Vector Data: Uses Shapes to represent features (points = cities , lines = rivers/freeways, polygons = state borders) Raster Data:

Uses cells to store continuous data (occurs everywhere; no distinct boundaries or well-defined shapes) E.g. Precipitation, Ground cover, (vegetation) Terrain (memorize one) How GIS maps are different from paper or digital maps: GIS maps can be used to bring data in, display data in different ways, look at sets of data to see patterns and relationships, answer GIS maps are database-driven and offer many tools for visualizing and analyzing data/helps people make decisions. What is a Thematic Map? Map on which features are symbolized based on an attribute (category or quantity) (different colors/symbols) What is the difference between category and quantity attributes? Category attributes are names, types, or conditions of features. Quantitative attributes explain data by using a number to represent the magnitude of something. What is a layer? A collection of features which represent the same theme. What is a Feature? A feature represents a real-world object on a map. A feature has four components. What are they? Shape, Location, Symbol, Attributes What are attributes? Attributes are information that describes the feature. What are the three functions of a GIS? Visualization, Geodata management, and analysis. What is the difference between geographic coordinate system (GCS) and projected coordinate system (PCS)? - GCS: Whole globe. A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on the Earth to be specified by a set of numbers. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represent vertical position, and two or three of the numbers represent horizontal position. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation.[ - PCS: A projected coordinate system is a flat, two-dimensional representation of the Earth. What is Metadata? Give examples of metadata information. What ArcGIS desktop application is used to manage metadata? Metadata is data about data. Metadata is a formalized description of a data set that provides information about the data's content, quality, condition, function, and other characteristics. ArcGIS ArcCatalog application creates and authorizes metadata. What is a datum? What two datums are used in our area mostly? A geodetic datum is a reference from which measurements are made. SLO uses North American Datum (NAD) the most and perhaps the WGS (World geodetic system).

What are two commonly used projected coordinate systems in our area? What are their zones for Cal Poly area and Swanton area? Universal Transverse Mercator (Zone 10) (uses 6 degree angles) and State Plane Coordinate System. (Zone 5). Describe latitude and longitude: Latitude is imaginary lines that run horizontally/parallel through the equator. They represent degree from the equator to the poles. Longitudes are imaginary lines running from north to south pole and are defined as distance from the prime meridian, located in Greenwich, England. What are the three main types of map projection? Planar, Cylindrical, and conical. What is a spatial bookmark? A spatial bookmark identifies a particular geographic location that you want to save and reference later. At 1:24000 USGS 7.5 minutes, what feature will be mapped as point, line, and polygon? Point: ? Line: roads, rivers Polygon: Lakes, buildings What does it mean to have a map scale of 1:12000? This means that for every "1" unit on the map, "12,000" units exist on the ground. What is digitizing? Digitizing is the process of converting features on a paper map into digital format or creating and editing spatial data. You need a geodatabase, feature class, and coordinate system to begin digitizing. What is ESRI? Environmental Systems Research Institute. Esriis a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System (GIS) software and geodatabase management applications. What is a map element? In digital cartography, a distinctly identifiable graphic or object in the map or page layout. For example, a map element can be a title, scale bar, legend, or other map-surround element. What is classification in regard to symbology? Classification refers to creating classes to group features. What is GIS? Geographic Information System. It is a method to visualize, manipulate, and display geographically referenced data.