LDA 150 Quiz 1

What is GIS

Geographical Information Systems - computer system for storing, analyzing and visualizing data

Components of GIS (3)

hardware, software, people

geospatial data?

Data that describes both the locations and characteristics of spatial features.

Describe three features that make a good map.  

Legend, scale, north arrow, title, credits

A closed figure composed of x-y coordinates is called a_________. 

A) polygon 

B) feature class 

C) line or polyline 

D) point 

A) polygon 

B) feature class 

C) line or polyline 

D) point 

A raster portraying a_________ is an example of continuous data. 

A) road map 

B) political party map 

C) land use map 

D) precipitation map 

E) geology map 

A) road map 

B) political party map 

C) land use map 

D) precipitation map 

E) geology map 

Data that has been tied to a specific location on the earth's surface is said to be_________. 

A) attributed 

B) discrete 

C) georeferenced 

D) featured 

E) continuous 

A) attributed 

B) discrete 

C) georeferenced 

D) featured 

E) continuous 

The basic element of data storage in a raster is called a_________. 

A) coordinate 

B) cell 

C) pixel 

D) either cell or pixel 

E) either coordinate or pixel 

D) either cell or pixel 

When a data set is placed into a map, it is called a_________. 

A) feature class 

B) layer 

C) table 

D) view 

E) polygon

B) layer 

 You are planning a hike. You measure the trail on a 1:24,000 scale map and discover that it is 30 cm  long. How long is the hike in kilometers? 

A) 0.4 kilometers 

B) 0.7 kilometers 

C) 4.0 kilometers 

D) 7.2 kilometers 

E) 72 kilometers

D) 7.2 kilometers 

Information about a data set, such as who created it and why, is called_________. 

A) attribute data 

B) spatial data 

C) metadata 

D) feature data 

E) aspatial data

C) metadata 

Citing the source of data used in a map or a report_________. 

A) is only required if the map or report is being formally published 

B) is a professional and ethical responsibility 

C) can be omitted if the map uses only publically available data 

D) can be replaced with the agency's logo on the map or report

B) is a professional and ethical responsibility 

Which one of the ArcGIS family of products is most tightly coupled to ArcGIS Online? 

A) ArcView 

B) ArcMap 

C) ArcGIS Pro 

D) ArcInfo Workstation 

E) ArcCatalog

C) ArcGIS Pro 

The geometric figure that most accurately represents the earth's surface is the_________. 

A) spheroid 

B) geoid 

C) ellipsoid 

D) datum 

E) sphere

B) geoid

15. Which of the following accurately describes the key components of a datum?

 A) A reference ellipsoid or spheroid, an origin point, and reference points.  

B) A map projection, a scale factor, and a set of coordinate grid lines.

C) A geoid surface, a reference meridian, and a set of topographic features. 

D) A global coordinate system, a regional coordinate system, and a local coordinate  system. 

E) A reference datum, a geodetic datum, and an ellipsoid datum. 

 A) A reference ellipsoid or spheroid, an origin point, and reference points.  

 Degrees of latitude and longitude measure... 

A) angles from the center of an ellipsoid. 

B) distances in the y-direction.

C) distances in both x- and y-directions. 

D) distances in the x-direction. 

A) angles from the center of an ellipsoid. 

 If choosing a datum for a coordinate system in the conterminous United States, which one of the  following is usually the best choice and why? 

A) NAD 1983, because it is the most common 

B) NAD 1983 (2011), because it is the most recent 

C) NAD 1983 (HARN), because it is the most accurate 

D) NAD 1983 (CSRS), because it is designed for surveying

B) NAD 1983 (2011), because it is the most recent 

The distance represented by a degree at the equator is approximately 

A) 20 miles. 

B) 50 kilometers. 

C) 111 kilometers. 

D) 200 miles. 

C) 111 kilometers. 

The best choice of a geographic coordinate system for a world map would usually be_________. 

A) an earth-centered datum

B) a local datum 

C) a geographic datum 

D) a spherical datum

A) an earth-centered datum

The most precise positional measurements must record the epoch, or time of measurement to  account for continental drift. 

A) True  

B) False 

true

It is best practice to convert all data used in a GIS project to the same datum and coordinate system 

A) True  

B) False 

true

A position in the NAD83 datum typically differs by up to 1 to 2 meters from that same position in the  WGS84 datum. 

A) True  

B) False 

true

A conic map projection best preserves the combined properties of_________. 

A) shape and area 

B) shape and direction 

C) distance and shape 

D) distance and area 

E) distance, shape, direction, and area

D) distance and area 

Two GPS units lying next to each other are set to collect locations in NAD 1983 UTM Zone 10 and  NAD 1927 UTM Zone 10 respectively. Which statement best characterizes the readings given by the  two units? 

A) The locations reported by both units won't be accurate. 

B) The locations reported by both units should the same. 

C) The locations reported by the units may differ by a couple hundred meters. 

D) The locations reported by the units won't differ by more than a few meters.

C) The locations reported by the units may differ by a couple hundred meters. 

25. Select all the statements that are true about vertical datums 

A) Datums can be established through trigonometric leveling 

B) Mean sea level corresponds to our current vertical datum

C) Geoid models have improved through time  

D) NGVD29 was matched to more tidal stations than NAVD88 

A) Datums can be established through trigonometric leveling 

B) Mean sea level corresponds to our current vertical datum  (because it varies in different parts of the world)

C) Geoid models have improved through time  

D) NGVD29 was matched to more tidal stations than NAVD88 

If you are creating a map of the United States comparing the areas of different weather systems, the  best projection to use would be_________. 

A) a geographic coordinate system 

B) a conic projection 

C) a cylindrical projection 

D) a State Plane coordinate system 

E) a UTM coordinate system 

B) a conic projection 

Two layers are being displayed in a map view, which has been set to a State Plane coordinate system  with units of feet. The box showing the cursor location lists the values in miles. One layer is stored in  a GCS with units of degrees. The second layer is stored in UTM with units of meters. What are the map units?

A) degrees 

B) meters 

C) feet 

D) miles

c) feet

 A projection from on coordinate system to another projected coordinate system must involve a datum  transformation. 

A) True  

B) False

false

Select the best definition of the term "spatial reference". (know where to go in software to find these layers)

A) the complete description of a coordinate system's properties and parameters 

B) the choice of geographic coordinate system used for a data set 

C) the original source of a specific map projection as defined by its inventor 

D) the coordinate system chosen for the map during on the fly projection

A) the complete description of a coordinate system's properties and parameters 

You have obtained data in a WGS84, UTM coordinate system and wish to include it in a project using  NAD83(2011), also in a UTM coordinate system, collected via GPS a decade later. Your allowable  error is 1 m. Which of the following are the minimum operations to convert your data, and still meet  your accuracy/error requirement.  

A) Apply a projection from UTM to geographic coordinates, apply an appropriate  datum transformation from WGS84 to NAD83(2011), and then project from geographic coordinates to UTM coordinates  

B) Project from NAD83(2011) UTM coordinates to geographic coordinates, then  project from geographic coordinates to NAD83(2011) UTM coordinates  

C) Apply a datum transformation from NAD83(2011) UTM to WGS84 UTM coordinates  

D) None of these  

A) Apply a projection from UTM to geographic coordinates, apply an appropriate  datum transformation from WGS84 to NAD83(2011), and then project from geographic coordinates to UTM coordinates  

What is a datum? 3 components

mathematical model of Earth’s surface. basis for calculating the geographic coordinates of a location. 3 components - reference point, origin and ellipsoid

Explain the difference between NAD27 and NAD83. 

different orientations

NAD27 (North American Datum of 1927)	NAD83 (North American Datum of 1983)
Local datum based on Clarke 186 elllipsoid	Based on GRS80 ellipsoid Geocentric datum referenced to the center of the Earth’s mass

what is WGS84?

earth-centered datum, for determining positions on earth’s surface

Explain the importance of map projection.

Need to do analysis, minimizes distortions while preserving certain properties like shape, area, distance or direction

Describe the four types of map projections by the preserved property.

Conformal Projection: preserves shape
equal area Projection: preserves area
Equidistant Projection: preserves distance
Azimuthal Projection: preserves direction

Explain the difference between the standard line and the central line. 

Standard: where your projected surface is touching the earth

Central: divides the middle of your projection

Explain how a UTM zone is defined in terms of its central meridian, standard meridian, and scale  factor.

60 zones in UTM projection

• To try to minimize distortion

Scale factor of 1, meaning the distortion at the central meridian is close to 1, is minimized

The standard meridian is 180 km to west and east

If a data set’s features have x coordinates between –180 and +180, what is the coordinate system  likely to be? In what units are the coordinates? 

UTM

Explain why the UTM projection would not be a good choice for making a map of the contiguous  United States. 

Mostly good for mapping things along North-South

Examine the figures below and explain why conic projections usually conserve area and distance but  cylindrical projections typically preserve direction. 

Tangent and secant conic mimic the earth.

Cylindrical: all the meridians are facing north, the laterals are east-west, preserving direction

Converting from geographic coordinates to cartesian coordinates results in distortions in distances.  What is the distance between Baton Rouge, LA, and Houston, TX, calculated using geodetic distance  and planar distances? What is the difference in distance based on the two approaches?

Causes distortion in distance. Given coordinates in any 2 locations, based on geodetic distances, should be able to tell distortion in distance is.

You're standing on a point where you know the geoidal height to be 30 meters, and your GPS says  your orthometric height is 472 meters. What is your ellipsoidal height?

Geoid height, ellipsoidal height, orthometric height

Ellipsoidal = 472 + 30 = 502 meters

45. You're standing on a point where you know the ellipsoidal height to be 80 meters, and your geoidal  height is 10. What is your orthometric height? 

Orthometric: 80 - 10 = 70 meters

A closed figure composed of x-y coordinate vertices is called a_________. 

A) polygon 

B) feature class 

C) node 

D) line 

E) point

A) polygon 

Which one of the following statements is TRUE? 

A) A point feature contains only one node. 

B) A polygon feature contains nodes but not vertices. 

C) A polygon feature contains vertices but not nodes. 

D) A line feature contains nodes but not vertices.

C) A polygon feature contains vertices but not nodes. 

Select the example that best characterizes the term "multipart feature". 

A) A feature with multiple records and one polygon. 

B) A feature with multiple pixels stored together. 

C) A feature with multiple polygons in one record. 

D) A feature that appears multiple times in different feature classes. 

A) A feature with multiple records and one polygon. 

Which one of the following is NOT a characteristic of GIS data? 

A) GIS data files may be very large. 

B) GIS data files may come from many sources and in many formats. 

C) GIS data files are never shared by multiple users. 

D) GIS data files do not always follow the latest computer conventions.

C) GIS data files are never shared by multiple users. 

Why should one avoid using spaces and special characters like $#% in folder names? 

A) These characters damage the computer operating system. 

B) Not all software packages work correctly when they encounter these names.

C) Some users may be offended when they see these characters. 

B) Not all software packages work correctly when they encounter these names.

Why is it advantageous to separate downloaded and in-production files from permanent datasets? 

A) Because folders should only contain one data type. 

B) Because you can damage existing datasets by downloading to the same folder.

C) Because data can only be downloaded to one folder on the computer. 

D) Because it facilitates cleaning temporary data from folders with minimal risk to  permanent data.

D) Because it facilitates cleaning temporary data from folders with minimal risk to  permanent data.

On Windows computers, why should GIS data be stored on the main C:\ drive rather than the default user library folder or Desktop? 

A) Because the software does not always work correctly when accessing data under the Library folders or on the Windows Desktop. 

B) Because the Library folders and Windows Desktop permit spaces in filenames and the C:\ drive does not. 

C) Because there is more room on the C:\ drive.

D) Because on a network, the Library folders can get mixed up between different users

B) Because the Library folders and Windows Desktop permit spaces in filenames  and the C:\ drive does not. 

Data found in ArcGIS Online can be downloaded and stored in a local folder_________. 

A) always 

B) sometimes

C) never

B) sometimes (sometimes authors allow it, other times don’t)

if a club is creating a map for hikers to use in the backcountry, the target source scale for downloaded  data would be about_________. 

A) 1:20 million 

B) 1:2 million 

C) 1:200,000 

D) 1:20,000

D) 1:20,000

 When using x-y fields in a table to create points on a map, it is important to specify the coordinate  system as_________. 

A) the same coordinate system used in the map view 

B) the coordinate system reflected in the table's x-y fields 

C) the desired coordinate system to store the final feature class 

D) a geographic coordinate system 

E) a projected coordinate system

B) the coordinate system reflected in the table's x-y fields 

When importing data for your home state, the Clip tool would most likely be needed to  extract_________. 

A) counties 

B) zip codes 

C) congressional districts 

D) rivers

D) rivers

The_________ tool merges features together if they share the same attribute values in a specified  field or list of fields. 

A) intersect 

B) buffer 

C) erase 

D) dissolve

D) dissolve

Information ABOUT a GIS dataset, such as who created it and what the fields mean, is  called_________. 

A) spatial data 

B) attribute data 

C) feature data 

D) metadata

D) metadata

Select the definition of the term "feature dataset". 

A) a collection of feature classes related to each other in some way 

B) a collection of features that share an attribute table and geometry type 

C) a collection of geodatabases containing feature for the same geographic area

D) a collection of rasters that share the same coordinate system

A) a collection of feature classes related to each other in some way 

 Feature classes in a feature dataset must_________.

A) all have the same geometry type 

B) all have the same coordinate system 

C) all participate in a planar topology 

D) all have the same prefix in the feature class name

A) all have the same geometry type 

Which one of the following describes an advantage of shapefiles over geodatabases? 

A) Shapefiles can be read by many different GIS programs and are now commonly  used to share data. 

B) Shapefiles offer automatic tracking and updating of geometry attributes such as  polygon areas or line lengths. 

C) Shapefiles can utilize topology rules for finding and fixing topology errors. 

D) Shapefiles can incorporate subtypes and domains for advanced functionality.

A) Shapefiles can be read by many different GIS programs and are now commonly  used to share data. 

Which one of the following would be most likely to use an enterprise geodatabase? 

A) a city planning department with multiple divisions editing the same data 

B) a group of students working on a class project 

C) a doctoral student developing large raster datasets for a dissertation 

D) an academic departing needing to provide access to a large number of static  datasets

A) a city planning department with multiple divisions editing the same data 

Which one of the following can a geodatabase NOT store? 

A) feature classes 

B) rasters 

C) coverages 

D) tables 

E) feature datasets

C) coverages 

It is equally satisfactory to use Windows to manage (copy, rename, delete) GIS data as to use the tools  and Catalog in Pro to do it. 

false

The project (.aprx) file_________. 

A) stores all datasets associated with the project 

B) keeps track of the data, settings, and resources needed to make the project work

C) includes the home geodatabase and project folder 

D) is stored in the project home geodatabase

C) includes the home geodatabase and project folder 

Which ONE of the following statements is TRUE? 

A) Changes made to a layer in ArcGIS Pro modify the file of the associated feature  class. 

B) A layer points to a feature class and contains properties that can be set for the  feature class. 

C) A feature class contains the spatial features and a layer contains the attribute data.

D) A layer contains both the spatial and attribute information for a dataset.

B) A layer points to a feature class and contains properties that can be set for the  feature class. 

 Which of the following is a legal pathname for GIS data? 

A) C:\my_data\mgisdata\usa\roadnum.shp

B) C:\my data\southdakota\custer\roads.shp 

C) D:\europe\census2000\euc$bounds\france.shp 

D) D:\gisfolder\oregon\water_data\stream#.shp

A) C:\my_data\mgisdata\usa\roadnum.shp

Select the definition of a "feature ID" or "FID". 

A) A unique integer used to identify a feature in an attribute table. 

B) A name stored in an attribute table, such as Utah or Denver. 

C) A special field "found in only in shapefiles" that store parcel data. 

D) An ID number assigned to each feature by the user.

A) A unique integer used to identify a feature in an attribute table. 

 Name the three types of simple features used in GIS and their geometric properties

Point - zero-dimension

Line- one-dimensional, two or more points forming a line segment

Polygon- two-dimensional, closed figure composed of x-y coordinates

Explain the importance of topology in GIS.

3 advantages:

Ensures data quality and integrity

Enhance GIS analysis

Topological relationships between spatial features allow GIS users to perform spatial data query

What are the main advantages of using shapefiles? (2)

1. Display more rapidly on the computer monitor than topology-based data

2. Can be used across different software packages

Explain the difference between the georelational data model and the object-based data model. (2)

1. Object-based data models stores geometries and attributes in a single system

2. Object-based data model allows a spatial feature to be associated with a set of properties and methods

   1. Property: attribute or characteristic of an objection

   2. Method: performs a specific action

Explain the difference between a personal geodatabase and a file geodatabase.

personal	file
Stores data as tables in a microsoft access database	Stores data in many small-sized binary files in a folder

How does a vector data model differ from a raster data model?

Vector data model: uses points, lines and boundaries such as streams, land parcels and vegetation stands

Raster data model: uses a grid and grid cells to represent spatial features: point represented as single cells, lines represented by sequences of neighboring cells, polygon features by collections of contiguous cells

Can you convert a vector to a raster layer?

yes