EXAM 1

Question 1

define GIS

Answer 1

a computer-based system designed to manage and use geospacial data to solve spacial problems

Question 2

how might a biologist define GIS?

Answer 2

a system for monitoring and mapping the spatial dynamics of species and ecosystems

Question 3

Aspatial vs. Spatial Data

Answer 3

spatial data connects aspatial data to accurate geographical reference points, while aspatial data are the attributes.

Question 4

examples of aspatial data

Answer 4

• temporal data (time)
• salinity
• temp

Question 5

how is spatial data commonly formatted?

Answer 5

longitude, data

Question 6

WOULD YOU WANT MAPS TO GIVE YOU DIRECTIONS IN A VECTOROR GRID? WHY

Answer 6

a grid because it will give you directions in a straight line

Question 7

what is a line made up of?

Answer 7

a series of points

Question 8

what is a waypoint?

Answer 8

HELP

Question 9

tell me about longitude

1. (x or y?)
2. what is its datum?
3. what does it run parallel to?

Answer 9

1. x is LONG
2. tells us if you are east or west of the PM
3. the prime meridian is LONG (runs parallel to it)

Question 10

what is a datum?

Answer 10

a reference point

Question 11

tell me about latitude

1. (x or y?)
2. what is its datum?
3. what does it run parallel to?

Answer 11

1. Y has nice lats
2. latitude tells us if we are north or south of the equator
3. runs parallel to the equator

Question 12

what is the prime meridian?

Answer 12

the earths zero of longitude

Question 13

how are spatial data organized in a GIS?

Answer 13

1. global or spherical coordinate system (lat/long)
2. Projected Coordinate System (Universal Transverse Mercator Map Projection)
3. Local Coodinate System (ex. street address)

Question 14

How is spacial data categorized as?

Answer 14

1. discrete
2. continuous
3. geographic area

Question 15

Why do you need to update your spacial data?

Answer 15

landscapes are constantly changing!

Question 16

what is georeferencing?

Answer 16

connecting a reference point (datum) to a correct location on earth

Question 17

what is an ellipsoid?

Answer 17

it turns the 3D measurements of the earth into 2D ones

Question 18

is the world a perfect sphere?

Answer 18

NO because

1. there is elevation
2. it is oval (egg shaped)

Question 19

which is longer, the equator or the prime meridian?

Answer 19

the equator

Question 20

Geoid

Answer 20

sea level is the reference point which then measures elevation vs bathymetry (distance below sea level)

Question 21

what does the ellipsoid reference back to?

Answer 21

longitude and latitude

Question 22

what does the geiod reference back to?

Answer 22

sea level

Question 23

horizontal datum

Answer 23

geospacial scientists have brass plates spaced throughout the world to act as datum. it was last updated in 1983.

Question 24

vertical datum

Answer 24

manage geoids

Question 25

bathymetry

Answer 25

the distance you are below sea level

Question 26

bathymetry

Answer 26

the distance you are below sea level

Question 27

what is the difference between shapefiles and layers?

Answer 27

Shapefiles: a geodatabase that uses vectors to connect aspatial data with spacial data

Layers: these files are SAVE SYMBOLOGY CHANGES that are connected to the shapefile!!

Question 28

can you send a layer file?

Answer 28

no.

Question 29

if you are sending a layer file, what else do you need to send?

Answer 29

a shapefile.