GIS Exam 1 Questions with Verified
Solutions
What does GIS stand for? - ANSWER-Geographic Information System
What are key Geographic Information Technologies? - ANSWER-- Global Positioning
System
- Remote Sensing
- Geographic Information System
What are the components that make up a Geographic Information System? -
ANSWER-- people
- software
- data
- procedures
- hardware
attribute table (or database) - ANSWER-A set of data tables in digital form describing
what is found at the positions (locations, areas, along lines etc..) in the spatial database.
• Attribute data is tied to spatial data
What's the difference between a spatial and non spatial query? - ANSWER-spatial-
describe any data related to or containing information about a specific location on the
Earth's surface
non-spatial- data that is independent of geographic location
What are the ways we can get GIS data or get data into GIS? - ANSWER-- field
collection
- earth observations
What are the Vector Data Structures? - ANSWER-Typically represents geographic
features or entities as either points, lines or polygons
What types of data are commonly represented by points, lines and polygons? -
ANSWER-• Points: a spatial object with no area --> 0-D = location x,y.
• Line: a spatial object with no area made by a sequence of points → 1-D = length
• Polygons: a set of interconnected lines defining a close area → 2-D = area and
perimeter
How is Raster data represented? - ANSWER-• Divides the entire study area into a
regular grid of cells in specific sequence → SQUARES
, What is a discrete raster data layer and what types of data are represented in a discrete
raster? - ANSWER-Discrete Raster - raster that typically represents phenomena that
have clear boundaries with attributes that are descriptions, classes, or categories.
Data Types: Buildings, roads and parcels of land
What is a continuous raster data layer and what types of data are represented in a
discrete raster? - ANSWER-Continuous Raster - raster in which cell values vary
continuously to form a surface. In a continuous raster, the phenomena represented
have no clear boundaries. Values exist on a scale relative to each other.
Data Types: land cover map, elevation models
What's the default type of file used by ArcGIS Pro? - ANSWER-Geodatabases
Do GIS data layers you download from the web have a coordinate system? Does
ArcGIS Pro always know what it is? - ANSWER-Most of the time they do, sometimes
they won't. ArcMap may not always recognize that coordinate system it is so you may
have to define project it.
What are the Rules, Laws, Strong Recommendations, for dealing with Data in ArcGIS? -
ANSWER-1. Download the data and figure out what the coordinate systems are
(typically in the metadata)
2. Define the current coordinate systems of each of the layers (tell arcGIS what the
coordinate system is)
3. Transform or reproject each of the layers to one common coordinate system
4. Start doing GIS
What is a Representative Fraction (RF) and what does it represent? - ANSWER-
Representative Fraction: a map scale in which figures representing units (as
centimeters, inches, or feet) are expressed in the form of the fraction 1/x (as 1/250,000)
or of the ratio 1:x to indicate that one unit on the map represents x units (as 250,000
centimeters) on the earth's surface.
If the units on one side of the RF are in inches, what are the units on the other side of
the RF? - ANSWER-Inches: they have the same units
What is a large scale map? - ANSWER-Has higher detail over a smaller area
What is a small scale map? - ANSWER-Covers large area with less detail
What is the resolution of a raster data set with a 1 meter pixel size? - ANSWER-high
resolution
What is a DEM? (what GIS data structure is it typically in?) - ANSWER-• Digital
elevation model - terrain elevations
Solutions
What does GIS stand for? - ANSWER-Geographic Information System
What are key Geographic Information Technologies? - ANSWER-- Global Positioning
System
- Remote Sensing
- Geographic Information System
What are the components that make up a Geographic Information System? -
ANSWER-- people
- software
- data
- procedures
- hardware
attribute table (or database) - ANSWER-A set of data tables in digital form describing
what is found at the positions (locations, areas, along lines etc..) in the spatial database.
• Attribute data is tied to spatial data
What's the difference between a spatial and non spatial query? - ANSWER-spatial-
describe any data related to or containing information about a specific location on the
Earth's surface
non-spatial- data that is independent of geographic location
What are the ways we can get GIS data or get data into GIS? - ANSWER-- field
collection
- earth observations
What are the Vector Data Structures? - ANSWER-Typically represents geographic
features or entities as either points, lines or polygons
What types of data are commonly represented by points, lines and polygons? -
ANSWER-• Points: a spatial object with no area --> 0-D = location x,y.
• Line: a spatial object with no area made by a sequence of points → 1-D = length
• Polygons: a set of interconnected lines defining a close area → 2-D = area and
perimeter
How is Raster data represented? - ANSWER-• Divides the entire study area into a
regular grid of cells in specific sequence → SQUARES
, What is a discrete raster data layer and what types of data are represented in a discrete
raster? - ANSWER-Discrete Raster - raster that typically represents phenomena that
have clear boundaries with attributes that are descriptions, classes, or categories.
Data Types: Buildings, roads and parcels of land
What is a continuous raster data layer and what types of data are represented in a
discrete raster? - ANSWER-Continuous Raster - raster in which cell values vary
continuously to form a surface. In a continuous raster, the phenomena represented
have no clear boundaries. Values exist on a scale relative to each other.
Data Types: land cover map, elevation models
What's the default type of file used by ArcGIS Pro? - ANSWER-Geodatabases
Do GIS data layers you download from the web have a coordinate system? Does
ArcGIS Pro always know what it is? - ANSWER-Most of the time they do, sometimes
they won't. ArcMap may not always recognize that coordinate system it is so you may
have to define project it.
What are the Rules, Laws, Strong Recommendations, for dealing with Data in ArcGIS? -
ANSWER-1. Download the data and figure out what the coordinate systems are
(typically in the metadata)
2. Define the current coordinate systems of each of the layers (tell arcGIS what the
coordinate system is)
3. Transform or reproject each of the layers to one common coordinate system
4. Start doing GIS
What is a Representative Fraction (RF) and what does it represent? - ANSWER-
Representative Fraction: a map scale in which figures representing units (as
centimeters, inches, or feet) are expressed in the form of the fraction 1/x (as 1/250,000)
or of the ratio 1:x to indicate that one unit on the map represents x units (as 250,000
centimeters) on the earth's surface.
If the units on one side of the RF are in inches, what are the units on the other side of
the RF? - ANSWER-Inches: they have the same units
What is a large scale map? - ANSWER-Has higher detail over a smaller area
What is a small scale map? - ANSWER-Covers large area with less detail
What is the resolution of a raster data set with a 1 meter pixel size? - ANSWER-high
resolution
What is a DEM? (what GIS data structure is it typically in?) - ANSWER-• Digital
elevation model - terrain elevations
