Geographic Information Concepts

University of South Carolina ArcView 3.0a Short Course Series

Copyright © 1998
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Table of Contents

1.0 Background Information 4

1.1 College of Liberal Arts Support 4
1.1.1 Geospatial Data Server 4
1.1.2 Course Offerings 4
1.2 relevant Families of Software 4
1.2.1 Computer Aided Design (CAD) 4
1.2.2 Image Processing (IP) 4
1.2.3 Geographic Information System (GIS) 5
1.2.4 Desktop Mapping 5

2.0 Data Acquisition Techniques 6

2.1 Spatial Data 6
2.1.1 Digitizing 6
2.1.2 Scanning 6
2.1.3 Global Positional System (GPS) 6
2.1.4 Remote Sensing 6
2.2 Attribute Data 6
2.2.1 Databases 6
2.2.2 ASCII Files 6
2.2.3 Joining and Linking Databases 8

3.0 Mapping Issues 9

3.1 Coordinate Systems 9
3.1.1 Spheroids 9
3.1.2 Datums 9
3.1.3 Projections 9

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3.1.4 Common Coordinate Systems

3.2 Raster and Vector Data Structures 10
3.2.1 Raster Data Structure 12
3.2.2 Benefits of Raster Data Structure 12
3.2.3 Vector Data Structure 12
3.2.4 Benefits of Vector Data Structure 13
3.3 Data Conversion 13
3.4 Topology 13
3.5 Map Scale 14
3.6 Spatial Accuracy 15

4.0 Database Issues 16

4.1 Data Types 16
4.2 Database Elements 16
4.2.1 Field Types 16
4.2.2 Records 16
4.3 Attribute Accuracy 16

5.0 Data Sources 18

5.1 Create Your Own 18
5.2 College of Liberal Arts Computing Lab Data Server 18
5.3 World Wide Web 18
5.4 Private Vendors 19
5.5 Common Data Sources 19

6.0 Terminology 20

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1.0 Background Information be organized. Contact Paul Braun (777-0957) with concerns
about a course you would like offered.
1.1 College of Liberal Arts Support
1.2 Relevant Families of Software
The College of Liberal Arts Computing Lab is one of the
central locations of GIS activities on the University of South 1.2.1 Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Carolina campus. The Lab has developed various ways to
support users throughout campus. Examine the College of CAD is a family of software popular for creating a digital
Liberal Arts web page at http://www.cla.sc.edu/gis/uscgis.html. version of blue prints, drawings, etc. The software is popular
among draftsmen, engineers, architects, and landscape
architects. Many CAD packages have been designed to work
1.1.1 Geospatial Data Server best with one of those particular professions.
Many CAD software packages have a strong emphasis on
The Lab has created a data server that describes what spatial three-dimensional capabilities and shading.
information the lab has gathered and has made that information CAD systems are available on all popular platforms (i.e., PC,
accessible to the public. The server includes spatial data about Macintosh, UNIX). CAD systems tend to organize information
the USC campus, the City of Columbia, Richland and by layers and do not utilize topological structures.
Lexington County, the State of South Carolina, the United
States, and the World. See
http://www.cla.sc.edu/gis/dataindex.html A great deal of marketing literature for CAD software products
confuses the differences between CAD and GIS. Keep in mind
that CAD systems have begun to migrate toward GIS
1.1.2 Course Offerings functionality. AutoDesk’s AutoCAD and Intergraph’s
Microstation are leaders in the CAD software industry.
What courses are offered and when is always up for discussion. ArcView can read AutoCAD and Microstation CAD drawings
A set schedule exists for classes through the spring semester. in their native formats.
Other classes can be added based on enrollment and requests.
If there is enough demand for a particular topic, a course could
1.2.2 Image Processing (IP)

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The desktop mapping industry grew out of the GIS industry

Image processing software is primarily used for analysis of and the flourishing PC market of the 1980s. Desktop mapping
remotely sensed imagery. IP software is pixel based (see software was designed to get GIS data into the hands of
section 3.3.1) and has many capabilities for analyzing images. decision makers and non-technical people. Although desktop
IP software is available on all popular platforms (i.e., PC, mapping software do not have a great deal of the analytical
Macintosh, and UNIX) and is often used to supply data as a functionality of a full-fledged GIS package, they do have more
backdrop for geographic information systems. ERDAS user friendly abilities to view and query information. Popular
IMAGINE and Clark University’s IDRISI are leading packages desktop mapping packages are ESRI’s ArcView, MapInfo
in this field. Corporation’s MapInfo, and Caliper Corporation’s Maptitude.

1.2.3 Geographic Information System (GIS)

Geographic information systems can be subdivided into two

major types; raster and vector (see section 3.3.1). Raster
packages, such as GRASS and Idrisi, are pixel based.
Applications that raster systems are good for are surface
modeling and viewshed analysis. A vector package such as
ESRI’s ARC/INFO is based on the model of discrete entities
(i.e., points, lines, and polygons) with connections to relational
databases. Many GIS packages have bridged the gap between
the raster and vector data models and accept both. The strong
point of GIS is that there is an implicit connection between
spatial features and databases that describe those features. If
you have further questions about different GIS packages and
capabilities, call Paul Braun at 777-0957or Lynn Shirley at
777-4590.

1.2.4 Desktop Mapping

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2.0 Data Acquisition Techniques three satellites at any one time) to give the GPS receiver
operator a coordinate location. General measurements can be
obtained immediately (+/- 100s of feet). Measurements can be
2.1 Spatial Data collected and post-processed in a computer to obtain very
accurate measurements (+/- inches).
2.1.1 Digitizing

Digitizing is the process of tracing paper maps on top of a 2.1.4 Remote Sensing
digitizing tablet to convert the drawing to a digital format. On- Remote sensing is the collection of information with a remote
screen digitizing is the process of tracing features off of an object (camera, balloon, satellite, etc.). Imagery can be of any
image on the screen. For example, vegetation information can wavelength in the electro-magnetic spectrum (i.e., infrared,
be digitized from a Landsat image while the image is drawn to visible, radar, etc.). Images from remote sensing are in raster
the screen. Digitizing creates vector data which can be (pixel) format.
converted to raster.

2.2 Attribute Data

2.1.2 Scanning
Scanning will convert hard copy products to a computerized 2.2.1 Databases
raster (pixel) representation. Scanning can be done at various Databases hold descriptive information for spatial features.
resolutions (smaller resolution equals larger file size and Database files for spatial data can be stored in a variety of
clearer images) and in color or black/white (see section 3.3.5 relational database software packages. On a PC, dBase is
for more information on resolution). Scanned data can be commonly used as well as Microsoft Access. In UNIX,
vectorized. common databases are Oracle, Sybase, and Informix.

2.2.2 ASCII Files

2.1.3 Global Positional System (GPS)
GPS is comprised of a series of approximately 20 Department An ASCII file of information can often be read into a desktop
of Defense satellites which orbit the earth. These satellites mapping package and then treated as a database. Some
send locational information back to earth. Commercially systems can read an ASCII file that is either comma or tab
available receivers can capture that data (from a minimum of delimited (see examples below). An ASCII file must have a

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unique feature ID and x and y coordinates. It may also have 495612 3765256 GASOLINE 2
relevant attributes about the features you are mapping. For 497403 3764664 GASOLINE 3
example, 499460 3761745 GASOLINE 3
496054 3759584 GASOLINE 2
Comma Delimited 497089 3761839 GASOLINE 2
Xcoord,Ycoord,type,rating 494612 3761199 CRUDE OIL 1
494612,3764140,GASOLINE,1
494671 3760955 CRUDE OIL 2
494671,3763942,GASOLINE,2 495612 3760000 CRUDE OIL 2
495612,3765256,GASOLINE,2 497403 3762000 CRUDE OIL 3
497403,3764664,GASOLINE,3 499460 3761370 CRUDE OIL 3
499460,3761745,GASOLINE,3
496054 3764000 CRUDE OIL 2
496054,3769584,GASOLINE,2 497089 3763000 CRUDE OIL 2
497089,3761839,GASOLINE,2
494612,3761199,CRUDE OIL,1
As mentioned above, these files can be read into a desktop
494671,3760955,CRUDE OIL,2 mapping package. The x and y fields will be used to represent
495612,3760000,CRUDE OIL,2 the information (type and rating) as points. All other
information will be stored as point attributes.

Tab Delimited
This same file could be tab delimited. A tab delimited file
would replace all the commas with tabs. For example,

Xcoord Ycoord type rating

494612 3764140 GASOLINE 1
494671 3763943 GASOLINE 2

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product would be a database with the field “price” added to the

existing database.

2.2.3 Joining and Linking Databases

Joining one database to another is an efficient way to pull

information into a GIS or desktop mapping package.
Relational database mangers will join databases together based
on a common field (e.g., type in the example above). The
fields must be the same type (numeric, character, etc.) with
identical information in a record to successfully join.
However, the names of the fields do not have to have the same.
Successful joins will occur when identical matches of the
common attribute are found within each record. For example,
if another database existed with the fields “type” (gasoline and
crude oil) and “price” (numeric values), it could be joined to
the database above using the common field “type”. The end

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New USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps show the corners of

3.0 Mapping Issues the map in both datums.

3.1 Coordinate Systems 3.1.3 Projections

Coordinate systems are comprised of spheroids, datums, and Projection is the process of representing a three-dimensional
projections and are specified in terms of units (i.e., feet, meters, surface in two-dimensions. Projections are mathematical
yards, etc.). Coordinate systems locate features by x and y expressions that convert data from a geographic location
coordinates. (latitude and longitude) on a sphere or spheroid to a
representative location on a flat surface (a map). This process
3.1.1 Spheroids distorts at least one of these properties: shape, area, distance, or
direction.
A spheroid is a mathematical description of the earth. Over
time these mathematical expressions have changed from The most popular projections are:
describing the earth as a perfect circle to a spheroid (i.e., an
egg shape). For years the US standard has been Clarke 1866 Conic
but with improvements in measurement techniques, the US • A cone is placed over the globe touching along one or two
standard is moving toward GRS80. standard parallels, and information is transposed onto the
cone,
• Of all the conic projections, the Equidistant Conic, Lambert
3.1.2 Datums Conic Conformal, and Albers Equal-Area Conic
projections are the most popular.
A datum is a set of control points whose geometric
relationships are known, either through measurement or
calculation and is used to define a coordinate system. Datums
are based on a particular spheroid. There are two datums used
almost exclusively in the US, the North American Datum of
1927 (NAD27 based on Clarke 1866) and the North American
Datum of 1983 (NAD83 based on GRS80). Converting digital
data based on NAD27 to NAD83 can migrate features slightly.

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• Planar projections transpose information onto a flat surface

which is touching the earth at one point,
• Planar projections are most often used to map the poles.

Cylindrical
• A cylinder is placed over the globe touching alone one or
two standard parallels, and information is transposed onto
the cylinder,
• Of all cylindrical projections, the Mercator projection is the The most common projections used in commercial or publicly
most popular. available mapping data sets are:

• Transverse Mercator, and

• Lambert Conic Conformal

3.1.4 Common Coordinate Systems

Latitude-longitude
Latitude-Longitude is not a two-dimensional coordinate system
but is commonly referred to as one. Lines of latitude run east
west parallel to the equator. Longitude lines run north-south
and converge at the poles. Therefore, the length of one degree
of longitude varies depending upon the latitude at which it is
Planar measured. For example, one degree of longitude at the equator
is 111 kilometers in length, but the length of one degree of

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longitude converges to zero at the poles. Latitude-longitude is

measured in degrees, minutes, and seconds and because
degrees aren’t associated with a standard length, they can’t be
used as an accurate measure of distance or area. A common
coordinate in latitude-longitude for South Carolina is 82.2
degrees west latitude and 34.2 degrees north longitude. In this
example, the minutes and seconds are shown as decimals of
one degree (i.e., decimal degrees).

A great deal of commercially available data is packaged in

latitude-longitude because it is by definition, not projected.
That way, the user can project it to whatever projection they
are working in.

Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)

Although UTM is technically a projection and NOT a

coordinate system, it is commonly referred to as a coordinate
system. This is because UTM is a set of zones with altered
offsets and is based on the Transverse Mercator projection. It is
used on the United States Geologic Survey (USGS)
topographic maps. UTM Units must be in feet or meters but is
most often in meters.

Most of the data available from the College of Liberal Arts GIS
data server is available in UTM, zone 17 with map units of
meters.

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State Plane Coordinate System

Another common coordinate system is the state plane

coordinate system. It divides all fifty states into zones. Each
state is represented by anywhere from 1 to 10 zones. The
shape of the zone(s) that cover the state determine which
projection to use. Two projections are used most often:
lambert conic conformal for states with an east-west orientation
like Tennessee and Transverse Mercator for states with a north-
south orientation like California. State Plane units must be in
feet or meters but is most often feet. South Carolina is mapped Vector Data Raster Data
into one zone and is projected using the Lambert Conic
Conformal projection. A common coordinate for SC data in 3.2.1 Raster Data Structure
the State Plane Coordinate System in feet is (1,600,000,
400,000). Raster data is based on a uniform grid of cells or pixels which
represent an area of interest. Individual cells can be identified
by the row and column they occupy. Each cell is by definition
3.2 Raster and Vector Data Structures
a homogeneous unit with respect to its attributes. Raster data
formats are used in satellite imagery and raster based GIS
packages such as Grass, IDRISI, Sage, UNIX ARC/INFO, and
the Spatial Analyst extension of ArcView 3.0.

3.2.2 Benefits of Raster Data Structure

The coordinate system is implied by the location of the pixel,

1. Neighborhood locations can be analyzed,

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2. Accommodates discrete data such as soils as well as 5. Vector data set graphics tend to be of a higher quality.
continuous data such as topography,
3. Processing algorithms are easier than for vector data sets,
and 3.2.5 Raster Data Structure Resolution
4. Compatible with other data collection and manipulation
software such as in remote sensing. Raster data structure resolution refers to pixel size. A SPOT
monochromatic satellite image has a resolution of 10 meters
while a LANDSAT satellite image has a resolution of 30
3.2.3 Vector Data Structure
meters. The smaller the resolution, the more processing time
and larger the file size. ArcView generally defaults to an
Vector data represents features as points, lines, and polygons. optimized grid cell size for grid creation.
A point feature is an x and y coordinate, a line is a string of
consecutive points, and a polygon is a string of consecutive 3.3 Data Conversion
points that closes back upon itself. Vector data sets can have
topology (see section 3.5). Topology means that, in addition to Just like a WordPerfect document can be converted to a
the position of every feature, the software maintains the spatial Microsoft Word document, so too can raster data be converted
relationships of adjacency and connectivity between features to vector and vice versa. For example, a scanned land use map
(i.e., it “knows” where all features are and how the relate to would be a raster data file. It could be converted into a vector
each other). format in order to have discrete polygons which represent
different landuses.
3.2.4 Benefits of Vector Data Structure
3.4 Topology
1. Less storage space is needed because many pixels don’t
have to be stored for a homogeneous area, Topology is a data structure often used in GIS. Topology is the
2. Feature types can be individually retrieved such as roads or stored relationships between map features. When topology has
water features, been created (such as in an ARC/INFO coverage), the file
3. It is easier to associate a variety of descriptive resource data would “know” its position, “know” what is around it,
with a single resource feature, “understand” its environment by virtue of recognizing its
surroundings, and “know” how to get from A to B.
4. Digitized data does not have to be converted, and

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Topological relationships are stored in a series of relational centimeter, or a foot) is equal to 24,000 units of that same size
databases. Each database stores information about a feature. on the surface of the earth.
For example, a database would store the following information
about each individual arc: Small scale maps (e.g., 1:100) show small areas and large
amounts of detail. Large scale maps (e.g., 1:1,000,000) show
large areas and small amounts of detail. Feature display is
• Number of the arc,
scale dependent. For example, a building might be shown as a
• Beginning node number, polygon at 1:100 but as a point at 1:100000. Minimum
• Ending node number, mapping units are used to filter out features and determine if a
• Polygon to its left, and feature should be mapped at that particular scale. For example,
at a scale of 1:24,000 a minimum mapping unit for mapping
• Polygon to its right. wetlands might be 2 acres because any wetland smaller than
that would be too difficult to locate on a 1:24,000 scale map.
In this way, each node, line, and polygon could be defined by However, if the mapping was being done at 1:200 the
its neighbors and who it is connected to. minimum mapping unit could be very small. Therefore, the
smaller the scale (larger the area shown) the more details that
3.5 Map Scale will be left out.

Map scale is shown as a ratio of reduction between real world Scale 2 cm2 1 in2
distances and distances on a map. The following three 1:24,000 23.04 ha 91.8 ac
statements show the same scale: 1:62,500 156 ha 623.0 ac
1:100,000 400 ha 1594.0 ac
1 inch = 2,000 feet 1:250,000 2,500 ha 9964.0 ac
1 inch = 24,000 inches 1:500,000 10,000 ha 39856.0 ac
1:24,000
Area Equivalents of a 2 square centimeters and 1 square inch at
The left side of the ratio is the distance on the map and the different scales
right side of the ratio is the distance on the surface of the earth.
When there are no units expressed in the ration, such as in
1:24,000, that means any unit on the map (e.g., 1 inch, a

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3.6 Spatial Accuracy

All maps tell lies. No map is perfectly accurate. No data on

any map is exactly where it is shown. Depending on the scale
that information was collected and mapped at, its spatial
accuracy will vary. That means that depending on the map you
are looking at, each feature could be within a certain distance
of where it is actually shown. There are national map
standards that require features are within set tolerances. A map
that meets national map standards will say so in its legend.

Spatial accuracy is doubly important when data is

computerized (i.e., scanned or digitized). This is because
another level of error is built into the digital version when
someone digitizes or scans data. For example, people often
want to digitize hand drawn field information off of a 1:24,000
USGS Topographic Map. Often the map has been folded, the
lines were drawn with a thick pen, and the person doing the
digitizing doesn’t trace it exactly, etc. All these things add
more error to the information that what was already there in the
original base map.

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4.0 Database Issues Fields within a database are the columns of data. An attribute
of ‘acres’ or ‘owner_name’ is one field. A field is sometimes
4.1 Data Types called an item or a column.

Numeric- Numeric field types are numbers that contain decimal

Nominal - Nominal data usually refer to things with names
points.
such as soil types, owner names, or wetland types. Nominal
data is often classified by unique values.
Integer- Integer field types are also numeric but do not contain
decimal points.
Ordinal - Ordinal data refers to data that is ranked in some way
such as first, second, third or suitability ratings such as best,
Character- Character fields allow both character and numeric
good, fair, and poor.
data. However, numeric data in a character field cannot be
manipulated with mathematical operations such as addition,
Interval - Interval data can be added or subtracted but not
subtraction, multiplication, and division. Character fields can
compared and is based on an undefined 0. For example,
have no more than 320 characters in ARC/INFO.
temperature can be added (five degrees + 10 degrees = 15
degrees). However, it cannot be said that 10 degrees
Dates - Dates in the form of dd/mm/yy or dd/mm/yyyy
Fahrenheit is twice as hot as 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
4.2.2 Records
Ratio - Ratio data is measured or counted from a known,
definable zero. Measured microbe levels or rainfall are ratio
data types. A liter of water with a microbe level of 20 mg is Records are the rows within a database. A record contains all
twice as high as a microbe level of 10 mg/liter. 2 cm of rainfall the known information about a particular feature in your
is a known amount of rain above zero. Zero rainfall is a database.
known, measurable amount.
4.3 Attribute Accuracy
4.2 Database Elements
Just like spatial accuracy, attributes also have accuracy issues
that affect them. If an attribute changes often, such as owner
4.2.1 Field types
name, the accuracy is variable depending on how long ago the
field was updated. Another aspect of accuracy is what was
input within the record. For example, different organizations

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have different opinions about how to classify vegetation. If

you have access to vegetation data and are unaware of how it
was classified, it could be said that the attribute “accuracy” is
low. A third aspect of attribute accuracy is typographic. In
many desktop mapping or GIS packages “JOHN SMITH” is
not the same as “John Smith”. Typing errors can make a large
difference in the utility of attributes.

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5.0 Data Sources The Liberal Arts Computing Lab has a GIS data server that
contains a great deal of information at multiple scales
There are many places to obtain spatial and database data either (http://www.cla.sc.edu/gis/). That data is useable directly
for free or for a fee. Information can be coded into a across the University’s backbone. However, in today’s current
spreadsheet or relational database manager system and pulled computing environment, it is best to peruse the web site to
into a GIS (if it has coordinate representation of x,y or a discover what data exists, and then come talk to either Lynn
character description such as an address, zip code, city name, Shirley or Paul Braun about accessing that information. The
county name), data can be digitized, scanned, purchased from a lab also has a myriad of CD-ROMs that have been purchased
private vendor, or requested from various public agencies. for distribution. Those data sources include the Digital Chart
of the World, US and South Carolina base map features, and
1990 Census data. These CDs can be viewed at any time by
5.1 Create Your Own stopping in room 3E, Gambrell Hall.

5.3 World Wide Web

You have the ability to create your own information. The
primary issue to be concerned with when creating your own
data is that it is spatially referenced. Data can be gathered The World Wide Web provides vast new opportunities to
from a global positional system (GPS) receiver, scanned, or access spatial information. Many new web sites offer a chance
digitized. Collecting your own data is probably the most time to view data graphically, examine the metadata, and order the
intensive. Keep in mind, though, that with this option you have information on-line. Some sites even offer the opportunity to
total control about what gets put into the computer. When you download information directly. A few interesting sites that
inherit someone else’s information, you also inherit all of their might be helpful when searching for GIS data are:
collection flaws, biases, and errors.
SC Department of Natural Resources
Another option is to join databases. If your collected data has a • http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/gisdata/index.html
common field to another database the two databases can be US Department of Transportation
joined together. • http://www.bts.gov/gis/ntatlas/
US Census Bureau
• http://www.census.gov
5.2 College of Liberal Arts Computing Lab Data Server Environmental System Research Institute
• http://www.esri.com

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GeoWeb Interactive 1. Roads

2. Water features
http://www.ggrweb.com/data_clog.html 3. Contours
USGS Geo Data

http://sun1.cr.usgs.gov/doc/edchome/ndcdb/ndcdb.html

5.4 Private vendors

Many private vendors offer value added data products in which

they have taken publicly available data such as the US Census
and added information to it. Examples of these companies are
Wessex and Business Location Resources. Companies are also
providing a great deal of data with the purchase of their
software. ESRI produces a publication called ArcData that
lists data resources. That publication is available in Gambrell
Hall, room 3E.

5.5 Common Data Sources

Census Data

1. Tiger roads,
2. Tract, block group, and block spatial data
3. Databases of demographics, income, housing, etc.

Digital Line Graphs (DLGs)

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created from another theme. A grid is actually a directory with

6.0 Terminology a series of files below it.

Coverages - An ARC/INFO coverage is the basic unit for Shapefiles - A shapefile is a data structure created for ArcView
handling geographic and attribute features. Technically, a by ESRI. It is a non-topologically structured graphic file that
coverage is a directory with a series of files below it which still has attributes tied to its features. Therefore, it will draw
hold all the graphic location, topology, and attribute faster in ArcView because it doesn’t have to maintain all the
information. A coverage is actually a directory with a series of topology files of a coverage. A shapefile can be converted to a
files below it. coverage or a grid and vice versa. A shapefile is actually made
up of a maximum of 5 different files.
DEM -Digital Elevation Model. A topographic surface
arranged in a data file as a set of regularly-spaced x,y,z Theme - A theme is the generic name for any piece of spatial
locations where z represents elevation. It is also a format for data that is brought into a view within ArcView. A theme
USGS digital elevation data sets and an elevation database for could be a coverage, a shapefile, an AutoCAD drawing
elevation data for the National Mapping Division of the U.S. (*.DWG), an image (*.tif, *.lan, etc.), or a grid.
Geological Survey.
Tiger - Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and
DLG - Digital Line Graph. DLG files come from the U.S. Referencing data format used by the US Census Bureau to
Geological Survey and include data from base map categories support census programs and surveys. It was used for the 1990
such as transportation, hydrography, contours, and public land census. TIGER files contain street address ranges along lines
survey boundaries. DLG is also the digital format standards and census tract/block boundaries. This descriptive data can be
published by USGS for exchanging cartographic data files and used to associate address information and census/demographic
for which the USGS delivers Digital Line Graph data sets. data with spatial information.

DXF - Data Exchange Format. A format for storing vector

data in ASCII or binary files; used by AutoCAD and other
CAD software.

Grid - A grid is the raster data format within ARC/INFO. In

ArcView 3.0, grids can be inserted into a view as a theme or

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Prepared by the College of Liberal Arts Computer Lab, USC–- February 1997