SO432, Geographical Information Systems

Exam 2, Fall 2005

 

Definitions    10 @  3        30   ___________

Short answer    3 @ 10        30   ___________

Longer answer   2 @ 20        40   ___________

Total                        100   ___________

 

Read the directions carefully.  You have a selection of questions for all parts of the exam.  Carefully select which questions you will answer, and only answer the correct number of questions.

 

Quality of your answers is important.   For full credit you should use correct terminology, and show that you understand the concepts involved.

 

 

Definitions:  define 10 of these terms with a concise sentence that clearly shows your understanding of the term:  Each is worth three points.

 

  1. ETOPO5

  2. Generalization

  3. WYSIWYG:

  4. NIR:

  5. LIDAR

  6. Radiometric resolution:

  7. Soft-copy

  8. SRTM-30

  9. stereo imagery

  10. Supervised classification:

  11. Topological operations

  12. TIN:

 

Answer 3 of the following 5 short answer questions.  Each is worth 10 points.

 

 

The maps above show two attempts at digitizing the outline of Greenbury Point at the Naval Station.  One has 83 points, and the other 32 points.  What is the difference between the two data sets, how could you tell, and what difference does it make? 

 

  

If you scanned a paper map or chart, what would you have to do make it a usable GIS data base?  Would it be a vector or a raster data set, and which would be more useful?

 

  

USGS used to use UTM coordinates for all of its digital data sets.  Were there any advantages to this type of data, compared to using latitude/longitude spacing?

 

 

Does the rise of GIS remove the need for trained cartographers?  Why or why not?

 

  

You have been asked whether the Navy should use grids or TINs for it bathymetric models.  Which would you recommend, and why?.

 

 

Answer 2 of the following 3 Longer answer questions.  Each is worth 20 points, and you should have a sufficiently detailed answer to show you understand the important points.

 

  1. If you wanted to use digital charts on the bridge of a ship, you could use vector or raster data sets.  List three distinct advantages you would get from each, and then pick the single most important reason why you would select one or the other.
 
  1. The signal to noise ratio is important in remote sensing.  Explain how it would affect the design of a spy satellite, and what you are likely to see in the design of such a satellite as a result.
 
  1. Your instructor has sometimes said that DEMs are the most important type of GIS data.  What basis might he have for this assessment, and would you agree with it?