GIS
GIS (Acronym) - answer Geographic Information System (pictures in the form of a map
which are created by a computer system containing a database, a graphics program
and tools to manage, edit and analyze geographically located data called features and
attributes)
Features - answer Natural objects and human defined objects (all real world objects,
trees, buildings, roads, rivers, continents, oceans, counties, census tracts, parcels)
Attributes - answer Describe features in a GIS (Name of a country, its population, and
area)
Types of information stored in a GIS - answer Features and Attributes
GIS (defined) - answer An integrated computer system that is used to display, store,
manage, and analyze data about objects on the earth.
Differences between Paper, Digital, and GIS maps - answer Paper - static, image does
not change like a photograph
Digital - map viewed on a computer which may be static like a paper map or may have
some dynamic tools for finding a location, zooming, panning.
GIS - more than a map, has a database behind it with tools to bring more information in,
display data in various ways, look at sets of data to see patterns & compare
relationships, analyze data to create new information, and helps to provide answers to
questions.
Functions of a GIS - answerVisualization, Geodata Management, and Analysis
(3 primary functions)
Visualization - answerlooking at data on a map to get information and see relationships
(GIS Map is a window into your data with different views to see relationships and
patterns)
Geodata Management - answerorganizing and updating information so that it is useful
Analysis - answerapplying GIS tools to geographic data to answer questions and
support decisions.
Geographic Approach (def.) - answer1. Collect and organize geographic data to
understand E
2. Analyze data to create geographic knowledge
3. Apply geographic knowledge to find solutions
, (a way to gain understanding and solve problems by creating and applying geographic
knowledge with GIS as a tool)
Uses of the geographic approach - answerAutomate workflows
Use resources wisely
Organize key information
Make and support decisions
Components of a Feature - answerShape
Location
Symbol
Attributes
Shapes of a Feature - answerPoint, Line, Polygon
Feature Location (expressed as) - answerLatittude and Longitude
Feature Symbol - answerhas a shape, outline, color, pattern, or all of these (simple or
complex)
Feature Attributes - answerinformation that describes the feature (i.e. country - name,
population, capital)
Layer - answera collection of features, a visual representation of a feature class on a
GIS map
Features in a layer - answeruse the same shape, and have the same type of attributes
which represent the same theme (i.e. roads, lakes, mountain peaks) of a real world
object
Scale - answersize of a feature on a map in relation to that objects size in the real world,
represents reduction in size expressed as a ratio or equivalence and is dynamic in GIS
to see more or less detail
ArcMap - answeris the ArcGIS application used to display and work with GIS maps
The two common data storage methods are - answervector and raster
Vector Data - answeruses shapes to represent features and is useful in representing
features with distinct boundaries and is defined by coordinates and link them to real
world location
Raster Data - answerused for continous data, stored in equally sized cells arranged in
rows and columns which contain values or codes, coordinates of the raster's origin are
what link it to a real world location
GIS (Acronym) - answer Geographic Information System (pictures in the form of a map
which are created by a computer system containing a database, a graphics program
and tools to manage, edit and analyze geographically located data called features and
attributes)
Features - answer Natural objects and human defined objects (all real world objects,
trees, buildings, roads, rivers, continents, oceans, counties, census tracts, parcels)
Attributes - answer Describe features in a GIS (Name of a country, its population, and
area)
Types of information stored in a GIS - answer Features and Attributes
GIS (defined) - answer An integrated computer system that is used to display, store,
manage, and analyze data about objects on the earth.
Differences between Paper, Digital, and GIS maps - answer Paper - static, image does
not change like a photograph
Digital - map viewed on a computer which may be static like a paper map or may have
some dynamic tools for finding a location, zooming, panning.
GIS - more than a map, has a database behind it with tools to bring more information in,
display data in various ways, look at sets of data to see patterns & compare
relationships, analyze data to create new information, and helps to provide answers to
questions.
Functions of a GIS - answerVisualization, Geodata Management, and Analysis
(3 primary functions)
Visualization - answerlooking at data on a map to get information and see relationships
(GIS Map is a window into your data with different views to see relationships and
patterns)
Geodata Management - answerorganizing and updating information so that it is useful
Analysis - answerapplying GIS tools to geographic data to answer questions and
support decisions.
Geographic Approach (def.) - answer1. Collect and organize geographic data to
understand E
2. Analyze data to create geographic knowledge
3. Apply geographic knowledge to find solutions
, (a way to gain understanding and solve problems by creating and applying geographic
knowledge with GIS as a tool)
Uses of the geographic approach - answerAutomate workflows
Use resources wisely
Organize key information
Make and support decisions
Components of a Feature - answerShape
Location
Symbol
Attributes
Shapes of a Feature - answerPoint, Line, Polygon
Feature Location (expressed as) - answerLatittude and Longitude
Feature Symbol - answerhas a shape, outline, color, pattern, or all of these (simple or
complex)
Feature Attributes - answerinformation that describes the feature (i.e. country - name,
population, capital)
Layer - answera collection of features, a visual representation of a feature class on a
GIS map
Features in a layer - answeruse the same shape, and have the same type of attributes
which represent the same theme (i.e. roads, lakes, mountain peaks) of a real world
object
Scale - answersize of a feature on a map in relation to that objects size in the real world,
represents reduction in size expressed as a ratio or equivalence and is dynamic in GIS
to see more or less detail
ArcMap - answeris the ArcGIS application used to display and work with GIS maps
The two common data storage methods are - answervector and raster
Vector Data - answeruses shapes to represent features and is useful in representing
features with distinct boundaries and is defined by coordinates and link them to real
world location
Raster Data - answerused for continous data, stored in equally sized cells arranged in
rows and columns which contain values or codes, coordinates of the raster's origin are
what link it to a real world location
