Questions GIS:

1. What is a GIS?
A geographic information system, geographical information system, or geospatial information system is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of [1] geographically referenced data. In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology.

2. What are the components of GIS?

A working GIS integrates five key components: Hardware Software Data People Methods

Computer Ha rdwa re Module: T he general hardware component of a geographical

information system is the computer or central processing unit. It is linked to a disk drive storage unit, which provides space for storing data and programs. A digitizer, scanner and other device is used to convert data from maps and documents into digital form and send them to computer. A digitizer board is a flat board used for vectorisation of any map object. A plotter or other kind of display device is used to present the result of the data processing and a tape device is used for storing data or programs on magnetic tape.

Computer Softwa re Module The GIS software includes the programs and the user interface
for driving the hardware. GIS software is essential to generate, store, analyze, manipulate and display geographic information or data. A good GIS software requires user friendliness, functionalities, compatibilities, updatability, documentation, cos teffectivness. The following is a list of GIS software producers and their main products.

Environmental Systems Research Institute ( ESRI ): ArcInfo, ArcView. Autodesk: AutoCAD Map C lark Labs: IDRIS I International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences: ILWIS Mapinfo C orporation: Mapinfo. Bentley Systems: Microstation. PC I Geomatics: PAMAP TYDAC Inc. : SPANS

Data Data is the most important component of a GIS. Geographic data and related tabular data
can be collected in house, compiled to custom specifications and requirements, or purchased from a commercial data provider. A GIS can integrate spatial data with o ther existing da ta resources, often stored in a DBMS. The integration of spatial and tabular data s tored in a DBMS is a key functionality afforded by GIS.

People GIS technology has limited value without the people who manage and develop plans for
applying it to real world problems. GIS user range from technical specialis ts who design and maintain the system to those who use it to help them perform their everyday work. The identification of GIS specialist's vs. end users is of ten critical to the proper implementa tion of GIS technology. This is what called 'brain ware' which is equally important as the Hardware and software. Brain ware refers to the purpose and objectives, and provides the reason and justification, for using GIS.

Method A successful GIS operates according to a well designed im plementation plan and b usiness
rules, which are the models and operating practices unique to each organization. For many years, though GIS has been considered to be too difficult, expensive, and proprietary. The advent of graphical user interface (GUI), powerful and affordable hardware and software, and public digital data has broadened the range of GIS application and brought GIS to mainstream use.

3. Name of the leading GIS software packages. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 11 12 What type of data handles in GIS? What is geographical referenced data? What makes GIS distinguishes from other Information System? How a GIS operations? List the major application areas of GIS. What is map projection? Why same coordinate system is required in GIS What is Prime Meridian? What is datum?

13. According to UTM projection, how many zones covered the world? 14. What is a map scale? 15. What are the data types used in GIS? 16. What is the spatial data? 17. Describe point, line and polygon? 18. What is raster data? 19. What is the major difference between raster and vector data? 20. What is non-spatial data? 21. What is Topology? 22. What is digitization? 23. What is geometric transformation? 24. What is metadata? 25. What is vectorization? 25. What do you understand with Database Management System (DBMS)? 26. What do you understand with relational database query? 27. What do you understand with spatial data query? 28. What is buffering in GIS? 29. What are slivers in GIS? 30. What do you understand with breaklines? 31. What is TIN in GIS 32. What is spatial interpolation in GIS? 33. What is kriging? 34. What is a GIS modeling? 35. What a forester can do with GIS? 36. How GIS is useful in day today need? 37. What is the principal disadvantage of using "flat" files to store attribute information? 38. How does the organization of hierarchical data files differ from the arganization of relational data files?

Multiple-choice questions Choose the best or most appropriate ans wer(s) to the question. 1. Which of the following are examples of non-spatial data? 1. The number of rooms in an office building. 2. The path of a highway between two cities. 3. The total population of Austin, Texas. 4. The intersection of two streets. 5. The site of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. 6. The 14th US Congressional District.

2. Which of the following are not characteristics of data quality? 1. completeness

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

attribute accuracy coordinate jurisdiction positional accuracy timeliness logical consistency the size-shape ratio of irregular polygons

3. During database development, locational information may be input into a GIS using the following techniques: 1. photogrammetric digitizing 2. manual digitizing 3. standardizing geographic naming conventions 4. typing coordinates at a keyboard 5. adding map annotations to mylar map overlays 6. creating data directories