GIS Test 1
Briefly discuss the decisions that the GIS user must make when creating maps of the
following areas:
Local and regional maps - answerAny 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? - answer Geographic Information System or Geographic
Information Science
How does this differ from GPS? – answer GPS stands for Global Positioning System. A
series of 24-30 satellites used for precise location of features
What does a GIS allow its users to do? - answerIt 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 - answer 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)? - answerA 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? - answerA 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. -
answer1)Computer hardware platform
2)GIS software
3)Data storage
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? - answer1)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? - answerPtolemy, a Greco-Roman astronomer and
geographer from the 2nd century B.C.
Who founded the art of remote sensing? - answerFrench photographer and balloonist
Gaspard Felix Tournachon carried large format cameras into the sky.
Who was John Snow, and what was his contribution to spatial analysis? - answer
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? - answerJacqueline
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? - answerManual 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
--well-suited for presentation for a variety of situations
Who is called the "Father of GIS", and what were his contributions to the development
of GIS? - answerDr. Roger Tomlinson
--promoted idea to use computers for mapping
--helped develop Canadian Geographic Information System (CGIS)
,What was the U.S. Bureau of the Census' contribution to the development to the
development of GIS? - answerProduced first geocoded census in 1970
--developed the early DIME data format based on CGIS and POLYVRT
--later developed into the TIGER format
Who founded ESRI (the company that created ArcGIS)?
a. What powerful concept did they first introduce, which served to revolutionize the
industry?
b. What is the main GIS product that they developed? - answerLaura and Jack
Dangermond
a) Linking spatial representation of features with attributes in a table.
--a core concept in GIS
b) Arc/Info, which formed the basis for the modern ArcGIS platform
What are some other GIS systems currently being developed, and who is developing
them? - answerMAPINFO (Pitney Bowes), Intergraph MGA, IDRISI (Clark University),
GRASS (open-source), and QMAP (also open-source)
Briefly list, and discuss, some different applications for which GIS can be used. -
answerLand use planning Sociological analysis
Business marketing
Wildlife Habitat Studies
Farm Management
Briefly discuss the evolution of the following aspects of GIS:
a) Data storage and data-sharing associated with GIS.
b)Options for working with GIS data. - answera) More people are serving large volumes
of data over the Internet to remote locations within an organization, across
organizations, and to the general public
--now moving toward cloud-based storage and file-sharing
b) Used to have to purchase a large, expensive program and learn how to use it. Now
can purchase scaled applications that serve user needs
--servers for viewing and printing maps, freeware for viewing interactive map
publications, and scaled-down versions of the full program with fewer options
--server-based GIS provides data and a customizable set of viewing and analysis
functions to users w/o a GIS license via a web browser.
Briefly discuss the evolution of the following aspects of GIS:
c)Expansion into wireless technology
d) New emphasis on open-source solutions - answerc) More people collecting and
sharing data via handheld wireless devices
--handheld computers, smartphones, and GPS units
--cell phone technology is advancing rapidly with new geolocation options, web access,
and geo-applications becoming available
d) More GIS functions now implemented within open-source software and hardware,
rather than proprietary, specialized software
, --data now more often stored using engines from commercial database platforms and
utilize same development environments as rest of computer industry
Briefly discuss the evolution of the following aspects of GIS:
e) Customization
f)Enterprise GIS - answere) Due to emphasis on open-source solutions
--customized applications can now be based on a fundamental set of GIS tools
(hydrology tool or wildlife management tool)
--smartphone and tablet applications programming growing
f) Integrates a server with multiple ways to access the same data
--traditional GIS software, web browsers, and wireless mobile devices
--goal to meet data needs of many different levels of users and provide access to non-
traditional users of GIS
Briefly discuss the roles of GIS professionals in the following aspects of GIS, including
why such expertise is important:
a)Primary data providers
b)Applications GIS - answera) Create base data for many GIS installations.Surveyors
and land-planning professionals—precise measurement of boundaries.
Photogrammetrists—develop elevation and other data from aerial photography or
LIDAR.
Remote Sensing Professionals—extract cultural artifacts and natural information from
satellite and airborne measurement systems.
GPS experts provide base data and format it properly for GIS.
b) Professionals trained in fields such as geography, hydrology, land use planning,
business, civil engineering and utilities
--use GIS in their work.
Mathematics and statistics specialists—develop new ways to analyze and interpret
spatial data.
Briefly discuss the roles of GIS professionals in the following aspects of GIS, including
why such expertise is important:
c)Development GIS
d)Distributed Database GIS - answerc)Skilled software and hardware engineers
--build and maintain GIS software and hardware
d)Computer science professionals with a background in networking, internet protocols,
and/or database management systems
--maintain complex server and network systems
--allow data services, Server GIS , and Enterprise GIS to operate
Briefly discuss each of the following aspects of GIS project management:
a)Important questions to ask before beginning a GIS project. - answera)What specific
issues must be studied?
What kind of information is needed to support decision making?
What functions must the GIS perform?
How long will the project last?
Briefly discuss the decisions that the GIS user must make when creating maps of the
following areas:
Local and regional maps - answerAny 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? - answer Geographic Information System or Geographic
Information Science
How does this differ from GPS? – answer GPS stands for Global Positioning System. A
series of 24-30 satellites used for precise location of features
What does a GIS allow its users to do? - answerIt 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 - answer 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)? - answerA 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? - answerA 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. -
answer1)Computer hardware platform
2)GIS software
3)Data storage
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? - answer1)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? - answerPtolemy, a Greco-Roman astronomer and
geographer from the 2nd century B.C.
Who founded the art of remote sensing? - answerFrench photographer and balloonist
Gaspard Felix Tournachon carried large format cameras into the sky.
Who was John Snow, and what was his contribution to spatial analysis? - answer
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? - answerJacqueline
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? - answerManual 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
--well-suited for presentation for a variety of situations
Who is called the "Father of GIS", and what were his contributions to the development
of GIS? - answerDr. Roger Tomlinson
--promoted idea to use computers for mapping
--helped develop Canadian Geographic Information System (CGIS)
,What was the U.S. Bureau of the Census' contribution to the development to the
development of GIS? - answerProduced first geocoded census in 1970
--developed the early DIME data format based on CGIS and POLYVRT
--later developed into the TIGER format
Who founded ESRI (the company that created ArcGIS)?
a. What powerful concept did they first introduce, which served to revolutionize the
industry?
b. What is the main GIS product that they developed? - answerLaura and Jack
Dangermond
a) Linking spatial representation of features with attributes in a table.
--a core concept in GIS
b) Arc/Info, which formed the basis for the modern ArcGIS platform
What are some other GIS systems currently being developed, and who is developing
them? - answerMAPINFO (Pitney Bowes), Intergraph MGA, IDRISI (Clark University),
GRASS (open-source), and QMAP (also open-source)
Briefly list, and discuss, some different applications for which GIS can be used. -
answerLand use planning Sociological analysis
Business marketing
Wildlife Habitat Studies
Farm Management
Briefly discuss the evolution of the following aspects of GIS:
a) Data storage and data-sharing associated with GIS.
b)Options for working with GIS data. - answera) More people are serving large volumes
of data over the Internet to remote locations within an organization, across
organizations, and to the general public
--now moving toward cloud-based storage and file-sharing
b) Used to have to purchase a large, expensive program and learn how to use it. Now
can purchase scaled applications that serve user needs
--servers for viewing and printing maps, freeware for viewing interactive map
publications, and scaled-down versions of the full program with fewer options
--server-based GIS provides data and a customizable set of viewing and analysis
functions to users w/o a GIS license via a web browser.
Briefly discuss the evolution of the following aspects of GIS:
c)Expansion into wireless technology
d) New emphasis on open-source solutions - answerc) More people collecting and
sharing data via handheld wireless devices
--handheld computers, smartphones, and GPS units
--cell phone technology is advancing rapidly with new geolocation options, web access,
and geo-applications becoming available
d) More GIS functions now implemented within open-source software and hardware,
rather than proprietary, specialized software
, --data now more often stored using engines from commercial database platforms and
utilize same development environments as rest of computer industry
Briefly discuss the evolution of the following aspects of GIS:
e) Customization
f)Enterprise GIS - answere) Due to emphasis on open-source solutions
--customized applications can now be based on a fundamental set of GIS tools
(hydrology tool or wildlife management tool)
--smartphone and tablet applications programming growing
f) Integrates a server with multiple ways to access the same data
--traditional GIS software, web browsers, and wireless mobile devices
--goal to meet data needs of many different levels of users and provide access to non-
traditional users of GIS
Briefly discuss the roles of GIS professionals in the following aspects of GIS, including
why such expertise is important:
a)Primary data providers
b)Applications GIS - answera) Create base data for many GIS installations.Surveyors
and land-planning professionals—precise measurement of boundaries.
Photogrammetrists—develop elevation and other data from aerial photography or
LIDAR.
Remote Sensing Professionals—extract cultural artifacts and natural information from
satellite and airborne measurement systems.
GPS experts provide base data and format it properly for GIS.
b) Professionals trained in fields such as geography, hydrology, land use planning,
business, civil engineering and utilities
--use GIS in their work.
Mathematics and statistics specialists—develop new ways to analyze and interpret
spatial data.
Briefly discuss the roles of GIS professionals in the following aspects of GIS, including
why such expertise is important:
c)Development GIS
d)Distributed Database GIS - answerc)Skilled software and hardware engineers
--build and maintain GIS software and hardware
d)Computer science professionals with a background in networking, internet protocols,
and/or database management systems
--maintain complex server and network systems
--allow data services, Server GIS , and Enterprise GIS to operate
Briefly discuss each of the following aspects of GIS project management:
a)Important questions to ask before beginning a GIS project. - answera)What specific
issues must be studied?
What kind of information is needed to support decision making?
What functions must the GIS perform?
How long will the project last?
