Geography 176B Final Exam
Thursday March 18, 2004, 7:30
– 9:30
Answer Question 1 and
one other question.
1. Define, explain, and
illustrate the meaning of each of five of the following terms:
a)
ASCII coding
b) Discrete object
c)
Arc
d) Encapsulation
e)
Abstract class
f)
TIGER
g)
Metadata
h) Density estimation
2. What methods can be used
to represent the form of the Earth's surface (its topography or terrain) in a
GIS? Discuss the forms in which such data are available, the functions that can
be performed with such data, and the advantages and disadvantages of each
method.
3. Map projections are used
to flatten the Earth. What map projections are commonly used in GIS, what
distortions do they introduce, and how would you go about choosing an
appropriate projection for a GIS project? To what degree is it possible to
avoid the distortions associated with flattening?
4. Why does ArcGIS support
three distinct data models (and many more import and export formats)? Wouldn't
it be easier if there was only one?
Geography 176B Winter 2005
Answer Question 1 and one other question.
1. Define, explain, and illustrate the meaning of each of five of the following terms:
a) short integer
b) Digital Earth
c) spatial interpolation
d) polyline
e) digital elevation model
f) watershed
g) location-based service
h) inheritance
2. What do you understand by the term model in the context of this course? Explain each of its meanings, and discuss the difference between analysis and modeling, in terms of objectives, applications, and usefulness.
3. Over the past ten years representations based on object-oriented models have begun to replace earlier representations based on relational models. Explain how each of these types of model has been implemented in GIS, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
4. What methods do humans use to specify the locations of things on the Earth's surface? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each method, in terms of the basic requirements of a georeferencing system.
Geography 176B Final Exam
Wednesday March 21, 2007
Answer Question 1 and one other question
1. Define and illustrate the meaning of five of the following terms:
• Unified Modeling Language
• Representative fraction
• Double-precision float/real
• Thiessen polygon
• Spatially intensive
• Complex edge
• Gazetteer
• Nugget
2. What is meant by spatial analysis? What kinds of spatial analysis have been discussed in the course? Give some examples of the kinds of insights that can be obtained by examining data using the lens of GIS.
3. GIS supports several distinct data models, each of which provides a template based on well-defined rules. What forms of geographic information are not well accommodated by the existing set of data models, as represented by ArcGIS?
4. ArcGIS supports several methods of spatial interpolation. What is spatial interpolation, and what are the major characteristics of each method? How would you decide which technique to use in a given situation?