midterm Flashcards
Describe why maps are essential for displaying geographic information.
spatial relationship between symbols to perform spatial operations.
What is an information system?
frame work that helps us Helps us organize, store and access, retrieve manipulate analyze what we know
Data
most mundane info (text symbols numbers)
information
broad or narrow definition = data without meaning
info exists independently ( without knower)
knowledge
entails a knower, has bias and requires assimilation
Knowledge is information when it is read and understood.
order of data info knowledge
data > information > knowledge
ease of sharing
knowledge ???
evidance ??
info ??
data ??
data = easy
info = easy
evidance = not easy
knowledge = difficult
wisdom = impossible
types of knowledge Codified
written down and transferred with ease
types of knowledge Tacit
Tacit - slow to acquire and difficult to transfer
What role does time play in spatial data?
4th dimension of spatial objects
Tracks changes over time.
Essential for understanding trends.
Creates time-series data.
Spatial Data
Information that has a geographical or locational component
Spatial vs Aspatial data
spatial is location-based information tied to geographic coordinates
VS
aspatial data lacks geographic coordinates and is not linked to specific locations
why is geographic information special?
Geographic information is special because it adds a location context to data, helping us understand spatial relationships and make informed decisions.
Define measurement and how it is used?
Measurement is the quantification of attributes of an object or event to compare and communicate.
Define the difference between extensive and representationalism, with respect to measurement
Extensiveness in measurement study refers to the degree to which a measurement comprehensively covers all relevant aspects of the concept being measured,
representationalism emphasizes the accuracy with which the measurement represents the underlying concept, even if it doesn’t encompass all its facets.
Continous fields
Continuous fields refer to geographic or spatial data that represent phenomena or attributes as a continuous distribution across an area, rather than as discrete points or features. These fields can vary smoothly over space, such as temperature or elevation across a landscape, and are typically modeled using mathematical functions.
Aspatial data
data entries that are not tied to a location on the earth’s surface
What is meant by geodesy ?
scientific discipline that deals with measuring and understanding the shape, size, and gravitational field of the Earth. It involves the precise measurement of the Earth’s surface
What is GIS?
“SYSTEM” implies a group of connected entities and activities
what is gis used for
measure aspects of geographic phenomena and processes
- represent these measurements, usually in the form of a computer database, to emphasize spatial
themes, entities, and relationships
- operate upon these representations to produce more measurements and to discover new
relationships by integrating disparate sources
- transform these representations to conform to other frameworks of entities and relationships
Ellipsoid
an ellipsoid refers to an oblate spheroid, which is a three-dimensional shape that closely approximates the Earth’s geoid
What is a DEM?
Digital elevation model describes continuous evaluation above sea level
DSM
digital surface model , includes elevation of all features in terrain like buildings
coordinate systems