ArcGIS Exam 1 Question and answers
100% correctly 2025/2026
Definition and Components of GIS - correct answer ✔A geographic information system (GIS) is a system
designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data.
The five components of GIS= People, Methods and procedures, Data, Hardware, Software
What does GIS do and why is it important? - correct answer ✔GIS integrates various information and
allows us to see the 'whole'. You can layer things like social factors, biodiversity, engineering, land use,
and environmental considerations all on one map.
Its important because most information has spatial components that we would like to map.
Applications of GIS - correct answer ✔Geology, Hydrology and water quality, Business, crime(hotspots,
ranges, types), Emergency response managment, etc....
History of GIS - correct answer ✔-Emerged from cartography and was due to advances in scientific
studies that increased the need from mapping different attributes.
-Development of computers in the 1960s allowed the use of spatial analysis and quantitative thematic
mapping in solving spatial problems.
-ESRI is the leading industry for GIS, started in 1960s
GIS Functionality - correct answer ✔Not just mapping. GIS can help you find an object, where
something is in relation to something else, how many, how large,
What makes up geospatial data? - correct answer ✔Location and characteristics of spatial features. ex.
a road: where but also name length, and speed limit.
,Aspatial data- only attributes
Geographic Inquiry Process - correct answer ✔Ask a geographic question
Acquire geographic data
Explore geograaphic data
Analyze geographic data
Act on geographic knowledge
Basic characteristics of GIS data - correct answer ✔Represent real-world features and their associated
information with maps on a computer.
Maps portray the real world in points, lines, polygons and annotated features.
Points- pole, bore hole, river discharge station.
Lines- river, road, rail, trail.
Polygons- village, town, land parcel.
Annotated features- labels attached to features on a map for more specific information.
Basic Functions provided by a GIS - correct answer ✔Data entry: Allows data entry from a variety of
sources.
Data management: Provides a means to manage data.
Thematic mapping: Displays data in map/layer form.
Data analysis: Performs data analysis functions for exploring spatial relationships in and between map
layers.
Map layout: Provide map layout functions for creating soft and hard copy maps.
Explain Coordinates - correct answer ✔Define the spatial location and extent of geographic objects
Pair of numbers that specify a location in reference to an origin
ALL SPATIAL DATA MUST HAVE COORDINATES; that's what makes it spatial!
, Describe discrete objects - correct answer ✔Objects that exist in one place and not in another
Have identifiable boundaries & attributes
Can be present or absent=
Roads
Houses
States
Describe Continuous Data - correct answer ✔A quantity that exists over the entire map area
Always present; changes in value from place to place (continuously distributed)
Elevation
Temperature
Precipitation
What are the two main data models in GIS? - correct answer ✔Vector data model (discrete)
Raster data model (continuous)
Define georeferenced - correct answer ✔associate something with locations in physical space. When
you get something to line up well in your map
Explain Vector data models - correct answer ✔-Spatial objects are represented as points, lines and
polygons.
-Points features represent objects with no dimension.
Well, transmission pole, sampling locality.
-Line features represent objects in one dimension.
Road, rail, river, trail.
100% correctly 2025/2026
Definition and Components of GIS - correct answer ✔A geographic information system (GIS) is a system
designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data.
The five components of GIS= People, Methods and procedures, Data, Hardware, Software
What does GIS do and why is it important? - correct answer ✔GIS integrates various information and
allows us to see the 'whole'. You can layer things like social factors, biodiversity, engineering, land use,
and environmental considerations all on one map.
Its important because most information has spatial components that we would like to map.
Applications of GIS - correct answer ✔Geology, Hydrology and water quality, Business, crime(hotspots,
ranges, types), Emergency response managment, etc....
History of GIS - correct answer ✔-Emerged from cartography and was due to advances in scientific
studies that increased the need from mapping different attributes.
-Development of computers in the 1960s allowed the use of spatial analysis and quantitative thematic
mapping in solving spatial problems.
-ESRI is the leading industry for GIS, started in 1960s
GIS Functionality - correct answer ✔Not just mapping. GIS can help you find an object, where
something is in relation to something else, how many, how large,
What makes up geospatial data? - correct answer ✔Location and characteristics of spatial features. ex.
a road: where but also name length, and speed limit.
,Aspatial data- only attributes
Geographic Inquiry Process - correct answer ✔Ask a geographic question
Acquire geographic data
Explore geograaphic data
Analyze geographic data
Act on geographic knowledge
Basic characteristics of GIS data - correct answer ✔Represent real-world features and their associated
information with maps on a computer.
Maps portray the real world in points, lines, polygons and annotated features.
Points- pole, bore hole, river discharge station.
Lines- river, road, rail, trail.
Polygons- village, town, land parcel.
Annotated features- labels attached to features on a map for more specific information.
Basic Functions provided by a GIS - correct answer ✔Data entry: Allows data entry from a variety of
sources.
Data management: Provides a means to manage data.
Thematic mapping: Displays data in map/layer form.
Data analysis: Performs data analysis functions for exploring spatial relationships in and between map
layers.
Map layout: Provide map layout functions for creating soft and hard copy maps.
Explain Coordinates - correct answer ✔Define the spatial location and extent of geographic objects
Pair of numbers that specify a location in reference to an origin
ALL SPATIAL DATA MUST HAVE COORDINATES; that's what makes it spatial!
, Describe discrete objects - correct answer ✔Objects that exist in one place and not in another
Have identifiable boundaries & attributes
Can be present or absent=
Roads
Houses
States
Describe Continuous Data - correct answer ✔A quantity that exists over the entire map area
Always present; changes in value from place to place (continuously distributed)
Elevation
Temperature
Precipitation
What are the two main data models in GIS? - correct answer ✔Vector data model (discrete)
Raster data model (continuous)
Define georeferenced - correct answer ✔associate something with locations in physical space. When
you get something to line up well in your map
Explain Vector data models - correct answer ✔-Spatial objects are represented as points, lines and
polygons.
-Points features represent objects with no dimension.
Well, transmission pole, sampling locality.
-Line features represent objects in one dimension.
Road, rail, river, trail.
