GIS Final Exam with Accurate
Solutions
What does GIS stand for? - ANSWER-Geographic information system
Given a good definition for GIS, list the four components and put a star next to the most
important one - ANSWER-software, hardware, spatial data, people*
List four things GIS can do - ANSWER-enter data, store/display data, analyze data,
manipulate data
Name the two general types/kind of data - ANSWER-attribute and spatial
example of spatial data - ANSWER-spaulding hall, room 217, UNH, Durham NH
example of attribute data - ANSWER-there are 30 cats in a veternarian clinic. 15 of the
cats are black
spatial data - ANSWER-geometric, coordinates, location
attribute - ANSWER-non-spatial characteristics
nominal (descriptive), ordinal (range), interval/ratio (order and distance)
uses lines, points(x,y) and polygons to make up spatial features on a map. The topology
is CREATED using attribute tables and features. More complex but more visually
pleasing - ANSWER-Vector format data
what is the main difference between network and hierarchal database structures -
ANSWER-network database is more flexible due to having multiple parents and multiple
children all connected. however, it shares data and can be complex. hierarchal is harder
to manipulate having a 1:1 parent children ratio, it is very defined.
what is a relational database - ANSWER-data and information is formally structured
through a set of connected tables. MOST COMMONLY USED IN GIS
what is the main purpose of a map projection - ANSWER-to take a 3D globe and put it
on a 2D surface
what is the most commonly used database in GIS - ANSWER-relational
, which general class of map projections is used to project an entire hemisphere? why is
this used - ANSWER-CONICAL--> it has fewer distortions
prime meridian - ANSWER-0 degrees longitude
equator - ANSWER-0 degrees latitude
cylindrical projection - ANSWER-whole earth
puts cylinder over earth--touches only at edges
meridians mapped to equally spaced vertical lines and circles of latitude are mapped to
equally spaced horizontal lines
conical projection - ANSWER-best for entire hemisphere, fewer distortions
azimuthal projection - ANSWER-planar, touches only at edge
projection distortions - ANSWER-conformal (cylindrical), equivalent (azimuthal), and
perspective
what is the best way to obtain GIS layers - ANSWER-the best way to get layers to do
the analysis is to check for already created data from places like USGS, GRANIT, EPA,
USDA. if the data is accurate it saves time and money.
what is the most important factor to consider when obtaining GIS data - ANSWER-how
ACCURATE the data is
why was there an immense amount of effort in developing raster compression/encoding
methods - ANSWER-because raster data is extremely complex and takes up a lot of
space
encoding - ANSWER-raster compression
types of encoding (compression) - ANSWER-block coding, chain coding, full length,
quadtree
define the concept of scale - ANSWER-MD/GD scale is the ratio between map distance
and ground distance. as the scale gets larger (1:12,000) it becomes more detailed for
the objects are larger. as the scale get smaller (1:100,000), it becomes less detailed
and the objects are larger
small scale - ANSWER-larger numbers--objects are small--less detailed
large scale - ANSWER-smaller numbers--objects are large--more details
Solutions
What does GIS stand for? - ANSWER-Geographic information system
Given a good definition for GIS, list the four components and put a star next to the most
important one - ANSWER-software, hardware, spatial data, people*
List four things GIS can do - ANSWER-enter data, store/display data, analyze data,
manipulate data
Name the two general types/kind of data - ANSWER-attribute and spatial
example of spatial data - ANSWER-spaulding hall, room 217, UNH, Durham NH
example of attribute data - ANSWER-there are 30 cats in a veternarian clinic. 15 of the
cats are black
spatial data - ANSWER-geometric, coordinates, location
attribute - ANSWER-non-spatial characteristics
nominal (descriptive), ordinal (range), interval/ratio (order and distance)
uses lines, points(x,y) and polygons to make up spatial features on a map. The topology
is CREATED using attribute tables and features. More complex but more visually
pleasing - ANSWER-Vector format data
what is the main difference between network and hierarchal database structures -
ANSWER-network database is more flexible due to having multiple parents and multiple
children all connected. however, it shares data and can be complex. hierarchal is harder
to manipulate having a 1:1 parent children ratio, it is very defined.
what is a relational database - ANSWER-data and information is formally structured
through a set of connected tables. MOST COMMONLY USED IN GIS
what is the main purpose of a map projection - ANSWER-to take a 3D globe and put it
on a 2D surface
what is the most commonly used database in GIS - ANSWER-relational
, which general class of map projections is used to project an entire hemisphere? why is
this used - ANSWER-CONICAL--> it has fewer distortions
prime meridian - ANSWER-0 degrees longitude
equator - ANSWER-0 degrees latitude
cylindrical projection - ANSWER-whole earth
puts cylinder over earth--touches only at edges
meridians mapped to equally spaced vertical lines and circles of latitude are mapped to
equally spaced horizontal lines
conical projection - ANSWER-best for entire hemisphere, fewer distortions
azimuthal projection - ANSWER-planar, touches only at edge
projection distortions - ANSWER-conformal (cylindrical), equivalent (azimuthal), and
perspective
what is the best way to obtain GIS layers - ANSWER-the best way to get layers to do
the analysis is to check for already created data from places like USGS, GRANIT, EPA,
USDA. if the data is accurate it saves time and money.
what is the most important factor to consider when obtaining GIS data - ANSWER-how
ACCURATE the data is
why was there an immense amount of effort in developing raster compression/encoding
methods - ANSWER-because raster data is extremely complex and takes up a lot of
space
encoding - ANSWER-raster compression
types of encoding (compression) - ANSWER-block coding, chain coding, full length,
quadtree
define the concept of scale - ANSWER-MD/GD scale is the ratio between map distance
and ground distance. as the scale gets larger (1:12,000) it becomes more detailed for
the objects are larger. as the scale get smaller (1:100,000), it becomes less detailed
and the objects are larger
small scale - ANSWER-larger numbers--objects are small--less detailed
large scale - ANSWER-smaller numbers--objects are large--more details
