UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA

Department of Geography, Geoinformatics

and Meteorology

GIS 310
GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
SEMESTER TEST MEMORANDUM

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

Dr Christel Hansen Prof Ian Meiklejohn
Semester Test

DATE: Wednesday 5 June 11:30-13:30 MARKS: 90

VENUE: Geo 1-2 PAGES: 4
The University of Pretoria commits itself to produce academic work of integrity. You, the student, affirms that you
are aware of and have read the Rules and Policies of the University, more specifically the Disciplinary Procedure
and the Tests and Examinations Rules, which prohibit any unethical, dishonest, or improper conduct during tests,
assignments, examinations and/or any other forms of assessment. You are aware that no student or any other
person may assist or attempt to assist another student, or obtain help, or attempt to obtain help from another
student or any other person during tests, assessments, assignments, examinations and/or any other forms of
assessment.

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Where relevant, use diagrams to illustrate your answer.
● Pay attention to the marks per question and answer accordingly. Do not write a whole page for a 10-mark
question. Similarly, do not write a paragraph for a 20-mark question.
● If you are asked to provide examples, provide examples.
● If you are asked to illustrate or provide drawings, then draw something that supports your answer.
● When asked to discuss, take a stance, and support this with evidence.
● Write all question numbers in order on the front of your answer script.

FORMULAE
𝑑𝑍 𝑧5 −𝑧4
Four nearest =
𝑑𝑥 2𝑑
𝑑𝑍 𝑧2 −𝑧7
=
𝑑𝑦 2𝑑
𝑑𝑍 𝑑𝑍
Slope 𝑠= 𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑛√( )2 + ( )2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑍 𝑑𝑍
Aspect 𝛼 = 180 − 𝑎𝑡𝑎𝑛 ( 𝑑𝑦
) + 90 ( 𝑑𝑥
)
𝑑𝑍 𝑑𝑍
| |
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑧 +𝑧
(( 4 2 5 )−𝑧0 )
Curvature: input parameters 𝐷=
𝑑2
𝑧 +𝑧
(( 2 2 7 )−𝑧0 )
𝐸=
𝑑2
−2(𝐸 + 𝐷)
Total curvature

GIS 310 Semester Test Memorandum Page | 1 of 4

 Question 1
‘Mapping is easy, anyone can do it.’ Do you agree with this statement? Based on your knowledge of
cartographic standards and mapping practises, provide an argument for or against this statement.
Ensure you provide supporting evidence for all points made. You must refer to theory in your answer.
[20]
Argument based on cartographic standards and best practises. Valid, coherent with insight shown.
Simply listing facts is not sufficient. Examples provided.
Question 2
The image below represents a topological structure. Do you agree with the statement that ‘ Arcs 4
and 12 are the same’ ? Substantiate your answer.
[5]
While the have the same starting and end nodes (f and g respectively) (2) the left and right
polygons are not the same (A-F for arc 12; F-WORLD for arc 4) (2). Because topology is enforced
the statement is thus incorrect. (1) Note: Table note required but can be provided for context.

Arc From Node To Node Left Polygon Right Polygon

1 a b WORLD D
2 b f C D
3 f a WORLD D
4 f g F WORLD
5 g e A E
6 e f A C
7 c e B C
8 d c B WORLD
9 c b C WORLD
10 e d B E
11 d g WORLD E
12 f g A F

Question 3
The image below is an extract of a raster with a spatial resolution of 10 m.
[15]
𝑑𝑍 𝑑𝑍
a) For Point A, calculate change along the vertical ( ) and horizontal ( ) using the four nearest
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
method. (2)
b) Calculate aspect (round to one decimal point) for Point A. Also give its bearing. (2)
c) Calculate slope in degrees (round to one decimal point) for Point A. (1)
d) Calculate total curvature of Point A. Round values to 3 decimal points. (5)
e) You would like to erect a telephone tower at Point A. Is this a suitable site? Also consider its
visibility to Point B. Provide valid argumentation for your answer. (5)

a)
Four nearest.
dz -18 dz 19

dz/dx -0.90 (1) dz/dy 0.95 (1)

b) Aspect: 136.5 degrees (1), bearing SE (1)

c) Slope: 52.6 degree (1)

d) D (2) 0.200
E (2) 0.205

GIS 310 Semester Test Memorandum Page | 2 of 4

Total (1) -0,810

e)
The site is fairly steep so not entirely suitable. (1)
If the goal is to see Point A from Point B, then it is also not suitable because you will not be able to
see Point A from Point B. (2) Although Point A’s bearing is toward Point B, there is an elevation rise
between the two, indicating that there is no line of sight between the two points. (2)

Question 4
Briefly describe why it is important to use pseudocode for writing algorithms, with a specific focus on
the geospatial context.
[6]
Standardisation, building blocks, systematic, syntax native to geospatial analysis – anyone within the
industry should be able to execute the instructions, away from natural language so anyone can use it

Question 5
Provide a solution to the scenario below. Either write the pseudocode (ensure you do this within the
geospatial analysis context) or draw a cartographic model – the choice is yours.
[10]

 Data prep: identify layers, input layers

 Steps: attribute selection with simple SQL, spatial selections with simple methods, spatial
overlay functions, interpolation function briefly described (any suitable one)
 Conclusion: save to file or output or export
Steps must make sense and have an output, no redundancy, no logical errors – model is the graphical
representation of the steps below.

Question 6
a) Briefly describe what the script does. (10)
1 import system library
2 use variable to store the path to data
3 create a file gdb called SemesterTest using the variable
4 create variable to store path to gdb
5 set workspace to your data folder (using variable)
6 store UTMS 35S in a variable
7 batch project all vector layers into your gdb (using variables of path and projection)
8 project raster using variable (outside of gdb)
9 Import projected raster into dgb using projection variable
10 Set global coordinate system to projection variable
b) There are numerous errors in this script. Identify 2 of these and provide solutions to fix these.
(4)

 arcpy.management.CreateFileGDB (path, "SemesterTest.gdb')

SemesterTest.gdb not recognised as text because of mixing of quotation marks. Will not execute.
arcpy.management.CreateFileGDB (path, "SemesterTest.gdb")

 projection = arcpy.SpatialReference("32735")
Expected integer written as text, will not execute.
projection = arcpy.SpatialReference(32735)

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  arcpy.management.BatchProject (['Gauteng_Main_Towns.shp'; 'Landcover.shp',
'Major_Roads.shp'; 'Rivers.shp';'Water_Areas.shp'],
'Conservation_Areas.shp','Protected_Areas.shp', pathGDB, projection)
Note: 2 errors!
no such variable as porjection, spell properly as projection
input should use a combination of [ and ,; or the two different quotation marks and ;, will not execute

 arcpy.management.ProjectRaster('DEM.tif','DEMPrj.rif', projection)
no such extension as ‘rif’, will not execute, cannot write to raster file
arcpy.management.ProjectRaster('DEM.tif','DEMPrj.tif', projection)

 arcpy.conversion.RasterToGeodatabase('DEMPr.tif',pathGDB)
no such layer as DEMPrj.tif, because of the previous error. Will not execute.

[14]
Question 7
Discuss the importance of standards with specific reference to the LinkedIN post by Oscar Baruffa on
How Data Gets Cleaned – An Example that was discussed in class. In your answer, refer to appropriate
ISO/SANS standards, and provide examples from the LinkedIN post to support your argument.
[10]
Argumentation and style 2 marks.
Brief reference to standards for business, society, and government 2 marks.
Suitable standard not ISO 19157 and general standard discussion 2 marks.
Examples from article (at least 2 explained) 4 marks.

Question 8
This question is based on Chapter 6 of the SDI Cookbook discussed during the Spatial Data
Infrastructure lecture. Describe the process, and issues associated with the process of accessing
geospatial data from the consumer point of view. Also, discuss important considerations to open data
as referred to within the framework of SDI.
[10]
Answer must mention the whole process: discovery, evaluation, access, exploitation. 4 marks
Discussion on issues and considerations 4 marks.
Argument 2 marks.

What kind of model did Esri South Africa use for solving the McDonald's problem? Which do you say
this?
[3]
Optimisation modes using suitability analyses, probably heuristic.

-END-

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