Key Terms 1 Flashcards
15 key terms
Geographic meaning
Geographic refers to the earths surfacr
Spatial Meaning
Spatial refers to space in general
Spatial Data
Spatial data refers to information about the location and shape of objects on the Earth’s surface. It includes details about where things are (like buildings, roads, or land features) and how they relate to each other in space. This type of data is often used in maps, geographic information systems (GIS), and location-based services.
Spatial Queries
Searches based on geographic locations and relationships, such as:
*Finding features within a certain distance
*Identifying nearby or adjacent features
*Checking where features intersect or overlap
*Determining if features are inside a specific area
Database
GIS is database powered
A database is an organized collection of data that is stored and managed in a way that makes it easy to access, update, and manage
Aspatial Queries
Searches based on non-geographic attributes, such as:
*Looking up information by name or ID
*Filtering data by specific values or ranges
*Sorting and analyzing data based on attributes like population or area
Model
A representation of geographic data and processes used to analyze and simulate real-world scenarios, such as:
*Mapping and visualizing spatial relationships
*Predicting outcomes based on various factors
*Modeling scenarios like flood risks or land use changes
A model does not have all the data about the real world
Data Model
A framework for organizing and structuring data to define how it is stored, related, and accessed, including:
Defining data types and relationships
Structuring data for efficient retrieval and management
Representing how different data elements interact and relate
Rasters
photographs
A rastor is made up of cells
*every cell does have to be the same size , but in vector depending on the point the sizes of sections can be different
Vectors
made up of points lines or polygons
A way of representing the real world
*When you join the points together you will always get a triangle
Maps
Are abstracts of reality
Examples of Spatial Data Models
Rasters, Vectors (and TINs) are all examples of a data model.
Spatial Entities
Geographic features or objects represented in a GIS, such as:
Points (e.g., locations of wells)
Lines (e.g., roads or rivers)
Polygons (e.g., land parcels or lakes)
*they all correspond to a row on an attribute table
Discrete Raster
A raster that typically represents phenomena that have clear boundaries with attributes that are descriptions, classes, or categories
Continuous Raster
A grid-based data format representing variables with smooth, gradual changes, such as:
*Elevation or temperature
*Each cell holds a value that varies continuously across the surface
