Deck 3: Vector Data Model

Question 1

What is ArcObjects?

Answer 1

ArcObjects is a suite of software components that form the foundation of Esri's ArcGIS platform, allowing developers to interact with and extend the capabilities of ArcGIS products. It is a collection of COM (Component Object Model) components that provide a rich development framework for creating custom geographic information system (GIS) applications or extending existing applications.

ArcObjects components are used to access and manage geographic data, perform spatial analysis, create and edit geometry, develop custom mapping and visualization tools, and automate GIS tasks. These components are the building blocks for many of the desktop, server, and mobile applications developed by Esri, as well as for custom applications developed by third-party developers and GIS professionals.

Developers use ArcObjects to:

1. Automate repetitive tasks in ArcGIS software.
2. Create custom data management tools tailored to specific needs.
3. Develop sophisticated spatial analysis operations that may not be available out-of-the-box.
4. Build unique mapping applications with specialized user interfaces.
5. Integrate ArcGIS functionality with other applications or business processes.

ArcObjects is primarily used with programming languages that support COM, such as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), VB.NET, C#, and C++. It requires a solid understanding of object-oriented programming concepts and GIS principles.

As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, while ArcObjects is still used, Esri has been encouraging developers to use their newer ArcGIS API for Python and ArcGIS Runtime SDKs for building new applications, as these are based on more modern programming paradigms and are designed to work with the latest ArcGIS platform technologies.

Question 2

List the three types of simple features used in GIS and their geometric properties.

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true about the topology rules in ArcGIS?

A) Topology rules only apply to features within a feature class.
B) Topology rules only apply to features between two or more feature classes.
C) Topology rules can apply to features within a feature class or between two or more feature classes.

Answer 3

Topology rules can apply to features within a feature class or between two or more feature classes.

Question 4

Provide an example of polygon features that can benefit from enforcing the topology rule of "must not overlap."

Question 5

Them values in polylines represent:

A) the length of a line segment
B) the linear measure along a route
C) the symbol of a route
D) the number of points that make up a line segment

Question 6

Which of the following statements is not true about the geodatabase?

A) None of these are correct
B) A geodatabase can be designed for single or multiple users.
C) A single-user geodatabase can be a personal geodatabase or a file geodatabase.
D) A personal geodatabase stores data in a Microsoft Access database.

Question 7

A feature class can be stored in a geodatabase as a standalone feature class.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the relationship between census tracts and census block groups?

A) Association
B) None of these are correct
C) Aggregation
D) Type inheritance

Question 9

List the main advantages of using topology-based data sets in GIS.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Areas of complex topography are represented by small triangles in a TIN.
B) Regardless of the topography, all triangles are of the same size in a TIN.
C) Areas of complex topography are represented by large triangles in a TIN.
D) None of these are correct

Question 11

Shapefiles are not topology-based.

Question 12

Which of the following objects is not part of the vector data model in ArcGIS?

A) area
B) line
C) point
D) volume

Question 13

A stream is more likely to be represented as a single line on a 1:100,000 scale map than a 1:24,000 scale map.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is not true about the polygon feature?

A) A polygon has the properties of area and boundary.
B) A polygon may form a hole within another polygon.
C) A polygon is a two-dimensional object.
D) None of these is correct

Question 15

Name the three vector data formats that Esri has developed since the 1980s.

Question 16

Provide an example of line features that can benefit from enforcing the topology rule of "must not intersect."

Question 17

Which of the following topological relationships describe the arc-node relationship in the coverage model?

A) area definition
B) contiguity
C) connectivity

Question 18

Draw a small TIN to illustrate that it is a composite of simple features.

Question 19

List two differences between simple polygons and regions.

Question 20

Describe an example, in which you would consider using the geodatabase, rather than the shapefile, for a GIS project?

Question 21

Explain persistent vs. on-the-fly topology in GIS.

Question 22

The TIGER database is topology-based.

Question 23

Describe the hierarchical structure of data sets stored in a geodatabase.

Question 24

Explain the class relationship of type inheritance.

Question 25

Use a diagram to explain the topological relationships of connectivity and contiguity.

Question 26

One can build a geodatabase in ArcGIS by importing coverages and shapefiles.

Question 27

Summarize the difference between the object-based data model and the georelational data model.

Question 28

Which of the following is true about the vector data model?

A) The model is also called the discrete object model.
B) The model is also called the discrete object model and uses points, lines, and polygons to represent simple spatial features.
C) The model usesx-,y-coordinates to store the geometry of spatial features.
D) All of these are correct.
E) The model uses points, lines, and polygons to represent simple spatial features.

Question 29

What are the main advantages of using non-topological vector data such as shapefiles?

Question 30

All feature classes in a feature dataset:

A) must be converted from shapefiles.
B) must contain point features.
C) must have the same coordinate system.
D) must contain polygon features.

Question 31

Which of the following is true about a line feature?

A) A line connects two end points.
B) The shape of a line is made of connected points.
C) A line feature is made of lines and the shape is made of connect points.
D) All of these are correct
E) A line feature is made of lines.

Question 32

Define "property" and "method" as used in the object-based data model.