Deck 5: GIS Data Acquisition

Question 1

Briefly explain differential correction of GPS data.

Answer 1

No Answer

Question 2

What is a geoportal?

Answer 2

A geoportal is an online platform that provides access to a wealth of geographic information and services. It acts as a centralized gateway where users can find, share, and use geospatial data, maps, and tools. Geoportals are designed to facilitate the discovery and utilization of geographic information by a wide range of users, from government agencies and private enterprises to researchers, non-profit organizations, and the general public.

The core functionalities of a geoportal include:

1. **Data Discovery:** Users can search for geospatial data using keywords, geographic bounding boxes, or other metadata criteria. This makes it easier to find specific datasets among potentially thousands of available records.

2. **Data Access:** Geoportals provide direct access to geospatial data, which can often be viewed through an integrated map viewer. Users may also be able to download data in various formats for use in their own geographic information system (GIS) software.

3. **Data Management:** They offer tools for uploading and managing geospatial datasets, including the ability to update, delete, or modify information. This ensures that the data remains current and relevant.

4. **Metadata Cataloging:** Geoportals use metadata (data about data) to describe the content, quality, condition, and other characteristics of the geospatial data. This helps users understand the context and limitations of the data they are accessing.

5. **Map Creation and Sharing:** Users can often create their own maps by combining different layers of data. These maps can then be shared with others or embedded in websites.

6. **Services Integration:** Many geoportals integrate with other web services, such as Web Map Services (WMS) and Web Feature Services (WFS), allowing for dynamic interaction with geospatial data hosted elsewhere.

7. **Community Engagement:** Some geoportals include forums, user groups, and other collaborative features that enable users to connect with each other, share expertise, and work together on geospatial projects.

Geoportals are important tools for supporting decision-making processes that require spatial analysis, such as urban planning, environmental management, disaster response, and transportation planning. They help to promote the use of geospatial data and make it more accessible to those who need it, ultimately contributing to more informed and effective policy and planning. Examples of geoportals include the United States' data.gov, the European Union's INSPIRE Geoportal, and the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) Portal.

Question 3

COGO (Coordinate geometry) can convert ______ into spatial features:

A) survey data
B) street addresses
C) GPS data
D) remotely sensed data

Answer 3

survey data

Question 4

What are the spatial resolutions of DEMs available from the USGS?

Question 5

A GPS receiver can collect the height in addition to the horizontal position of a point on the Earth's surface.

Question 6

Which of the following is considered an automatic digitizing method?

A) digitizing using a table digitizer
B) digitizing using a scanner
C) on-screen digitizing

Question 7

Which of the following organizations has been coordinating the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) in the United States?

A) Federal Geographic Data Committee
B) Natural Resources Conservation Service
C) US Forest Service
D) Environmental Protection Agency

Question 8

A clearinghouse is __________, and a geoportal is _________:

A) data-centric, service-centric
B) service-centric, data-centric

Question 9

Suppose you are asked to convert a paper map to a digital data set. What methods can you use for the task? Briefly describe how each method works.

Question 10

GPS readings of longitude and latitude are based on:

A) WGS84
B) NAD29
C) NAD83
D) none of these is correct

Question 11

The source map can greatly influence the quality of a digitized map. Provide an example that supports the statement.

Question 12

The spatial resolutions of Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 (GMTED2010) are approximately:

A) 1000, 500, and 250 meters
B) 10, 5, and 1 kilometer
C) 250, 100, and 10 meters
D) 3, 2, and 1 kilometer

Question 13

Nowadays we can download free LiDAR data.

Question 14

What is SSURGO?

Question 15

On-screen digitizing has gained its popularity among GIS users. Name two advantages of on-screen digitizing compared to tablet digitizing.

Question 16

The scanning method for digitizing involves both rasterization and vectorization. Explain what each process accomplishes.

Question 17

The U.S. Census Bureau offers KML files of nation-based and state-based boundaries for download. What is the main application of these files?

Question 18

Digital orthophotos do not contain image displacement or distortion.

Question 19

A text file with the fields ofx-,y-coordinates can be converted to a digital map.

Question 20

List three different methods for creating new GIS data.

Question 21

Name the two geoportals maintained by the USGS.

Question 22

What is "direct translation" in GIS data conversion?

Question 23

What kinds of data can you find at the NASA Earth Observations geoportal?

Question 24

Which agency is in charge of the National Map program in the United States?

A) U.S. Geological Survey
B) Natural Resources Conservation Service
C) Bureau of Land Management
D) U.S. Census Bureau

Question 25

Provide an example that illustrates the importance of metadata to GIS users.

Question 26

Geotagged photos can be taken with a cell phone as long as the cell phone is GPS-integrated.

Question 27

National Land Cover Data from the USGS were compiled from:

A) USGS quadrangle maps
B) field survey data
C) air photos
D) satellite images

Question 28

Which data formats are used by the USGS to deliver vector data?

A) None of these is correct
B) Coverage and geodatabase
C) Shapefile and geodatabase
D) Shapefile and coverage