LECTURE 1.1

Question 1

What is the definition of the geographic approach?

Answer 1

A way of thinking and solving problems that uses spatial location to represent, organize, and understand information.

Question 2

What are the two types of geographic space discussed in the lecture?

Answer 2

Relative space and absolute space.

Question 3

Name two key benefits of using digital twins in GIS.

Answer 3

Real-time monitoring and simulation and analysis.

Question 4

What does GIS stand for?

Answer 4

Geographic (or Geospatial) Information Systems.

Question 5

What is a feature class in the vector data model?

Answer 5

A collection of features that share the same geometry type and attributes within a common geographic extent.

Question 6

List three common types of vector data models.

Answer 6

Points, lines, and polygons.

Question 7

What are the three main files associated with a shapefile?

Answer 7

.shp, .shx, and .dbf

Question 8

What is the difference between continuous and thematic raster data?

Answer 8

Continuous data represents spectral data and environmental data, while thematic data represents features such as land use and soils data.

Question 9

Name two types of geodatabases mentioned in the lecture.

Answer 9

File geodatabases and mobile geodatabases.

Question 10

What is the primary data format used for editing and data management in ArcGIS?

Answer 10

Geodatabase.

Question 11

What is the term used for the study of relative space?

Answer 11

Topology.

Question 12

Which year was the first commercial GIS product introduced?

Answer 12

1982.

Question 13

Name one example of raster data formats used in GIS.

Answer 13

Aerial imagery.

Question 14

What is the primary software used for GIS tasks in this course?

Answer 14

ArcGIS Pro

Question 15

What is the basic unit of the vector data model?

Answer 15

Feature class

Question 16

What are the four common types of vector data models?

Answer 16

Points, lines, polygons, and annotation

Question 17

What is a feature class in the context of GIS?

Answer 17

A collection of features that share the same geometry type and attributes within a common geographic extent.

Question 18

What is a shapefile, and what are the three main file extensions associated with it?

Answer 18

A shapefile is a file-based data format used in ArcGIS. The three main file extensions are .shp, .shx, and .dbf.

Question 19

What types of data can be stored in the attribute fields of a feature class? Name at least three.

Answer 19

Short Integer, Long Integer, Float, Double, Text, Date

Question 20

How does the vector data model represent discrete objects?

Answer 20

By using point, line, and polygon features with well-defined boundaries defined by x,y coordinate pairs.

Question 21

What is the purpose of the annotation type in vector data models?

Answer 21

To provide dynamic text associated with other feature types or areas on a map.

Question 22

What is the purpose of a feature dataset in a geodatabase?

Answer 22

To store feature classes that have the same coordinate system and spatial extent, meaning they occupy the same geographic area.

Question 23

What is a geodatabase, and why is it important in ArcGIS?

Answer 23

A geodatabase is the native data structure for ArcGIS and is used for storing, editing, and managing geographic information.

Question 24

Name two pros and two cons of using the vector data model.

Answer 24

Pros: Can map features very precisely, easily linked to non-spatial information in other databases.

Cons: Hard boundaries don’t always reflect reality, implies precision that may not exist.

Question 25

What are the benefits of using geodatabases over traditional folders for storing geodata?

Answer 25

Geodatabases offer better data management, can store most data types, and allow for organizing data into feature datasets.

Question 26

What is the significance of the geodatabase being the primary data format for ArcGIS?

Answer 26

It ensures efficient data management, editing, and storage, enabling more complex and integrated GIS analyses.

Question 27

Describe the difference between relative space and absolute space.

Answer 27

Relative space describes how geographic features relate to one another and changes over time, while absolute space describes geographic features by fixed measurements, often using Euclidean geometry.

Question 28

What are some applications of creating a digital twin using the Geographic Approach?

Answer 28

Applications include geospatial representation, real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis, asset management, urban planning and development, and disaster management and response.

Question 29

What is topology in the context of geographic space?

Answer 29

Topology is the study of relative space, which looks at how geographic features are related to one another.

Question 30

What are the main differences between early maps and modern GIS?

Answer 30

Early maps were manually created and often limited in detail and accuracy, whereas modern GIS uses advanced technology to manage, analyze, and visualize large volumes of geographic data with high precision.

Question 31

Why is the study of present and past human experiences inherently spatial in anthropology and archaeology?

Answer 31

Because it involves understanding the relationships between people, places, and the environment over time, which can be effectively analyzed and visualized using spatial data.

Question 32

What are the three key questions that all geodata should help answer?

Answer 32

“What is where?”, “Why is it there?”, and “Why do I care?”

Question 33

Define geodata and explain its importance in GIS.

Answer 33

Geodata is digital information linked to a location that allows us to model reality and forecast future scenarios. It is crucial for creating accurate spatial representations and analyses in GIS.

Question 34

Describe the difference between vector data models and raster data models.

Answer 34

Vector data models represent discrete objects with well-defined boundaries using points, lines, and polygons, while raster data models represent continuous data as a matrix of equally sized cells or pixels.

Question 35

Explain what a feature class is in the context of a vector data model.

Answer 35

A feature class is a collection of geographic features that share the same geometry type and attributes and are located within a common geographic extent.

Question 36

What are the main differences between continuous data and thematic data in raster data models?

Answer 36

Continuous data represents spectral or environmental data that varies smoothly across a landscape (e.g., elevation, temperature), while thematic data represents discrete features such as land use or soil types.

Question 37

What is the purpose of georeferencing raster images in GIS?

Answer 37

Georeferencing raster images aligns them with real-world coordinates, allowing them to be accurately displayed as layers in a GIS map and used for spatial analysis.

Question 38

Name three common file types used for storing raster data.

Answer 38

.JPG, .PNG, GeoTIFF.

Question 39

When is it more appropriate to use vector data instead of raster data in GIS?

Answer 39

Vector data is more appropriate when representing features with discrete boundaries, such as buildings or roads, and when precise spatial queries and analyses are required.

Question 40

What are the advantages of using a geodatabase for storing geodata in ArcGIS?

Answer 40

Geodatabases provide better data management, can store various data types, allow for organizing data into feature datasets, support large datasets, and facilitate efficient editing and analysis.