Cartography: Giscience and Systems

Glossary attribute table: a table with one row allocated to each feature and one column allocated to each defining characteristic buffer: dilation of point, line, or area features by a defined distance datum: a mathematical reference model for global coordinates geodesy: the science of precise Earth measurement geoportal: a single point of entry to a distributed collection of data sets hybrid model: a data model in which feature attributes and topological relationships are stored in a relational database, while point coordinates are stored elsewhere join: combination of attribute tables based on common keys map algebra: a language for manipulation of raster layers using symbolic representation metadata: description of the properties, format, quality, and lineage of a data set object orientation: an approach to data modeling that recognizes, among other principles, that classes of features can inherit properties from more general classes overlay: calculation of a new topologically rich layer from two or more input layers polygon: an area represented as a sequence of points connected by straight lines polyline: a line represented as a sequence of points connected by straight lines projection: a mathematical transformation of a curved surface to a plane raster: representation of space as a collection of equal, rectangular areas ordered in a defined sequence relational database: a data model in which all information is represented in tables linked by common keys topology: in mathematics, properties that are invariant under distortion of the containing space; in GIS, relationships between features such as adjacency and connectivity vector: representation of space by identification of features contained in the space, and use of coordinates to specify locations of features Synopsis Geographic information systems (GIS) support virtually any operation on geographic (GIScience) addresses the fundamental questions posed by GIS, and constitutes the body of knowledge exploited by GIS, and the research that will enable the next generation of GIS. The history of GIS development has been dominated by a series of applications, and today virtually any activity concerned with the Earth's surface or near-surface has made use of GIS. GIS views the geographic domain through a particular lens, partitioning variation into a set of layers, and organizing space either as an array of cells or as a collection of point, line, or area features. Concepts of object orientation have been adopted within the past decade, allowing GIS to move significantly beyond the metaphor of the map and to include representations of …