GISP Study Guide Questions &
Answers (Grade A+)
Georeferencing—ANSWER--101- associating a map or image with spatial location
control points—ANSWER--101- points come in pairs that match the spatial location with a
point on an unreferenced image or map
Spatial Reference Systems (SRS)—ANSWER--101- coordinate based local, regional, or global
system used to location geographical entities (aka Coordinate Reference System (CRS))
Coordinate Reference System (CRS)—ANSWER--101- coordinate based local, regional, or
global system used to location geographical entities (aka Spatial Reference Systems (SRS))
International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS)—ANSWER--101- 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—ANSWER--101- transforming coordinated from a curved surface (Earth) to
a flat map
Horizontal datum—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—ANSWER--101- reference point for measuring elevations
NAVD88—ANSWER--101- Gravity based geodetic datum in North America
WGS 84 (World Geodetic System)—ANSWER--101- reference coordinate system used by the
Global Positioning System (GPS)
SRID integer—ANSWER--101- Spatial reference system id numbers, including EPSG codes
defined by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers
types of distortion—ANSWER--101- Distance, Direction, Shape, Area (sometimes bearing
and scale)
Mercator Projection- distortions—ANSWER--101- preserves shape and direction, area gets
distorted
Mercator Projection—ANSWER--101- projecting the Earth onto a cylinder tangent to a
meridian
Azimuthal Projection- distortions—ANSWER--101- distance from center is true, other
properties distort with distance
Azimuthal Projection—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.
Cylindrical Projection- distortions—ANSWER--101- preserve area and shape, distance gets
distorted, especially on upper and lower regions of the map
Cylindrical Projection—ANSWER--101- 2 types Tangent (1 intersect) and Secant (2 intersects)
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
Answers (Grade A+)
Georeferencing—ANSWER--101- associating a map or image with spatial location
control points—ANSWER--101- points come in pairs that match the spatial location with a
point on an unreferenced image or map
Spatial Reference Systems (SRS)—ANSWER--101- coordinate based local, regional, or global
system used to location geographical entities (aka Coordinate Reference System (CRS))
Coordinate Reference System (CRS)—ANSWER--101- coordinate based local, regional, or
global system used to location geographical entities (aka Spatial Reference Systems (SRS))
International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS)—ANSWER--101- 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—ANSWER--101- transforming coordinated from a curved surface (Earth) to
a flat map
Horizontal datum—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—ANSWER--101- reference point for measuring elevations
NAVD88—ANSWER--101- Gravity based geodetic datum in North America
WGS 84 (World Geodetic System)—ANSWER--101- reference coordinate system used by the
Global Positioning System (GPS)
SRID integer—ANSWER--101- Spatial reference system id numbers, including EPSG codes
defined by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers
types of distortion—ANSWER--101- Distance, Direction, Shape, Area (sometimes bearing
and scale)
Mercator Projection- distortions—ANSWER--101- preserves shape and direction, area gets
distorted
Mercator Projection—ANSWER--101- projecting the Earth onto a cylinder tangent to a
meridian
Azimuthal Projection- distortions—ANSWER--101- distance from center is true, other
properties distort with distance
Azimuthal Projection—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.
Cylindrical Projection- distortions—ANSWER--101- preserve area and shape, distance gets
distorted, especially on upper and lower regions of the map
Cylindrical Projection—ANSWER--101- 2 types Tangent (1 intersect) and Secant (2 intersects)
© 2026 Copyright. All Rights Reserved. This document is
protected by copyright law, Copyrighted By Brittie Donald
