Overview of Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary terms and concepts related to Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including definitions, functions, and relationships within vector data modeling.

Vector

A data model that represents geographical features using points, lines, and polygons.

Geoprocessing

The process of manipulating spatial data to analyze, model, and visualize geographic information.

Topology

The study of how geometric beings are connected, related, or arranged in a space.

Arc-node Model

A type of vector data structure that represents line features as connected sequences of arcs defined by nodes.

Digitization

The process of converting geographic information from analog (paper maps) to a digital format for GIS.

Buffering

Creating a zone around a geographic feature to analyze influence or proximity.

Geocoding

The process of converting textual descriptions of locations to geographic coordinates.

Interpolation

A method used to estimate unknown values by using known data points.

Polygon overlay

A spatial operation that combines multiple polygon layers to analyze their relationships.

Attribute Table

A data table that contains descriptive information (attributes) about spatial features in GIS.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

A programming language used to manage and manipulate relational databases.

Raster vs. Vector Data Model

Raster data represents information in a grid format, while vector data represents information using geometric shapes.

Error Correction in Digitizing

The process of fixing errors that occur during the digitization of geographic features.

Data Model Levels

The hierarchical structure of how geographic data is organized, from real-world representations to user views and specific data models.

Feature-based analysis

An analysis method in GIS that focuses on specific features and their attributes rather than layers as a whole.

Layer-based analysis

An analysis method that involves assessing multiple layers of data together to understand spatial relationships.

Non-topological analysis

Analysis that does not utilize the spatial relationships between objects, focusing instead on attributes.

Spatial Database

A database optimized to store and query spatial data.

Digital Mapping

Involves the use of digital tools to create maps from geographic data.

Relational Operation

The process of joining data from different tables based on a shared identifier in a database.

A data model that represents geographical features using , lines, and polygons.

Vector

The process of manipulating spatial data to analyze, model, and visualize information.

geographic

The study of how geometric beings are , related, or arranged in a space.

connected

Creating a zone around a geographic feature to analyze influence or .

proximity

A type of vector data structure that represents line features as connected sequences of defined by nodes.

arcs

What are the three intrinsic properties of a vector approach?

1. Composed of geographical elements, 2. Uses coordinates to identify points, 3. Often makes extensive use of topology