Civil Drafting Technology - 7th Edition

Chapter 14 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Chapter Test
Part I
Type your answer on the line below the question or item. For fill-in-the-blanks items, highlight
the underscore and type your answer, followed by placing an underline on the answer text.

14-1 Why is GIS considered an enabling technology?

14-2 What is the most common GIS application?
14-3 Considering all of the GIS systems in use today, what type of GIS system is the
most common?
14-4 Describe the three types of spatial queries.
14-5 List four GIS applications.
14-6 List three disciplines that provide techniques used by GIS.
Part II
Type your answer on the line below the question or item.

14-1 What happens to the data if it is converted from a raster format to a vector
format?
14-2 What is the term that determines the conversion of vector data to raster data?
14-3 Describe how a raster GIS stores data. Give three examples of the type of
features where the raster format works best.
14-4 Describe two advantages of a vector GIS. Give three examples of the type of
features where the vector format works best.
14-5 List two advantages of a well-designed GIS interface.
14-6 Fill in the blanks. ______________ ________________ permits synthesis and
data display in new and creative ways, using spatial and attribute queries.
14-7 Fill in the blank. A _________________ relates spatial data to attribute data.
14-8 What is the type of analysis that topology permits?
14-9 Give four examples of spatial data used on a regular basis by civil engineers.

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14-10 What type of database management system is used by GIS software?

14-11 Provide two reasons why GIS users are moving from mainframes and
minicomputers to personal computers.
14-12 Define desktop mapping.
Part III
14-1 What does GPS stand for?
14-2 Name the organization that developed GPS.
14-3 For what purpose was GPS developed?
14-4 Identify two primary functions of GPS.
14-5 Briefly describe each of the following parts of the GPS system.
Space Segment
Control Segment
User Segment
14-6 How does a GPS receiver determine a position?
14-7 What does LLA stand for?
14-8 What does the LLA have to do with a SPS position?
14-9 Identify at least two factors that reduce the accuracy of a GPS receiver.
14-10 Give the typical amount of error for the following applications:
Recreational applications
Differential correction
Survey-grade GPS
14-11 Briefly explain the importance of combining GPS and GIS.
14-12 Give an example of GPS/GIS used in the commerce industry.
14-13 Give an example of GPS/GIS used in the utility industry.
14-14 Give an example of GPS/GIS used in the agriculture industry.
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14-15 Give an example of GPS/GIS used in biological research.

14-16 Describe each of the five characteristics of a GIS database listed below.
Feature name
Feature type
Feature attributes
Values
Geographical position

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