GIS Glossary

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) : A file format for storing and exchanging spatial and attribute data in plain text.

The x-coordinate in a rectangular coordinate system, critical for defining spatial positions.

The degree to which a measured or calculated position matches its true value, important for spatial data reliability.

Coordinates that specify a location in a fixed, global reference system, such as latitude and longitude.

The difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points in an area, relevant for terrain analysis

The closeness of a measurement or spatial data value to its true value, crucial for all spatial analysis (inferred from standard GIS usage).

The process of evaluating the correctness of spatial data, especially in classification and remote sensing (inferred from standard GIS usage).

The use of sensors that emit energy and measure its reflection from the earth’s surface, important for spatial data collection.

Images of the earth taken from aircraft, used as a source of spatial data for analysis and mapping (inferred from standard GIS usage).

The process of combining multiple features or data values into a summary form, often used in spatial statistics (inferred from standard GIS usage).

The process of examining spatial data to discover patterns, relationships, or trends, central to GIS applications.

Text or graphics added to maps to provide additional information about spatial features (inferred from standard GIS usage).

A line segment defined by its endpoints (nodes), fundamental in vector data models for representing linear features.

A scripting language used for automating GIS tasks, particularly in ESRI software

A widely used GIS software suite by Esri for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization (inferred from standard GIS usage).

The size or extent of a polygon feature, a basic spatial measurement used in many analyses.

The compass direction that a slope faces, measured in degrees; important for terrain and environmental analysis.

The process of mapping the locations and characteristics of physical assets, supporting spatial inventory and management.

A characteristic or property of a spatial feature, such as population or land use, stored in a table linked to spatial data.

A map projection that transforms points from a sphere onto a plane, used for certain spatial analyses and visualizations.