GEOG 150 - MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026

GEOG 150 - MIDTERM EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026 ArcGIS Online - Answers A cloud-based mapping system and analysis tool that allows users to create share, and analyze spatial data using GIS functionalities Digital Earth - Answers A virtual representation of the Earth that integrates real-world geographic data, enabling visualisation, analysis, and simulation Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Answers A system designed to collect, store, analyze, and visualize spatial or geographic data Global, Regional, and Local Data - Answers Different levels of spatial data resolution Global Data - Answers Covers the entire Earth (satellite imagery, global climate models) Regional Data - Answers Covers specific geographic regions (e.g., national census data) Local Data - Answers Focuses on smaller areas (e.g., city zoning maps) High-Resolution Data Sensors - Answers Sensors that capture detailed spatial data, often used in satellite imagery and remote sensing Interoperability - Answers The ability of different GIS systems and software to share and use data efficiently Mass Data Storage - Answers Systems designed to store amounts of spatial and geographic data, such as cloud storage and spatial database Metadata - Answers Data that describes other data Geographic Information Science - Answers The theoretical foundation behind GIS Spatially Referenced Data - Answers Data that includes geographic coordinates Spatial Referencing Systems - Answers Systems that assign geographic coordinates to spatial data Spatial Thinking - Answers the ability to understand and analyze spatial relationships between objects, patterns and locations Solutions (GIS Applications) - Answers Practical implications of GIS in real-world scenarios (e.g., urban planning) Cartography - Answers The science of making maps Generalization - Answers The process of simplifying map details to improve readability Graphic Heirarchies - Answers The organization of visual elements on a map to emphasize certain features over others Map - Answers A representation of spatial data that communicates geographic information visually Model - Answers a simplified representation of reality used to provide insight into economic decisions and events Visual Heirarchies - Answers The arrangement of elements on a map guides the viewer's attention Datum - Answers a reference framework for measuring locations on earth (e.g. NAD83) Ellipse - Answers 2d oval shape used to describe the earth Ellipsoid - Answers 3d oval shape used to describe the earth Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) - Answers a coordinate system that uses latitude and longitude to specify locations on the earth's surface Geoid - Answers The actual shape of Earth, which is rough and oblate, or slightly squashed Georeferencing - Answers The process of aligning spatial data to known geographic coordinates Latitude - Answers Distance north or south of the equator Longitude - Answers Distance east or west of the prime meridian Project Coordinator System (PCS) - Answers A coordinate system that projects the earth's curved surface into a flat map using mathematical transformations Projection Surfaces - Answers Methods of projecting the 3d earth onto a 2d surface Sphere - Answers A perfect ball Spheroid - Answers A slightly flattened version of earth (interchangeable with ellipsoid) Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) - Answers A widely used projected coordinate system that divides the world into 60 zones for accurate mapping Dilution of Precision (DOP) - Answers A measure of GPS accuracy based on satellite geometry; lower values mean better accuracy GPS Errors - Answers Factors that cause inaccuracies in GPS positioning, such as atmospheric conditions and signal blockage Global Positioning System (GPS) - Answers A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information Multipath Errors - Answers Errors caused by GPS signals reflecting off buildings, trees, or other surfaces before reaching the receiver Selective Availability (SA) - Answers A former US government policy that intentionally degraded GPS accuracy for civilians (discontinued in 2000) Space, Control, and User Segments - Answers 3 components of GPS Space Segment - Answers the satellites in orbit Control Segment - Answers Ground stations that monitor and manage satellites User Segment - Answers GPS receivers used by individuals and businesses Database errors - Answers mistakes in spatial databases, such as incorrect data entry, outdated information, or inconsistencies in formats Database Models - Answers Different ways of organizing spatial data in databases, including relational, hierarchical, and object-oriented models