Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)
Expert-defined terms from the Advanced Certificate in Aerial Surveillance Systems course at London School of Planning and Management. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Aerial Photography refers to the process of taking photographs from an aircraft,… #
Related terms include Aerial Surveillance, Remote Sensing, and Photogrammetry. Aerial Photography is a crucial component of Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) as it provides a means of collecting data on the Earth's surface, which can then be analyzed and used to create maps, models, and other geospatial products.
Aerial Surveillance involves the use of aircraft or other aerial platforms to <b… #
Related terms include Aerial Photography, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Intelligence. Aerial Surveillance is an important application of GIS, as it allows for the collection of real-time data on the environment, which can be used to support decision-making and operations.
Altitude refers to the height of an object or point above a reference lev… #
Related terms include Elevation, Depth, and Height. Altitude is an important concept in GIS, as it is used to describe the vertical position of features on the Earth's surface, which can be used to create three-dimensional models and analyze terrain characteristics.
Application Programming Interface (API) refers to a set of rules and p… #
Related terms include Software Development Kit (SDK), Library, and Framework. API is a crucial component of GIS, as it enables the integration of different systems and tools to support the development of geospatial applications.
Attribute refers to a characteristic or property of a feature</… #
Related terms include Attribute Table, Field, and Record. Attribute is an important concept in GIS, as it allows for the description and analysis of features and their properties.
Authentication refers to the process of verifying the identity of… #
Related terms include Authorization, Security, and Access Control. Authentication is a critical component of GIS, as it ensures that sensitive data and resources are only accessible to authorized users.
Azimuth refers to the angle between a line or direction and… #
Related terms include Direction, Bearing, and Orientation. Azimuth is an important concept in GIS, as it is used to describe the spatial relationships between features and their orientation in space.
Binary refers to a number system that uses only two digits , 0 and… #
Related terms include Binary Code, Byte, and Bit. Binary is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it is used to represent geospatial data in a computer format that can be read and analyzed by a GIS software.
Buffer refers to a zone or area around a feature or obje… #
Related terms include Buffer Zone, Proximity, and Distance. Buffer is an important concept in GIS, as it allows for the analysis of spatial relationships between features and their environment.
Cartography refers to the art and science of creating maps … #
Related terms include Map, Chart, and Geospatial Product. Cartography is a fundamental component of GIS, as it provides a means of visualizing and communicating geospatial information to support decision-making and analysis.
Cell refers to a small unit of a grid or matrix in a… #
Related terms include Pixel, Raster, and Grid. Cell is an important concept in GIS, as it is used to represent geospatial data in a discrete format that can be analyzed and manipulated using GIS software.
Classification refers to the process of grouping features or ob… #
Related terms include Category, Class, and Type. Classification is a crucial component of GIS, as it allows for the analysis and interpretation of geospatial data to support decision-making and planning.
Cloud Computing refers to a model of delivering computing services… #
Related terms include Cloud Storage, Cloud Processing, and Scalability. Cloud Computing is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of accessing and analyzing large amounts of geospatial data from anywhere in the world.
Coordinate Reference System (CRS) refers to a system of coordinates</b… #
Related terms include Coordinate, Reference Frame, and Geodetic Datum. CRS is a fundamental component of GIS, as it provides a means of defining the location and orientation of features and objects in a GIS.
Data Mining refers to the process of discovering patterns and r… #
Related terms include Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, and Predictive Analytics. Data Mining is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of extracting valuable information and insights from large amounts of geospatial data.
Database refers to a collection of organized data, often used to <… #
Related terms include Database Management System, Relational Database, and Geospatial Database. Database is a crucial component of GIS, as it provides a means of storing and managing large amounts of geospatial data to support decision-making and analysis.
Datum refers to a reference point or plane used to define t… #
Related terms include Geodetic Datum, Reference Frame, and Coordinate Reference System. Datum is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of defining the location and orientation of features and objects in a GIS.
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) refers to a digital representation of the E… #
Related terms include Topography, Elevation, and Terrain Analysis. DEM is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of analyzing and visualizing terrain characteristics to support decision-making and planning.
Digital Globe refers to a digital representation of the Earth, often used… #
Related terms include Digital Earth, Virtual Globe, and Geospatial Visualization. Digital Globe is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of visualizing and analyzing geospatial data to support decision-making and planning.
Distance Matrix refers to a table or matrix that stores the… #
Related terms include Distance, Proximity, and Network Analysis. Distance Matrix is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of analyzing and visualizing spatial relationships between features and their environment.
Elevation refers to the height of a point or feature above… #
Related terms include Altitude, Depth, and Height. Elevation is an important concept in GIS, as it is used to describe the vertical position of features on the Earth's surface, which can be used to create three-dimensional models and analyze terrain characteristics.
Enterprise GIS refers to a large #
scale GIS system that supports the needs of an organization or enterprise, often used to manage and analyze large amounts of geospatial data. Related terms include Enterprise System, Large-Scale GIS, and Geospatial Infrastructure. Enterprise GIS is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of managing and analyzing large amounts of geospatial data to support decision-making and planning at the organizational level.
Field refers to a column or attribute in a GIS database or… #
Related terms include Attribute, Column, and Record. Field is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of storing and managing information about features and their properties.
Format refers to the structure or organization of data in a… #
Related terms include File Format, Data Format, and Geospatial Data Format. Format is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of storing and managing geospatial data in a computer file or database.
Geocode refers to a code or identifier that represents the… #
Related terms include Geocoding, Address Matching, and Location-Based Services. Geocode is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of linking data to a specific location on the Earth's surface.
Geodetic Datum refers to a reference point or plane used to def… #
Related terms include Datum, Reference Frame, and Coordinate Reference System. Geodetic Datum is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of defining the location and orientation of features and objects in a GIS.
Geographic Information System (GIS) refers to a computer system th… #
Related terms include Geospatial System, Mapping System, and Spatial Analysis System. GIS is a fundamental concept in geospatial science and technology, as it provides a means of capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing, and presenting geographically referenced data.
Geospatial refers to the relationship between features or objec… #
Related terms include Geographic, Spatial, and Location-Based. Geospatial is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of describing the spatial relationships between features and their environment.
Geospatial Analysis refers to the process of examining and interpretin… #
Related terms include Spatial Analysis, Geographic Analysis, and Mapping Analysis. Geospatial Analysis is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of examining and interpreting geospatial data to extract meaningful information and insights.
Geospatial Data refers to data that is associated with a specific… #
Related terms include Geographic Data, Spatial Data, and Location-Based Data. Geospatial Data is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of describing the spatial relationships between features and their environment.
Geospatial Intelligence refers to the knowledge and insights gaine… #
Related terms include Geospatial Analysis, Spatial Intelligence, and Mapping Intelligence. Geospatial Intelligence is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of extracting meaningful information and insights from geospatial data.
Grid refers to a network of lines or points that cover</… #
Related terms include Mesh, Raster, and Pixel. Grid is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of representing the Earth's surface or features in a GIS.
Image Processing refers to the techniques and algorithms used to <… #
Related terms include Remote Sensing, Image Analysis, and Photogrammetry. Image Processing is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of enhancing and analyzing images to extract information and insights from remote sensing data.
Internet Mapping refers to the use of the internet to create and <… #
Related terms include Web Mapping, Online Mapping, and Geospatial Web Services. Internet Mapping is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of creating and sharing maps and other geospatial products over the internet.
Interoperability refers to the ability of different systems or … #
Related terms include Compatibility, Open Standards, and Data Exchange. Interoperability is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of sharing and integrating geospatial data from different sources and systems...
Location #
Based Services (LBS) refers to services that use geospatial data to provide information and functionality to users based on their location, often used in navigation, tracking, and emergency response applications. Related terms include Geospatial Services, Spatial Services, and Mapping Services. LBS is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of providing information and functionality to users based on their location.
Mapping refers to the process of creating and representing the Ear… #
Related terms include Cartography, Geospatial Mapping, and Spatial Mapping. Mapping is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of creating and representing the Earth's surface or features in a map or other geospatial product.
Metadata refers to data that describes and documents other… #
Related terms include Data Documentation, Geospatial Metadata, and Spatial Metadata. Metadata is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of describing and documenting geospatial data to support its use and interpretation.
Model refers to a representation or simulation of a system … #
Related terms include Simulation, Prediction, and Forecasting. Model is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of analyzing and predicting the behavior of features or objects in a GIS.
Network Analysis refers to the process of analyzing and evaluating … #
Related terms include Graph Theory, Network Topology, and Soci Network Analysis. Network Analysis is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of analyzing and evaluating the connections and relationships between features or objects in a GIS.
Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) refers to an organization that develo… #
Related terms include Geospatial Standards, Open Standards, and Interoperability. OGC is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of developing and maintaining standards for geospatial data and services.
Orthogonal refers to lines or planes that are perpendicular … #
Related terms include Perpendicular, Right Angle, and Grid System. Orthogonal is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of describing the orientation of features or objects in a GIS.
Pixel refers to a small unit of a grid or matrix in… #
Related terms include Cell, Raster, and Grid System. Pixel is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of representing geospatial data in a discrete format that can be analyzed and manipulated using GIS software.
Projection refers to a method of representing the Earth's surfa… #
Related terms include Map Projection, Coordinate System, and Geodetic Datum. Projection is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of representing the Earth's surface on a flat map or surface.
Raster refers to a grid or matrix of pixels or cells … #
Related terms include Pixel, Grid, and Matrix. Raster is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of representing geospatial data in a continuous format that can be analyzed and manipulated using GIS software.
Remote Sensing refers to the process of acquiring information</… #
Related terms include Remote Sensing Technology, Satellite Imagery, and Aerial Photography. Remote Sensing is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of acquiring information about the Earth's surface or features through the use of remote sensing technologies.
Resolution refers to the level of detail or precision of <i… #
Related terms include Accuracy, Precision, and Spatial Resolution. Resolution is an important concept in GIS, as it provides a means of describing the quality or accuracy of geospatial data.
Scale refers to the ratio of distance on a map or surfac… #
Related terms include Map Scale, Coordinate System, and Geodetic Datum. Scale is a fundamental concept in GIS, as it provides a means of describing the level of detail or precision of geospatial data.