crossings, houses, shops, bus stops, and bridges.
2. Physical Features: Natural things created by nature, not people.
Examples: Hills, rivers, riverbanks, trees, natural soil, plants, and open greenspaces.
Top Tip: Ask yourself: "Would this feature be here if humans never existed?" If the answer is yes (like a hill or a river), it is a physical feature. If humans built it (like a shop or a footpath), it is a human feature.
How Do Geographers Collect Data?
Geographers use handy methods to collect facts and numbers (called data) during fieldwork:
A. Tally Charts and Frequency Tables:
These are great for counting things quickly over a set time. For example, you might sit near the school gate for 10 minutes and count the types of vehicles passing by, or count how many pieces of litter are in the playground. Every time you see a vehicle, you draw a tally mark!
B. Questionnaires and Environmental Surveys:
Sometimes you want to find out what people think or score how clean an area is. Geographers use rating scales. For example, an environmental quality survey might score an area from noisy to quiet using a scale from \(-3\) to \(+3\), or a score from \(1\) to \(5\).
C. Direct Measurement:
Geographers use real tools to measure things accurately:
• Tape measures or metre rulers: To measure the width of a footpath or the depth of a stream.
• Stopwatches: To time how long it takes for cars to pass or how long pedestrians wait at a crossing.
• Thermometers and rain gauges: To record the local microclimate (temperature and rainfall).
Key Takeaway: Fieldwork starts with observing human and physical features and collecting real data using tally charts, rating surveys, and measurement tools.
2. Drawing Plans and Field Sketches
Recording what an area looks like is an important fieldwork skill. Geographers use two main drawing styles: plans and field sketches.
What is a Plan?
A plan is a detailed drawing looking straight down from directly above. This is often called a bird's-eye view or aerial view.
You can draw a plan of your classroom, the school playground, or a local high street. To make sure anyone can understand your plan, remember the handy memory trick BOLT (or BOSLS):
• B - Border: A neat box drawn around the edge of your plan.
• O - Orientation: A North arrow pointing the right way.
• L - Legend (Key): A list explaining what symbols and colours mean.
• T - Title: A clear heading explaining what the plan shows.
• S - Scale: Showing how distances on paper match real life.
What is a Field Sketch?
A field sketch is a hand-drawn picture of a view or landscape that you draw while standing outside looking at it.
Important Rule: A field sketch is not an art contest! You do not need to draw every single leaf on a tree or every individual brick on a wall. Instead, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Draw a neat frame (border) on your paper.
Step 2: Draw the main lines of the landscape (like the horizon, the outline of hills, or the edge of a road).
Step 3: Add the main human and physical features in simple outlines.
Step 4: Add clear labels and annotations (explanatory notes) with arrows pointing to key features. For example: "Narrow pavement – hard for pushchairs to pass" or "Steep grass bank with mature oak trees."
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't waste time shading or adding tiny artistic details. Focus on clear shapes, accurate outlines, and helpful geographical labels!
Key Takeaway: A plan is a bird's-eye view from above (remember BOLT!), while a field sketch is a labelled drawing showing the key features of a landscape view.
3. Presenting Data: Graphs and Charts
Once you finish your fieldwork and return inside with your clipboard, you need to turn your tally marks and numbers into clear pictures. These are called graphs and charts.
Which Graph Should You Use?
1. Bar Charts:
Best for counting separate categories (called discrete data).
Example: The number of cars, buses, bikes, and vans seen outside school.
• Put your categories on the bottom line (the horizontal \(x\)-axis).
• Put your numbers/frequencies going up the side line (the vertical \(y\)-axis), starting at \(0\).
• Make sure your bars are the same width and have equal gaps between them!
2. Pictograms:
A fun chart where small pictures or icons stand for a set number (for example, one car symbol = \(2\) vehicles).
3. Line Graphs:
Best for showing continuous changes over time.
Example: How the temperature in the playground changes every hour from \(9\text{ am}\) to \(3\text{ pm}\). Points are plotted and joined with straight lines.
4. Pie Charts:
A circle divided into slices to show parts of a whole (percentages or proportions).
Example: Showing the percentage of land used for shops, houses, and parks in your local high street.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Never use a line graph to show separate groups (like vehicle types)! Connecting unrelated things with a line makes no sense. Always use a bar chart for separate categories.
Key Takeaway: Choose a bar chart for counting different categories and a line graph for showing changes over time.
4. Using Digital Technologies and Digital Mapping
Modern geographers use exciting technology to collect, explore, and present their findings.
Digital Mapping and GIS
GIS stands for Geographical Information Systems. These are computer programs and websites (such as Ordnance Survey Digimap for Schools or Google Earth / Google Maps) that let you look at digital maps and satellite views.
The Power of Layers:
One of the coolest features of digital maps is layering. Imagine stacking clear sheets of plastic on top of each other. On a computer screen, you can turn different layers on and off:
• A satellite photograph layer (showing real aerial photos).
• A road and street name layer.
• A contour line layer (showing the height and shape of the land).
• A historic map layer (showing what the area looked like \(100\) years ago!).
By comparing these layers, you can see how land use in your local area has changed over time.
Digital Tools for Fieldwork
When you are out in the field, you can use digital gadgets in clever ways:
• Geotagged Photographs: Taking photos on tablets or digital cameras that automatically record the exact location where the photo was taken.
• GPS Devices and Apps: Tracking your walking route and marking exact coordinates of points of interest.
• Audio Voice Memos: Recording descriptions of sounds, smells, and thoughts on the go.
Did you know? Digital fieldwork is more than just snapping a photo! It means using location data, digital maps, and measurements to spot patterns across an area.
Key Takeaway: Digital mapping tools (GIS) allow geographers to explore satellite images, compare map layers, and collect geotagged photos and GPS routes.
Quick Review: Fieldwork Checklist
Before you finish your fieldwork investigation, check you have everything covered:
• Did you distinguish between human (man-made) and physical (natural) features?
• Did you record data clearly using tallies, surveys, or measurements?
• Did you include BOLT (Border, Orientation, Legend/Key, Title) on your plan?
• Is your field sketch clearly labelled with geographical annotations rather than fancy shading?
• Did you choose the right graph (bar chart for categories, line graph for time)?
• Did you explore digital tools like map layers and geotagged photos?
Well done! You now have all the skills you need to be a brilliant local geographer!