GISP Exam 2026 Questions and Answers
Georeferencing - Correct answer-Associating a map (such as a pdf without spatial
information) or image (such as an aerial image without spatial information) with
spatial locations.
Control Points - Correct answer-Consisting of multiple points, points come in pairs
that match the spatial location with a point on an unreferenced image or map.
Spatial Reference System (SRS) or Coordinate Reference System (CRS) - Correct
answer-A coordinate-based local, regional or global system used to locate
geographical entities.
International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) - Correct answer-It's a three-
dimensional 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-Transforming coordinates from a curved earth to
a flat map.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) - Correct answer-A global coordinate
system - UTM zones are 6 degrees.
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,Horizontal Datum - Correct answer-Model of the Earth as a spheroid (2
components, reference ellipsis and a set of survey points both the shape of the
spheroid and its position relative to the Earth).
Vertical Datum - Correct answer-Reference point for elevations of surfaces and
features on the Earth - could be based on tidal, seas levels, gravimetric, based on a
geoid.
NAVD88 - Correct answer-Gravity based geodetic datum in North America.
Geodetic Datum - Correct answer-Set of control whose geometric relationships are
known, either through measurement or calculation.
WGS - World Geodetic System - Correct answer-Reference coordinate system used
by the Global Positioning System (GPS).
SRID Integer - Correct answer-Spatial reference system ID numbers, including
EPSG codes defined by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers.
4 Distortions - Correct answer-Distance, Direction, Shape, Area
Mercator Projection - Correct answer-Preserves shape and direction, area gets
distorted - projecting Earth onto a cylinder tangent to a meridian.
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,Azimuthal Equidistant - Correct answer-Planar (tangent) - used for air route
distances - distances measured from the center are true - distortion of other
properties increases away from the center point.
Cylindrical Equal - Area Projections - Correct answer-Preserves area, shape and
distance gets distorted near the upper and lower regions of the map - straight
meridians and parallels - meridians are equally spaced and the parallels are
unequally spaced.
Conic Projections - Correct answer-Preserves directions and areas in limited areas -
distorts distances and scale except along standard parallels - generated by
projecting a spherical surface onto a cone.
Latitude Projection - Correct answer-Low-latitude areas (near equator) use a
conical projection, Polar regions use a azimuthal planar projection.
Extent Projection - Correct answer-Broad in East-West (e.g., the US) use a conical
projection; Broad in North-South ( e.g., Africa) use a transverse-case cylindrical
projection.
Thematic Projection - Correct answer-If you are doing an analysis that compares
different values in different locations, typically an equal-area projection will be
used.
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, Discrete Features - Correct answer-A feature that has a definable boundary, begins
and ends, for example a highway or lake.
Continuous Phenomena - Correct answer-Each location is a measure of something,
for example elevation. A. Measure of concentration level. B. Measure of a value in
terms of a fixed point (like elevation in terms of sea level).
Geoid - Correct answer-The shape that the surface of the oceans would take under
the influence of Earth's gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other
influences such as winds and tides - used to reference heights, by registering
ocean's water level at coastal places using tide gauges - this is how the mean sea
level is determined.
Reference Ellipsoid - Correct answer-A mathematically defined surface that
approximates the geoid, the truer figure of the Earth, or other planetary body.
Oblate Ellipsoid - Correct answer-Fits the geoid to a first order approximation -
formed when an ellipse is rotated about its minor axis.
Sphere - Correct answer-As can be seen from the dimensions of the Earth
Ellipsoid, the semi-major axis A and the semi-minor axis B differ only by a bit
more the 21 kilometers.
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Georeferencing - Correct answer-Associating a map (such as a pdf without spatial
information) or image (such as an aerial image without spatial information) with
spatial locations.
Control Points - Correct answer-Consisting of multiple points, points come in pairs
that match the spatial location with a point on an unreferenced image or map.
Spatial Reference System (SRS) or Coordinate Reference System (CRS) - Correct
answer-A coordinate-based local, regional or global system used to locate
geographical entities.
International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) - Correct answer-It's a three-
dimensional 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-Transforming coordinates from a curved earth to
a flat map.
Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) - Correct answer-A global coordinate
system - UTM zones are 6 degrees.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Horizontal Datum - Correct answer-Model of the Earth as a spheroid (2
components, reference ellipsis and a set of survey points both the shape of the
spheroid and its position relative to the Earth).
Vertical Datum - Correct answer-Reference point for elevations of surfaces and
features on the Earth - could be based on tidal, seas levels, gravimetric, based on a
geoid.
NAVD88 - Correct answer-Gravity based geodetic datum in North America.
Geodetic Datum - Correct answer-Set of control whose geometric relationships are
known, either through measurement or calculation.
WGS - World Geodetic System - Correct answer-Reference coordinate system used
by the Global Positioning System (GPS).
SRID Integer - Correct answer-Spatial reference system ID numbers, including
EPSG codes defined by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers.
4 Distortions - Correct answer-Distance, Direction, Shape, Area
Mercator Projection - Correct answer-Preserves shape and direction, area gets
distorted - projecting Earth onto a cylinder tangent to a meridian.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Azimuthal Equidistant - Correct answer-Planar (tangent) - used for air route
distances - distances measured from the center are true - distortion of other
properties increases away from the center point.
Cylindrical Equal - Area Projections - Correct answer-Preserves area, shape and
distance gets distorted near the upper and lower regions of the map - straight
meridians and parallels - meridians are equally spaced and the parallels are
unequally spaced.
Conic Projections - Correct answer-Preserves directions and areas in limited areas -
distorts distances and scale except along standard parallels - generated by
projecting a spherical surface onto a cone.
Latitude Projection - Correct answer-Low-latitude areas (near equator) use a
conical projection, Polar regions use a azimuthal planar projection.
Extent Projection - Correct answer-Broad in East-West (e.g., the US) use a conical
projection; Broad in North-South ( e.g., Africa) use a transverse-case cylindrical
projection.
Thematic Projection - Correct answer-If you are doing an analysis that compares
different values in different locations, typically an equal-area projection will be
used.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Discrete Features - Correct answer-A feature that has a definable boundary, begins
and ends, for example a highway or lake.
Continuous Phenomena - Correct answer-Each location is a measure of something,
for example elevation. A. Measure of concentration level. B. Measure of a value in
terms of a fixed point (like elevation in terms of sea level).
Geoid - Correct answer-The shape that the surface of the oceans would take under
the influence of Earth's gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other
influences such as winds and tides - used to reference heights, by registering
ocean's water level at coastal places using tide gauges - this is how the mean sea
level is determined.
Reference Ellipsoid - Correct answer-A mathematically defined surface that
approximates the geoid, the truer figure of the Earth, or other planetary body.
Oblate Ellipsoid - Correct answer-Fits the geoid to a first order approximation -
formed when an ellipse is rotated about its minor axis.
Sphere - Correct answer-As can be seen from the dimensions of the Earth
Ellipsoid, the semi-major axis A and the semi-minor axis B differ only by a bit
more the 21 kilometers.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
