Vector vs Raster Data

Positional Precision

Can be precise

Attribute Precision

Good for discrete data

Analytical Capabilities

Good for spatial query, adjacency, area, shape analyses; Poor for continuous data

Data Structures

Often complex

Storage Requirements

Relatively small

Coordinate Conversion

Usually well-supported

Network Analyses

Easily handled

Output Quality

Very good, map-like

Ideal Use Cases

Spatial queries, network analysis, detailed maps

Raster

Defined by cell size

Vector

Can be precise

Attribute Precision

Poor for continuous data

Analytical Capabilities

Good for local neighborhoods, continuous variable modeling

Data Structures

Often quite simple

Storage Requirements

Often quite large

Coordinate Conversion

Often difficult, slow

Network Analyses

Often difficult

Output Quality

Fair to poor - aliasing

Ideal Use Cases

Continuous data, elevation models, remote sensing