New
New
Year 11
AQA

Using GIS desire lines to visualise migration

I can use GIS desire lines to visualise migration.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

Using GIS desire lines to visualise migration

I can use GIS desire lines to visualise migration.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Desire lines can be created using GIS to visualise migration.
  2. Filters can be used in GIS to declutter a map showing many desire lines.
  3. GIS desire lines can be configured to visualise migration proportionally.
  4. GIS desire lines can be configured with pop-ups to improve visualisation.

Keywords

  • Desire lines - a graphical technique using lines on a map to show the simple direction of movement from one place to another

  • Filter - the selection of data in a GIS layer which declutters a webmap to visualise spatial patterns more clearly

  • Great circles - straight line routes which appear curved because they take the curvature of Earth into consideration

  • Pop-up - in GIS, a read-only display of attribute information (e.g. text, images, charts) often linked to a location

Common misconception

Desire lines and flow lines are often confused.

Desire lines show a simple link between a source and destination; flow lines show the route taken between a source and destination.


To help you plan your year 11 geography lesson on: Using GIS desire lines to visualise migration, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

No matter what your level of experience is with GIS, go through all the steps yourself first until you feel confident and fluent. Don't worry if you make a mistake, everybody does, even experienced practitioners!
Teacher tip

Equipment

The lesson will require students to have access to a suitable IT device, e.g. laptop. Some tasks would be facilitated by the students using a mouse for more effective and faster control of the cursor.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does the Human Development Index (HDI) measure?
Population and housing quality
Correct answer: Income, education, and life expectancy
Access to the internet and mobile phones
Climate and resources
Q2.
Which of the following is an indicator of economic development?
Birth rate
Correct answer: GNI per capita
Literacy rate
Infant mortality rate
Q3.
Which country is most likely to have a high HDI?
Correct answer: Germany
Chad
Bangladesh
Ethiopia
Q4.
Which of these is most likely to be a characteristic of a low-income country (LIC)?
High access to tertiary education
Long life expectancy
High GNI per capita
Correct answer: High birth rate and low literacy
Q5.
What does GNI per capita help show?
Correct answer: Average income per person
Government debt
Personal tax levels
Country size
Q6.
Which of the following best describes the development gap?
Differences in government policies
Correct answer: The difference in standards of living between the richest and poorest countries
Climate zones around the world
The gap between rural and urban life

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:Desire lines,Lines on a map showing direction of movement from one place to another

Lines on a map showing direction of movement from one place to another

Correct Answer:Filter,A GIS tool that helps declutter a webmap to reveal spatial patterns

A GIS tool that helps declutter a webmap to reveal spatial patterns

Correct Answer:Great circles,Straight routes that appear curved due to Earth’s shape

Straight routes that appear curved due to Earth’s shape

Correct Answer:Pop-up,A small window showing text, images or data linked to a location

A small window showing text, images or data linked to a location

Q2.
What is the main purpose of a GIS filter tool?
To add new locations
Correct answer: To select specific data and declutter the map
To label all features at once
To zoom in and out automatically
Q3.
How do great circles appear on most 2D maps?
Correct answer: Curved
Straight
Zigzagged
Invisible
Q4.
How do desire lines differ from flow lines in migration mapping?
Flow lines are always longer
Desire lines use curved paths
They are both the same
Correct answer: Flow lines show the route taken, while desire lines show direct movement

Additional material

Download additional material