GISP Exam Questions with 100% Correct
Answers / Latest Update 2026/2027 | Graded
A+
Georeferencing - Correct Answer-101- associating a map or image with spatial
location
control points - Correct Answer-101- points come in pairs that match the spatial
location
with a point on an unreferenced image or
map
Coordinate Reference System (CRS) - Correct Answer-101- coordinate based local,
regional, or global system used to location geographical entities (aka Spatial
Reference Systems (SRS))
International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) - Correct Answer-101- a
threedimensional coordinate system with a well-defined origin (the center of mass
of the Earth) and three orthogonal coordinate axes (X,Y,Z)
Map projection - Correct Answer-101- transforming coordinated from a curved
surface
(Earth) to a flat
map
Horizontal datum - Correct Answer-101- model of the earth as a spheroid (2
components, reference ellipsoid and a set of survey points both the shape of the
spheroid and its position relative to the earth)
Vertical Datum - Correct Answer-101- reference point for measuring elevations
,NAVD88 - Correct Answer-101- Gravity based geodetic datum in North America
WGS 84 (World Geodetic System) - Correct Answer-101- reference coordinate
system
used by the Global Positioning System
(GPS)
Spatial Reference Systems (SRS) - Correct Answer-101- coordinate based local,
regional, or global system used to location geographical entities (aka
Coordinate
Reference System (CRS))
SRID integer - Correct Answer-101- Spatial reference system id numbers,
including
EPSG codes defined by the International Association of Oil and Gas
Producers
types of distortion - Correct Answer-101- Distance, Direction, Shape, Area
(sometimes
bearing and
scale)
Mercator Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- preserves shape and
direction,
area gets
distorted
Mercator Projection - Correct Answer-101- projecting the Earth onto a cylinder
tangent
to a
meridian
,Azimuthal Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- distance from center is
true,
other properties distort with
distance
Cylindrical Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- preserve area and
shape,
distance gets distorted, especially on upper and lower regions of the
map
Cylindrical Projection - Correct Answer-101- 2 types Tangent (1 intersect) and
Secant (2
intersects)
Straight meridians and
parallels
meridians are equally spaced while parallels are
not
Conical Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- preserves direction and
area in
limited areas, distorts distance and scale except along standard
parallels
Conic Projections - Correct Answer-101- mapped to equally spaced lines by
projecting a
spherical surface onto a
cone
Choosing a Projection- Low LATITUDE, (near Equator) - Correct Answer-101-
use
conical
projection
, Choosing a Projection- High LATITUDE, Polar Regions - Correct Answer-101-
use
azimuthal planar
projections
Azimuthal Projection - Correct Answer-101- planar or tangent (meaning they are
formed when a flat piece of paper is placed on top of the globe and a light source
projects the surrounding areas on to a map.) Either the North Pole or the South
pole is orientated at the center of the map, giving the viewer an impression of
looking up or down at Earth.
Choosing a Projection- EXTENT, broad East-West (e.g. USA) - Correct Answer-
101-
use conical
projection
Choosing a Projection- EXTENT, broad North-South (e.g. Africa) - Correct Answer-
101-
use transverse-case cylindrical
projection
Choosing a Projection- THEMATIC, analysis that compares different values in
different
locations - Correct Answer-101- use an equal-area
projection
continuous phenomena - Correct Answer-102- each location is a measure of
something,
often temperature or elevation (think "raster", but not
always)
Answers / Latest Update 2026/2027 | Graded
A+
Georeferencing - Correct Answer-101- associating a map or image with spatial
location
control points - Correct Answer-101- points come in pairs that match the spatial
location
with a point on an unreferenced image or
map
Coordinate Reference System (CRS) - Correct Answer-101- coordinate based local,
regional, or global system used to location geographical entities (aka Spatial
Reference Systems (SRS))
International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) - Correct Answer-101- a
threedimensional coordinate system with a well-defined origin (the center of mass
of the Earth) and three orthogonal coordinate axes (X,Y,Z)
Map projection - Correct Answer-101- transforming coordinated from a curved
surface
(Earth) to a flat
map
Horizontal datum - Correct Answer-101- model of the earth as a spheroid (2
components, reference ellipsoid and a set of survey points both the shape of the
spheroid and its position relative to the earth)
Vertical Datum - Correct Answer-101- reference point for measuring elevations
,NAVD88 - Correct Answer-101- Gravity based geodetic datum in North America
WGS 84 (World Geodetic System) - Correct Answer-101- reference coordinate
system
used by the Global Positioning System
(GPS)
Spatial Reference Systems (SRS) - Correct Answer-101- coordinate based local,
regional, or global system used to location geographical entities (aka
Coordinate
Reference System (CRS))
SRID integer - Correct Answer-101- Spatial reference system id numbers,
including
EPSG codes defined by the International Association of Oil and Gas
Producers
types of distortion - Correct Answer-101- Distance, Direction, Shape, Area
(sometimes
bearing and
scale)
Mercator Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- preserves shape and
direction,
area gets
distorted
Mercator Projection - Correct Answer-101- projecting the Earth onto a cylinder
tangent
to a
meridian
,Azimuthal Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- distance from center is
true,
other properties distort with
distance
Cylindrical Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- preserve area and
shape,
distance gets distorted, especially on upper and lower regions of the
map
Cylindrical Projection - Correct Answer-101- 2 types Tangent (1 intersect) and
Secant (2
intersects)
Straight meridians and
parallels
meridians are equally spaced while parallels are
not
Conical Projection- distortions - Correct Answer-101- preserves direction and
area in
limited areas, distorts distance and scale except along standard
parallels
Conic Projections - Correct Answer-101- mapped to equally spaced lines by
projecting a
spherical surface onto a
cone
Choosing a Projection- Low LATITUDE, (near Equator) - Correct Answer-101-
use
conical
projection
, Choosing a Projection- High LATITUDE, Polar Regions - Correct Answer-101-
use
azimuthal planar
projections
Azimuthal Projection - Correct Answer-101- planar or tangent (meaning they are
formed when a flat piece of paper is placed on top of the globe and a light source
projects the surrounding areas on to a map.) Either the North Pole or the South
pole is orientated at the center of the map, giving the viewer an impression of
looking up or down at Earth.
Choosing a Projection- EXTENT, broad East-West (e.g. USA) - Correct Answer-
101-
use conical
projection
Choosing a Projection- EXTENT, broad North-South (e.g. Africa) - Correct Answer-
101-
use transverse-case cylindrical
projection
Choosing a Projection- THEMATIC, analysis that compares different values in
different
locations - Correct Answer-101- use an equal-area
projection
continuous phenomena - Correct Answer-102- each location is a measure of
something,
often temperature or elevation (think "raster", but not
always)
