Lecture 2 Flashcards
What is Spatial Data?
Data that defines something about a location
Location- where?
What are example of vectors?
Points
Lines
Polygons
Discrete objects
What is raster data?
Consists of a matrix of cells (or pixels) organized into rows and columns (or a grid) where each cell contains a value representing information, such as temperature.
What are Vector Points?
Represent discrete specific locations on the ground
A pair of X and Y coordinates
What are Vector Lines?
Represent linear features, such as rivers, roads and transmission cables.
A linked sequence of X and Y coordinates (joining the dots)
What are Vector Polygons?
Form bounded areas
A closed link sequence of X and Y coordinates
Raster don’t have…
Discrete objects but models of continuous data over an area
A grid of pixels or cells where each cell has a value and an area
What can raster data information allow for the understanding of?
Something that is going to vary over a surface
Arranged in a way that is complementary to computer use
Can be used to overlap data on maps
You can take a spectral fingerprint of a surface to find out about it.
What are raster attributes?
Typically single numerical attributes stored in a pixel. Can have bands e.g aerial imagery
Raster precision/ resolution
Higher precision = smaller cell size More cells required for same coverage More detail More processing power required This will take the software a lot longer to work through
Layers
Location and attribute
Layers can be combined visually
Can be moved up and down (reorder)
Information can be extracted from attributes based on location
Can understand relationships between different types of data
What is Topology?
Branch of maths and science
Looks at geometric characteristics and relationships
What are Map Projections?
•A method to represent the surface of the Earth (or other 3D body) on a plane
•Taking a globe and flattening it onto a map
•Why?
–Create Maps
–Enables easier measurement
What are distortions?
Map projections will cause distortions to the surface of the Earth, e.g
Area
Shape
Direction
Distance
Scale
Some projections can preserve different properties of the Earth
No projection can preserve all
Projection must be chosen to suit the purpose of the map
Projection types
Conformal Map
–Preserves local angles and therefore shapes
Projection types
Equal-area (or Equivalence)
–Preserves areas
Projection types
Equidistant
–Preserves distance from a reference point or line
Projection types
Direction
–Azimuthal
Projection types
Compromise
–Concentrates on making the map ‘look right’ instead of preserving measurable properties
Projection surfaces (developable)
Tangent/Secant
- Tangent – touches the Earth’s surface (i.e. the equator if projection is normal)
- Secant – intersects the globe creating parallel secant lines
- Scale at tangent and secant lines is constant – no distortion