Lesson 10

Question 1

Which of the following is not an example of GIS software?

1) MapInfo
2) Autodesk
3) MicroStation
4) All of the above are examples of GIS Software

Answer 1

Answer: (4)

All of the options are examples of GIS software

Question 2

Which of the following GIS applications is LEAST likely to improve delivery efficiency?

1) A typical drive-time map for flower delivery showing a central point surrounded by a series of concentric circles
2) A drive-time map for pizza delivery with isochrones taking into account the true road network
3) A road conditions map showing real-time traffic flow and obstacles
4) A GIS that calculates the optimal routing plan for a property inspector, such as that travel time is minimized.

Answer 2

Answer: (1)
A typical drive-time map for flower delivery showing a central point surrounded by a series of
concentric circles would assume an as-the-crow-flies route to each location, ignoring the true road
network. The other three options are all more likely to improve delivery efficiency.

Question 3

The process of viewing only the GIS map layers that satisfy your particular needs is known as:

1) a selective query
2) unlocking the information
3) a spatial query
4) overlay operations

Answer 3

Answer: (1)
The process of viewing only the GIS map layers that satisfy your particular needs is known as a
selective query.

Question 4

Selecting all properties within a 3km radius of an popular shopping mall and then comparing their assessed values with data about sale prices in an example of a(n):

1) point buffer zone analysis
2) line buffer zone analysis
3) area buffer zone analysis
4) None of the above

Answer 4

Answer: (1)
Point buffer zone analysis is the analysis of all features that exist within a particular distance of a point,
in this case a shopping mall.

Question 5

Your client is a young urban professional looking to buy a house. To determine the optimal area, you have created a map that combines information on the average of the population in several neighborhoods, with the average household income. This is an example of:

1) a buffer
2) an overlay operation
3) a selective query
4) thematic mapping

Answer 5

Answer: (2)
By combining layers of useful information, you have determined an area that has both a lower average
age and a higher average household income. This is known as overlay operations

Question 6

Which of the following statements about computerized mapping Is/are true?

a. Computer assisted drafting does not permit the mapping of polygons
b. AM/FM systems have databases that store attribute information
c. GIS can completely integrate spatial data among different layers
d. AM/FM systems best serve networking functions

1) Statements A and B are true
2) Statements A, C, and D are true
3) Statements B, C, and D are true
4) All of the above statements are true.

Answer 6

Answer: (3)
Statement A is false. CAD, AM/FM, and GIS all permit the mapping of cartographic features such as
points, lines, and polygons.

Question 7

Which of the following does NOT incorporate a GIS application?

1) Network Analysis
2) Drive-time Analysis
3) Break-Even Analysis
4) Environmental Impact Analysis

Answer 7

Answer: (3)

Network, drive-time, and environmental impact analyses all incorporate GIS applications

Question 8

Which of the following regarding attribute information is FALSE?

1) an attribute is any piece of information about an abject that can be stored in additional to its geographic properties
2) Numerical referencing or coding systems prevent all users from identifying specific features with complete certainty
3) GIS may allow users to view data in tabular form without any maps, graphics, or geographical representations
4) A selective query allows users to view just those particular map layers that satisfy given criteria.

Answer 8

Answer: (2)
Numerical referencing or coding systems allow all users to identify specific features without any
uncertainty.

Question 9

The process of changing how an object is depreciated on a map depending in its attributes is known as:

1) thematic mapping
2) spatial querying
3) buffering
4) attribute modification

Answer 9

Answer: (1)
The function of changing how an object is depicted on a map depending on its attributes is known as
thematic mapping.

Question 10

Using GIS to calculate the optimal routing plan for a property inspector, such that travel time is minimized, is known as:

1) in-car navigation
2) network analysis
3) impact analysis
4) locational analysis

Answer 10

Answer: (2)
A benefit of network analysis is the ability to calculate drive-times and can be used to build complex
navigation systems, or simply for optimizing property inspection routes.

Question 11

Which of the following is true with regards to multi-user GIS systems?

1) a disadvantage of public access is that GIS development and maintenance costs can be spread over a larger base.
2) The duplication of effort in muti-user systems makes them cost-prohibitive
3) Different data formats can make it difficult to share data
4) All of the above are true

Answer 11

Answer: (3)
A requirement of multi-user systems is being able to share data, and this can prove difficult. Option (1)
is false, because a wider cost base is an advantage of public access. Option (2) is false because
multi-user systems attempt to reduce duplication of effort

Question 12

Image on lesson 9 MC question 12 is an example of :

1) computer aided design
2) a contour map
3) a choropleth map
4) AM?FM

Answer 12

Answer: (2)
A contour map uses lines to show locations that have the same attribute value, such as elevation in this
example.

Question 13

The map on lesson 9 MC question 13 is an example of a:

1) topographic map
2) contour map
3) choropleth map
4) three-dimensional map

Answer 13

Answer: (1)

A topographic map shows physical surface features, such as roads, rivers, and buildings.

Question 14

The map on lesson 9 MC question 14 is an example of a:

1) topographic map
2) contour map
3) choropleth map
4) three-dimensional map

Answer 14

Answer: (3)

A chloropleth map uses shading or colour to highlight common areas, in this each value range.

Question 15

For a GIS map with shows neighborhoods and educational institutions, which of the following is true:

1) a line buffer is used to highlight the locational advantages of institutions by neighborhood
2) adding layers allows you to focus the GIS to help you with your specific research questions
3) this choropleth map isolates political influences and socioeconomic status
4) This map used 3D to illustrate elevation and topography

Answer 15

Answer (2)
A key benefit of GIS is that the analyst can add layers for the specific research questions of interest.
Here, the map displays educational institutions by neighbourhood. Option (1) is false because there is
no line buffer specified and locational advantages are not necessarily highlighted. Option (3) is false
because this is not a chloropleth map (which would use shading or colour to highlight common areas)
and it does not directly isolate political or socioeconomic information. Option (4) is false because this
is not a 3-D map.

Question 16

If you were completing an environmental impact analysis for a proposed industrial development, you might use GIS to:

1) create 3-D landscape images of important sites
2) add a layer showing optimal drive-times for shoppers
3) integrate with assessment data to verify appraisal ratios and census data to identify demographic information
4) do all of the above

Answer 16

Answer: (1)
It may be helpful for your environmental impact analysis to have 3-D landscape images of important
sites. This GIS program allows this capability. Option (2) is incorrect because optimal drive-times are
not likely a focus of this type of study, and this is not a capability of this software. Option (3) is
incorrect because it is unlikely you would need ratio information for this study, and it is doubtful that
this data could be integrated into this program.

Question 17

If you were completing a market report for a shopping centre in Prince George, you might use this GIS to:

1) create road maps highlighting key competitors
2) create satellite maps highlighting site attributes of the shopping center
3) search the city and region for related businesses
4) all of the above

Answer 17

Answer: (4)
You may use the features of this GIS to carry out all of the actions noted, as each of these could be an
important aspect of a market research report for shopping centre.

Question 18

Which of the following GIS features is LEAST likely to be used by an assessor?

1) ratio analysis
2) sale verification
3) real-time vehicle tracking
4) Permit analysis to highlight need for inspections

Answer 18

Answer: (3)
Options (1), (3), and (4) are all examples of how assessors can benefit from the use of GIS. Real-time
vehicle tracking is more likely to be helpful for transportation organizations or emergency services.

Question 19

Which of the following explains how an appraiser might affectively use GIS?

1) highlighting neighbourhood boundaries by overlapping property values, traffic volumes, and commercial uses.
2) Isolating comparable by viewing a map of recent neighborhood sales, highlighting property value and building age.
3) Applying change detection software to identify reclaimed harbour labor
4) all of the above

Answer 19

Answer: (4)

All three of the options are examples of how appraisers might use GIS in valuation work.

Question 20

An appraiser in Toronto is working with GIS software on her personal computer. She downloaded locational data from several web sources, but the software is unable to interpret the data format and she cannot build this data into GIS. This is an example of a problem with:

1) interoperability
2) overlay operations
3) inadequate isochrones
4) none of the above

Answer 20

Answer: (1)
The ability to work with a variety of web-based datasets in a common format is a challenge facing GIS.
This is called interoperability.

Question 21

What are the key elements needed to create GIS?

Answer 21

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is created through the integration of data, people, hardware,
software and methods (applications). GIS is all about taking advantage of the visual power of maps by
incorporating different types of data within user friendly systems to create dynamic and interactive
maps.

Question 22

In what ways does a geographic information system offer a more powerful tool than conventional maps?

Answer 22

A GIS displays location elements like map, but also stores attribute information about objects on the
map. One of the key advantages of GIS over conventional maps is the ability to layer information.
When compiling a conventional map, one has to draw a balance between displaying as much information
as possible to make the map useful without adding so much detail that it becomes cluttered and
confusing. With GIS, this problem is removed – many different layers of information can be added, and
shown in different combinations and in a different order, depending on the particular message to be
conveyed. By switching different data layers on and off, the user can create many different views for
the same location.

Question 23

What is a thematic map? Provide an example

Answer 23

Thematic maps use colours and shading of areas to display information related to location. For
example, a map of parliamentary constituencies shaded in different colours can show the number of
seats held by different political parties. GIS can build this kind of map automatically from the data
values (number of seats), and typically offers many alternative ways of presenting this information. An
example of a thematic map is a colour-coded zoning map, showing different property uses associated
with specified colours.

Question 24

Identify the main differences between computer-assisted drafting (CAD) systems. automated mapping/facilities management systems (AM/FM), and geographic information systems (GIS).

Answer 24

• Computer-Assisted Drafting Systems (CAD): suitable for traditional mapping functions.
• Automated Mapping/Facilities Management Systems (AM/FM): provide sophisticated databases for
storing and manipulating attribute information, but are limited in their ability to analyze relationships
between different layers other than through visual inspection (overlapping of layers).
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS): developed for spatial analysis needs such as planning,
natural resources, and land records management. GIS can completely integrate spatial data and
attribute data among different layers. The GIS approach is ideal for multipurpose users.

Question 25

What is an attribute and why is it important to a GIS?

Answer 25

The term attribute describes any piece of information about an object that can be stored in addition to
its geographic properties. GIS can tell you not just the shape of a feature, but also what it is and any
other information that may exist about it. A conventional map depict information, but a GIS stores this
information within the map data itself. The maps shown in GIS are intelligent – the features know their
own identity.

Question 26

A young couple is looking to purchase a property. The would like to be within 5 km of their favorite park, but prefer to be at lease 3 km for the highway. They want a house with at least 3 baths and a lot larger than 2 acres. how might they use GIS to find suitable properties?

Answer 26

If this couple had access to a suitable GIS, they could quickly and easily identify suitable properties.
First, they might establish a point buffer, showing properties within five kilometres of the park.
Second, they might establish a line buffer for properties more than three kilometres from the highway.
By overlaying these maps, they can focus on their optimal market area. Third, they could query the
GIS to display properties that have three or more bathrooms and lots larger than two acres, perhaps
using colour coding. This would identify their pool of potential properties. Finally, they could view
which of these properties might be available for sale.

Question 27

Provide 4 examples of how GIS might be used in real property appraisal.

Answer 27

Examples of how appraisers might use a GIS include:
• Verify property structures
• Verify site size and attributes
• Identify changes in structures or land use
• Identify pool of comparable sales and narrow down similarity.
• Analyze proximity to value influences, either positive (e.g., parks, schools) or negative (e.g.,
industrial uses)
· • Identify neighbourhood boundaries

Question 28

Explain what buffers are and how GIS might be used in real property appraisal

Answer 28

A buffer is a shape drawn on a map, which represents the total area within a certain distance of a given
feature (point, line, or area). You can use a GIS to generate buffer zones and then identify all features
that lie within a particular distance. Buffers can be point, line, or area.
Buffer examples:
C Point buffer: select all properties within 10 kilometres of a nuclear power facility.
C Line buffer: select all properties within 100 metres on either side of an electrical line right-of-way.
C Area buffer: for all properties within Oldtown neighbourhood, select those buildings older than 50
years

Question 29

Provide an example of how you would use an overlay

Answer 29

A key advantage of being able to layer data in a GIS is to carry out overlay operations. This means
combining more than one layer of data to create a new set of data (analogous to combining layers of
coloured cellophane, where you combine yellow and blue to make green).
The example from the lesson involved a farmer who needed a certain level of rainfall and a type of soil
to successfully grow a crop. By combining the rainfall map and soil type map, the farmer can locate
the best location.
Another example might be a developer targeting construction of seniors facilities. The developer might
combine maps of age, socioeconomic status, and seniors’ facilities to pinpoint an optimal location