Herein are two maps which have a look at very different questions. The first is a map of Massachusetts USA attempting to show total population change from 1980 to 1990 and from 1990 to 2000, on a county by county basis. This map indicates that most counties had a shift in population, either increasing or decreasing over each decadal time period. While some counties remained at a fairly consistent rate, most appear to have changed, many of those having switched directions. Additionally, there is some indication of a spatial correlation between counties regarding their population trends, relative to adjacent counties. The second is a road network / service area travel-time map in southeast Kenya. The port of Mombasa, Kenya is a very significant transit hub, both for Kenya and the region at large. While there is a railroad network connection between the port, Nairobi (the national capital), and elsewhere in Africa, most cargo delivered within Kenya is transported by truck. I wanted to know how far a lorry driver could travel, and deliver a load of cargo, in one work day. So, I created a road network database with each road in Kenya having a specific travel time, per segment. As is the case on all roads, the rate of travel depends on the road surface, width, and speed limits. The roads on this map represent primary and secondary routes, with estimated speeds between 45km/h and 80km/h. Given an assumed maximum workday, to include loading and unloading of cargo, around 12 hours, I wanted to know how far could be traveled in 8 and a half hours if starting from the Port of Mombasa. The results include many of the major cities, including Nairobi. Both maps have been developed as part of an end-of-semester final project for a university geography course.
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