1
ESRI GIS FUNDAMENTALS FOUNDATION
CERTIFICATION 2201 ACTUAL 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
Datum - (ANSWER)- Provides a frame of reference for finding locations
- Based on a spheroid
Minor Axis - (ANSWER)- The shorter axis of the ellipse
- North to South
Shape of the Earth (Ellipsoid) - (ANSWER)Oblate Ellipsoid - because it rotates on
the minor axis
Prolate Ellipsoid - (ANSWER)If the Earth rotated about its major (longer;
West/East) axis
Ellipsoid - (ANSWER)a model of the rounded shape of earth (bulging at the
equator)
Measuring Ellipsoids - (ANSWER)Measured by semi-axes (half of an axis)
- Semimajor and Semiminor axes
,2
Spheroid - (ANSWER)An ellipsoid that approximates a sphere
- More descriptive, and used by Esri
- Spheroid projections: WGS84, WGS72
The two definitions for a spheroid - (ANSWER)1. An ellipsoid that approximates
the shape of a sphere (Used by this course)
2. An ellipsoid created by rotating an ellipse about either its major axis (prolate
ellipsoid) or its minor axis (oblate ellipsoid)
Most common spheroid projection in North America - (ANSWER)Current: GRS80
(Currently replacing the former)
Former: Clark 1866
Authalic Sphere - (ANSWER)A sphere with the same surface area as the spheroid
(to make calculations easier)
Choosing a spheroid model - (ANSWER)- Smaller than 1:5,000,000: Can use an
authalic sphere
- Larger than 1:5,000,000: May need to choose a spheroid
How to find info (such as the map projection) - (ANSWER)Right-click layer,
properties, source
, 3
How do you get to the swipe function? - (ANSWER)1) Click on the layer
2) On the ribbon (top area with tabs), click the feature layer contextual tab
3) Under "Compare", click "Swipe"
How do you measure in ArcGIS Pro? - (ANSWER)1) Open the ribbon map tab
2) Under "Inquiry", click "Measure"
Who formalized the system of what we today call Latitude and Longitude? -
(ANSWER)Hipparchus
What is another name for Latitude and Longitude? - (ANSWER)Parallels and
Meridians (based on 360 degrees)
What is the Equivalent to 360 Degrees (in terms of Lat and Long)? - (ANSWER)-
Each degree is divided into 60 min
- Each min is divided into 60 sec
Lines of Latitude - (ANSWER)- Parallel
- Run East and West
- Measure the distances from north or south of the Equator
- THE SIDEWAYS LINES
Lines of Longitude - (ANSWER)- Run North and South
ESRI GIS FUNDAMENTALS FOUNDATION
CERTIFICATION 2201 ACTUAL 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
Datum - (ANSWER)- Provides a frame of reference for finding locations
- Based on a spheroid
Minor Axis - (ANSWER)- The shorter axis of the ellipse
- North to South
Shape of the Earth (Ellipsoid) - (ANSWER)Oblate Ellipsoid - because it rotates on
the minor axis
Prolate Ellipsoid - (ANSWER)If the Earth rotated about its major (longer;
West/East) axis
Ellipsoid - (ANSWER)a model of the rounded shape of earth (bulging at the
equator)
Measuring Ellipsoids - (ANSWER)Measured by semi-axes (half of an axis)
- Semimajor and Semiminor axes
,2
Spheroid - (ANSWER)An ellipsoid that approximates a sphere
- More descriptive, and used by Esri
- Spheroid projections: WGS84, WGS72
The two definitions for a spheroid - (ANSWER)1. An ellipsoid that approximates
the shape of a sphere (Used by this course)
2. An ellipsoid created by rotating an ellipse about either its major axis (prolate
ellipsoid) or its minor axis (oblate ellipsoid)
Most common spheroid projection in North America - (ANSWER)Current: GRS80
(Currently replacing the former)
Former: Clark 1866
Authalic Sphere - (ANSWER)A sphere with the same surface area as the spheroid
(to make calculations easier)
Choosing a spheroid model - (ANSWER)- Smaller than 1:5,000,000: Can use an
authalic sphere
- Larger than 1:5,000,000: May need to choose a spheroid
How to find info (such as the map projection) - (ANSWER)Right-click layer,
properties, source
, 3
How do you get to the swipe function? - (ANSWER)1) Click on the layer
2) On the ribbon (top area with tabs), click the feature layer contextual tab
3) Under "Compare", click "Swipe"
How do you measure in ArcGIS Pro? - (ANSWER)1) Open the ribbon map tab
2) Under "Inquiry", click "Measure"
Who formalized the system of what we today call Latitude and Longitude? -
(ANSWER)Hipparchus
What is another name for Latitude and Longitude? - (ANSWER)Parallels and
Meridians (based on 360 degrees)
What is the Equivalent to 360 Degrees (in terms of Lat and Long)? - (ANSWER)-
Each degree is divided into 60 min
- Each min is divided into 60 sec
Lines of Latitude - (ANSWER)- Parallel
- Run East and West
- Measure the distances from north or south of the Equator
- THE SIDEWAYS LINES
Lines of Longitude - (ANSWER)- Run North and South
