Mapwork Flashcards
GIS
Is a computer for capturing, checking, displaying and storing data related to positions on the earth’s surface
Remote sensing
Refers to getting information about the earth’s surface from a vertical distance(from above)
Examples of remote sensing
•Satellite images
•Aeroplane
•Hot air balloon
•Drone
Components of GIS
•Hardware
•Software
•Data
•People
•Organizations
•Processes(methods)
Pixels
Is the smallest unit of a digital or graphic that can be displayed and represented on a digital device
Resolution
Refers to the clarity of an image
How are the resolutionon a topographic map?
It doesn’t have resolution because it is made out of lines and polygons not pixels
Spatial resolution
Refers to the detail of an image determined by the size and number of pixels
Spatial data
The information about the location and shapes of a geographic feature
Examples of spatial data
Grid reference
Attribute data
Further information about an area(feature) in addition to its location
Example of attribute data
Temperature
Spatial objects
•Points
•Lines
•Polygons
Vector data
The representation of a geographic feature using lines, points and polygons
Raster data
Is a representation of a geographic feature using pixels
Data layering
Refers to different types of information placed on top on one another to produce a map of an area eg Topographic map
Data integration
Combining of two or more data layers
Data manipulation
Occurs when data is processed and converted making it easier to use
Buffering
The demarcation of an area around a geographic feature or location
Querying
Is the ability to ask and answer questions about geographic features and their attributes and the relationship between them
Example of querying
Crime hotspot in a certain location
Statistical analysis
Interpreting the various forms of statistics in relation to a query that might not be obvious simply by looking at a map
Data standardization
Is a process of transforming a variable into a more analytically useful form, making more interchangeable
Data sharing
Refers to GIS system that allows others to use your data eg internet, social media
