Scribd
Upload
35 views6 pages

Lecture 6 - GIS Data Types

GIS data is categorized into spatially referenced data, which includes vector and raster forms, and attribute tables. Vector data can be represented as polygons, lines, or points, while raster data is cell-based and includes continuous and discrete types. Both data types are essential for spatial analysis and mapping applications.

Uploaded by

kevino.powers
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views6 pages

Lecture 6 - GIS Data Types

GIS data is categorized into spatially referenced data, which includes vector and raster forms, and attribute tables. Vector data can be represented as polygons, lines, or points, while raster data is cell-based and includes continuous and discrete types. Both data types are essential for spatial analysis and mapping applications.

Uploaded by

kevino.powers
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

GIS DATA TYPES

GIS Data Explored – Vector and Raster Data

A geodatabase is a database that is in some way referenced to locations on the


earth. Coupled with this data is usually data known as attribute data. Attribute data
generally defined as additional information, which can then be tied to spatial data.

GIS data can be separated into two categories:


spatially referenced data which is represented by vector and raster forms
(including imagery) and
attribute tables which is represented in tabular format.

-Within the spatial referenced data group, the GIS data can be further classified
into two different types: vector and raster. Most GIS software applications mainly
focus on the usage and manipulation of vector geodatabases with added
components to work with raster-based geodatabases.

Vector data
Vector data is represented into three ways:

 polygon,
 line (or arc)
 point data.
Polygons are used to represent areas such as the boundary of a city (on a large
scale map), lake, or forest.
-Polygon features are two dimensional and therefore can be used to measure the
area and perimeter of a geographic feature.
-Polygon features are most commonly distinguished using either a thematic
mapping symbology (color schemes), patterns, or in the case of numeric gradation,
a color gradation scheme could be used.
IN THIS VIEW OF A POLYGON BASED DATASET, FREQUENCY OF FIRE IN AN AREA IS DEPICTED SHOWING A GRADUATE
COLOR SYMBOLOGY.

Line (or arc) data is used to represent linear features. Common examples would be
rivers, trails, and streets. Line features only have one dimension and therefore can
only be used to measure length.
-Line features have a starting and ending point. Common examples would be road
centerlines and hydrology. Symbology most commonly used to distinguish arc
features from one another are line types (solid lines versus dashed lines) and
combinations using colors and line thicknesses.
-In the example below roads are distinguished from the stream network by
designating the roads as a solid black line and the hydrology a dashed blue line.

STREAMS ARE SHOWN AS DASHED BLUE LINES AND ROADS AS SOLID BLACK LINES IN THIS EXAMPLE.

Point data is most commonly used to represent nonadjacent features and to


represent discrete data points. Points have zero dimensions, therefore you can
measure neither length or area with this dataset.

-Examples would be schools, points of interest, and in the example below, bridge
and culvert locations. Point features are also used to represent abstract points. For
instance, point locations could represent city locations or place names.
TH
GIS POINT DATA SHOWING THE LOCATION OF BRIDGES AND CULVERTS.

Both line and point feature data represent polygon data at a much smaller scale.

-They help reduce clutter by simplifying data locations. As the features are
zoomed in, the point location of a school is more realistically represented by a
series of building footprints showing the physical location of the campus.

-Line features of a street centerline file only represent the physical location of the
street. If a higher degree of spatial resolution is needed, a street curbwidth file
would be used to show the width of the road as well as any features such as
medians and right-of-ways (or sidewalks).

Raster Data
Raster data (also known as grid data) represents the fourth type of feature:
surfaces. Raster data is cell-based and this data category also includes aerial and
satellite imagery.
There are two types of raster data: continuous and discrete.
-An example of discrete raster data is population density.
-Continuous data examples are temperature and elevation measurements.
There are also three types of raster datasets:
 thematic data,
 spectral data, and
 pictures (imagery).

DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL (DEM) SHOWING ELEVATION.

This example of a thematic raster dataset is called a Digital Elevation Model


(DEM). Each cell presents a 30m pixel size with an elevation value assigned to that
cell. The areas shown is the Topanga Watershed in California and gives the viewer
and understand of the topography of the region.
THIS IMAGE SHOWS A PORTION OF TOPANGA, CALIFORNIA TAKEN FROM A USGS DOQ.

Each cell contains one value representing the dominate value of that cell. Raster
datasets are intrinsic to most spatial analysis. Data analysis such as extracting
slope and aspect from Digital Elevation Models occurs with raster datasets.
Spatial hydrology modeling such as extracting watersheds and flow lines also uses
a raster-based system. Spectral data presents aerial or satellite imagery which is
then often used to derive vegetation geologic information by classifying the
spectral signatures of each type of feature.

RASTER DATA SHOWING VEGETATION CLASSIFICATION. THE VEGETATION DATA WAS DERIVED FROM NDVI
CLASSIFICATION OF A SATELLITE IMAGE.
What results from the effect of converting spatial data location information into
a cell based raster format is called stairstepping. The name derives from the
image of exactly that, the square cells along the borders of different value types
look like a staircase viewed from the side.

Unlike vector data, raster data is formed by each cell receiving the value of the
feature that dominates the cell. The stairstepping look comes from the
transition of the cells from one value to another. In the image above the dark
green cell represents chamise vegetation. This means that the dominate feature
in that cell area was chamise vegetation. Other features such as developed land,
water or other vegetation types may be present on the ground in that area. As
the feature in the cell becomes more dominantly urban, the cell is attributed the
value for developed land, hence the pink shading.

You might also like