GIS Dictionary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[surveying] A statistical method for providing a best fit for survey point locations and detecting measurement error by minimizing the

[surveying] The final measurement residuals of a least squares adjustment.