Final answer:
The correct answer is C) Remote Sensing, which is a technology for collecting information about the Earth's surface from a distance, through means like aerial photos and satellite imagery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is C) Remote Sensing. This modern geospatial technology is utilized for observing and collecting data about the Earth's surface from a distance. It encompasses the acquisition of information through various means, including aerial photographs from airplanes or satellite imagery. Remote sensing is instrumental for geographers and others in identifying, understanding, and explaining landscapes, determining land use, and assessing environmental changes caused by natural or human activities.
By contrast, GIS (Geographic Information System) refers to a system used to store, manage, and analyze spatial or geographic data. GIS is widely used across fields such as urban planning, social sciences, and crime mapping for its capabilities in spatial analysis and its ability to integrate and visualize data in map form. GPS (Global Positioning System), on the other hand, is a navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites. Cartography is the art and science of map-making, an endeavor which is closely associated with but separate from the data collection aspects of remote sensing.