GIS Dictionary

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latitude of center

The latitude value that defines the center, and sometimes the origin, of a projection.

latitude of origin

The latitude value that defines the origin of the y-coordinate values for a projection.

latitude-longitude

[coordinate systems] A reference system used to locate positions on the earth’s surface. Distances eastwest are measured with lines of

lattice

A representation of a surface using an array of regularly spaced sample points (mesh points) that are referenced to a

layer

1 [data structures] The visual representation of a geographic dataset in any digital map environment. Conceptually, a layer is a

layer file

[data structures] In ArcGIS, a file with a .lyr extension that stores the path to a source dataset and other

layer package

[Internet] A special file (layer_name.lpk) that contains a layer, a copy of the data, and an XML file that has

layout

1 [map design] The arrangement of elements on a map, possibly including a title, legend, north arrow, scale bar, and

layout view

[ESRI software] In ArcMap and ArcReader, a view that shows the virtual page upon which geographic data and map elements,

leader

[ESRI software] In MOLE, typically two or more force elements grouped together and placed on a line based on user-specified

least-cost path

[network analysis] The path between two locations that costs the least to traverse, where cost is a function of time,

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