GIS Test 1 Questions and Answers
100% Passs
Briefly discuss the decisions that the GIS user must make when creating maps of the
following areas:
Local and regional maps - ✔✔Any region that fits inside a single UTM or State Plane
zone can use either. The United States uses the State Plane Coordinate System.
Similarly, other nations have their own specifically designed state or province
coordinate system for better projection. The preferred system would place the region to
be mapped close to the center of the zone, where the distortion is least. However, other
factors may take precedence, such as the existing coordinate system of one's data
sources, or the decision of the agency that oversees the project.
What does GIS stand for? - ✔✔Geographic Information System or Geographic
Information Science
How does this differ from GPS? - ✔✔GPS stands for Global Positioning System. A series
of 24-30 satellites used for precise location of features
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,What does a GIS allow its users to do? - ✔✔It allows them to collect, manage and
analyze spatially-referenced data--produces information for better decision-making
Explain the difference between spatial data and aspatial data - ✔✔Spatial data have
spatial or geographical reference --enables them to be located in two- or three-
dimensional space.
Aspatial Data--data that is either not tied to location, or only incidentally tied to location
What is a database management system (DBMS)? - ✔✔A set of computer programs
used for organizing information that is stored in a database. A database is a collection of
data that is usually stored as a single or multiple files that are associated with a single
general category--usually stored in tabular format
How does a GIS differ from a conventional DBMS? - ✔✔A database management
system is designed to store manipulate, analyze and protect tabular data of all kinds.
DBMS work with any kind of data, whereas a GIS is designed specifically to work with
both spatial data and aspatial data
List, and briefly describe, each of the components that constitute a GIS. -
✔✔1)Computer hardware platform
2)GIS software
3)Data storage
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,4)Data input hardware
-Digitizer tablets, scanners,
internet connection, gps
5)Information output hardware
6)GIS data
7)GIS personnel
What is the minimum set of functions that a GIS should provide? - ✔✔1)Data entry
from a variety of sources
2)Data management tools
3)Thematic mapping
4)Data analysis functions
5)Map layout functions
Who created an early atlas that was widely used for several centuries, and what type of
information did it contain? - ✔✔Ptolemy, a Greco-Roman astronomer and geographer
from the 2nd century B.C.
Who founded the art of remote sensing? - ✔✔French photographer and balloonist
Gaspard Felix Tournachon carried large format cameras into the sky.
Disclaimer: Original Content, No Copyright Infringement, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, Who was John Snow, and what was his contribution to spatial analysis? - ✔✔
Who made the first explicit reference to map overlay techniques, who was one of the
early implementer of the technique, and what did he use it for? - ✔✔Jacqueline
Tyrwhitt made the first explicit reference to the technique. Ian McHarg implemented it
for highway planning.
What are some of the drawbacks of paper maps that make GIS so much better for
creating, manipulating, storing, and analyzing data? - ✔✔Manual techniques of spatial
analysis have several drawbacks:
1. They are inaccurate
2. Data updating is time-consuming and laborious
3. It is difficult to extract relevant data
4. It is difficult to analyze data
5. The data storage media (paper maps) is inflexible, and can be degraded with
continual usage.
Difficult to perform analysis for more than a few different siting criteria
--best sites are often missed.
GIS techniques allow for quick remodeling for slight changes in siting criteria
--produce results as maps
Disclaimer: Original Content, No Copyright Infringement, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
100% Passs
Briefly discuss the decisions that the GIS user must make when creating maps of the
following areas:
Local and regional maps - ✔✔Any region that fits inside a single UTM or State Plane
zone can use either. The United States uses the State Plane Coordinate System.
Similarly, other nations have their own specifically designed state or province
coordinate system for better projection. The preferred system would place the region to
be mapped close to the center of the zone, where the distortion is least. However, other
factors may take precedence, such as the existing coordinate system of one's data
sources, or the decision of the agency that oversees the project.
What does GIS stand for? - ✔✔Geographic Information System or Geographic
Information Science
How does this differ from GPS? - ✔✔GPS stands for Global Positioning System. A series
of 24-30 satellites used for precise location of features
Disclaimer: Original Content, No Copyright Infringement, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,What does a GIS allow its users to do? - ✔✔It allows them to collect, manage and
analyze spatially-referenced data--produces information for better decision-making
Explain the difference between spatial data and aspatial data - ✔✔Spatial data have
spatial or geographical reference --enables them to be located in two- or three-
dimensional space.
Aspatial Data--data that is either not tied to location, or only incidentally tied to location
What is a database management system (DBMS)? - ✔✔A set of computer programs
used for organizing information that is stored in a database. A database is a collection of
data that is usually stored as a single or multiple files that are associated with a single
general category--usually stored in tabular format
How does a GIS differ from a conventional DBMS? - ✔✔A database management
system is designed to store manipulate, analyze and protect tabular data of all kinds.
DBMS work with any kind of data, whereas a GIS is designed specifically to work with
both spatial data and aspatial data
List, and briefly describe, each of the components that constitute a GIS. -
✔✔1)Computer hardware platform
2)GIS software
3)Data storage
Disclaimer: Original Content, No Copyright Infringement, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
,4)Data input hardware
-Digitizer tablets, scanners,
internet connection, gps
5)Information output hardware
6)GIS data
7)GIS personnel
What is the minimum set of functions that a GIS should provide? - ✔✔1)Data entry
from a variety of sources
2)Data management tools
3)Thematic mapping
4)Data analysis functions
5)Map layout functions
Who created an early atlas that was widely used for several centuries, and what type of
information did it contain? - ✔✔Ptolemy, a Greco-Roman astronomer and geographer
from the 2nd century B.C.
Who founded the art of remote sensing? - ✔✔French photographer and balloonist
Gaspard Felix Tournachon carried large format cameras into the sky.
Disclaimer: Original Content, No Copyright Infringement, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
, Who was John Snow, and what was his contribution to spatial analysis? - ✔✔
Who made the first explicit reference to map overlay techniques, who was one of the
early implementer of the technique, and what did he use it for? - ✔✔Jacqueline
Tyrwhitt made the first explicit reference to the technique. Ian McHarg implemented it
for highway planning.
What are some of the drawbacks of paper maps that make GIS so much better for
creating, manipulating, storing, and analyzing data? - ✔✔Manual techniques of spatial
analysis have several drawbacks:
1. They are inaccurate
2. Data updating is time-consuming and laborious
3. It is difficult to extract relevant data
4. It is difficult to analyze data
5. The data storage media (paper maps) is inflexible, and can be degraded with
continual usage.
Difficult to perform analysis for more than a few different siting criteria
--best sites are often missed.
GIS techniques allow for quick remodeling for slight changes in siting criteria
--produce results as maps
Disclaimer: Original Content, No Copyright Infringement, All Rights Reserved © 2025 4
