GIS Glossary

A GIS overlay operation that computes the geometric intersection of two datasets, preserving the attributes of both for the overlapping area (inferred from standard GIS usage).

Remotely sensed raster data (such as satellite or aerial photographs) used for landcover analysis, change detection, and feature extraction (inferred from standard GIS usage).

A GIS layer containing raster images, such as satellite or aerial photos, used for visualization and analysis.

A map showing the location and extent of individual map sheets within a larger area, aiding in spatial data organization and retrieval (inferred from standard GIS usage).

Physical and organizational structures (such as roads, utilities, and buildings) represented and analysed in GIS for urban planning, asset management, and spatial decision-making.

A network-based geographic information service that enables access to, and distribution of, spatial data and analytical tools over the internet, supporting web-based mapping and analysis.

A spatial analysis technique for estimating unknown values at specific locations based on known values from surrounding points, foundational for creating continuous surfaces such as elevation or temperature (inferred from standard GIS usage).

A spatial operation that identifies the overlapping areas or features between two or more datasets, essential for overlay analysis (inferred from standard GIS usage).

A line connecting points of equal magnetic declination on the earth’s surface, used in navigation and spatial orientation.

A widely used programming interface for building interactive web-based GIS applications, supporting spatial data visualization and analysis(inferred from standard GIS usage).

A fundamental GIS operation that combines attribute data from two tables based on a common field (key). Joins are essential for integrating spatial and non-spatial data, allowing for richer spatial analysis by associating additional attributes with geographic features(inferred from standard GIS usage).

In network analysis, a point where two or more linear features (such as roads or pipes) connect. Junctions are crucial for modelling and analysing flow, connectivity, and routing in spatial networks (inferred from standard GIS usage).

A spatial analysis method that defines the neighbourhood of a feature by identifying its k closest neighbours based on distance. This approach is widely used for spatial clustering, hotspot detection, and ensuring consistent neighbour counts regardless of area size.

An XML-based file format used for displaying geographic data in applications like Google Earth and Google Maps. KML is essential for sharing, visualizing, and analysing spatial data across different platforms.

A statistical measure used to assess the accuracy of classification maps, especially in remote sensing, by comparing observed and expected agreement between classified data and reference data.

A landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, characterized by features like sinkholes and caves. Karst mapping is important in environmental and hydrological spatial analysis.

A spatial analysis technique that calculates the density of features in a given area, producing a continuous surface that highlights concentrations or hotspots of spatial events (inferred from standard GIS usage).

A unique identifier for each record in a GIS attribute table, crucial for data integration, joins, and relational database management.

A geostatistical interpolation technique that predicts unknown values at specific locations based on the spatial autocorrelation of known data points. Kriging not only estimates values but also provides measures of prediction uncertainty, making it a powerful tool for surface modelling and spatial prediction.

Text or symbols placed on a map to identify features, such as city names or road numbers, aiding interpretation and communication of spatial information.