GIS

Data
GIS Dataset
• Each dataset that a GIS can support is divided into two main parts:
• graphical (spatial) information and
• tabular (attribute) information.
• Spatial data is data that is geo-referenced or location specific and is
what is shown graphically on the computer screen.
• Each piece of graphic information is called a feature. Features can be
points, lined or even polygons.
• The attribute or tabular information is text based or numerical
information that describe each of the features.
• The tabular information is linked to the graphical information and
includes a unique ID number used to represent each point, line or
polygon.
• Examples of tabular data can include such things as addresses,
coordinates, area, length, sales information, road names, etc.
• The possibilities for data association between tabular and graphical
information are endless.
• Spatial data can often be further divided into two major types.
• The first type is raster data which is usually in the form of images such
as aerial photographs or imported scans of old maps. The raster data
stores the location and color value of each pixel that forms the image.
• The second type of data is vector based. Vectors can be a combination
of linework, polygons and curvilinear data. This information is stored
using a combination of location specific point, lines, and arcs.
• Raster imagery can lose quality and become blurred when scaled.
However, vector data is scalable to any size without losing any
integrity.
Coordinate Systems

• In order to represent spatially varied data everything needs to be

placed on a common coordinate system.
• In the mapping world there are three main types of coordinate
systems.
• The first system is called the Cartesian Coordinate system and can be
represented by a grid with a numbering system that can locate
information on a horizontal and vertical axis.
• The second systems is the polar coordinate system. This is an easy
way to locate information about a central using only an angle and a
distance (radius). In many junior high and high school math classes
students learn about these basic coordinate systems.
• The third type of coordinate system is a global coordinate system. At
its most basic level a global coordinate system is where two numbers
(latitude and longitude) are used to reference a specific location on
the earth.