GHY-3812 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Choropleth Map, Cardinality, Geographic Information Science
Document Summary
A computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on earth"s surface. Some definitions include: an information system that manages, manipulates, and analyzes spatial data, an integrated collection of computer software and data used to relationships, view and manage information about geographic places, analyze spatial and model spatial processes. Functions: data capture, input/output, management, data modeling, cartography. 6 parts: hardware, software, data, methods, people, and network. Examples: epidemiologist use gis to visualize trends of diseases and architects can design buildings that are more efficient in structure and fit more effectively within existing landscapes. Two functions that distinguish gis: transform spatial data (vector from raster) and perform spatial analysis. Information: when data is processed/interpreted/organized/structure/presented to make them useful; provides context for data. Scale: ratio of distance on the map to the corresponding distance on the ground. Generalization: it"s needed sometimes because sometimes data is required at a particular scale; the simplification of real world features.
