In some areas, sanitation departments use salt to melt ice and snow to support travel during winter. How can a geographer help a community determine how much salt is needed for its roads this winter?

A geographer can study weather patterns to estimate how much ice and snow the roads may receive, and examine how people move through the community to identify which roads need the most attention. Combining these factors helps the community estimate how much salt it will need. Mapping rivers, studying wildlife, or asking about mental maps does not directly provide the same information about winter road conditions and use.

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