GIS Dictionary

1 [cartography] In cartography, text placed on or near a map feature that describes or identifies it. 2 [ESRI software] In ArcGIS, descriptive text, usually based on one or more … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcMap, a category of labels that represents features with the same labeling properties. For example, in a roads layer, label classes could be created to define information … Read more

[ESRI software] A statement that determines the label text. Label expressions typically concatenate or modify the contents of one or more fields, and may add additional text strings to create … Read more

[ESRI software] In Maplex for ArcGIS, a tab on the Label Placement dialog box that allows control of the ways the label engine can fit more labels into a limited … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcMap, the tool used to display and set labeling properties for the currently active data frame. The Label Manager is accessible through the Labeling toolbar.

[ESRI software] The distance a label should be from the feature it labels. A label offset and a maximum label offset can be set for point features. Maximum label offsets … Read more

[ESRI software] The maximum distance away from a point feature that a label may be placed, beyond the specified offset.

[ESRI software] The angle or direction of alignment for feature labels. Labels for features are usually placed horizontally, but they may also be oriented to an angle stored as an … Read more

[ESRI software] A parameter used to define a placement property for a label. Label placement properties include such properties as label offset, label placement zone, label fitting strategy, label prioritiy, … Read more

[ESRI software] One of eight designated areas on a map, radiating from a point, in which labels may be placed. The user can indicate in which of eight zones labels … Read more

[ESRI software] In a coverage, a feature class used to represent points or identify polygons. When representing points, the x,y location of the point describes the location of the feature. … Read more

[ESRI software] In Maplex for ArcGIS, a tab on the Label Placement dialog box that allows control of how labels are placed relative to features. The position of a label … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS, a ranking system that determines the order in which labels will be placed on a map. Labels with higher priority will be placed before labels with … Read more

[ESRI software] The splitting of long labels to place the text on two or more lines. Maplex for ArcGIS allows specification of which characters trigger a split and whether or … Read more

[ESRI software] An ESRI Standard Label Engine ranking system that indicates whether labels from a given label class may be covered by another label in cases in which label placement … Read more

[ESRI software] In the creation of a semivariogram, the sample distance used to group or bin pairs of points. Using an appropriate lag distance can be helpful in revealing scale-dependent … Read more

[computing] Acronym for local area network. Communications hardware and software that connect computers in a small area, such as a room or a building. Computers in a LAN can share … Read more

[geography] The classification of land according to the vegetation or material that covers most of its surface; for example, pine forest, grassland, ice, water, or sand.

[government] A geographic information system for cadastral and land-use mapping, typically used by local governments.

[geography] The classification of land according to what activities take place on it or how humans occupy it; for example, agricultural, industrial, residential, urban, rural, or commercial.

[geography] Any natural feature of the land having a characteristic shape, including major forms such as plains and mountains and minor forms such as hills and valleys.

1 [geography] Any prominent natural or artificial object in a landscape used to determine distance, bearing, or location. 2 [geography] A building or location that has historical, architectural, or cultural … Read more

[satellite imaging] Multispectral, earth-orbiting satellites developed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) that gather imagery for land-use inventory, geological and mineralogical exploration, crop and forestry assessment, and cartography.

[environmental GIS] The study of spatial patterns, processes, and change across biological and cultural structures within areas encompassing multiple ecosystems.

[cartography] Generally, a map scale that shows a small area on the ground at a high level of detail.

[printing] A printing device capable of producing an image on large paper or other media sized between 36 and 87 inches (91 and 220 centimeters) wide. Modern large format printers … Read more

[3D GIS] An industry-standard binary file format that maintains information related to lidar data.

[database structures] A geodataset that references LAS files and surface constraints, and enables a person to examine LAS files in their native format.

[programming] A COM technique that an application uses for determining an object’s properties and methods at run time, rather than when the code is compiled. Late binding is generally used … Read more

The angular distance, usually measured in degrees north or south of the equator. Lines of latitude are also referred to as parallels.

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

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

[coordinate systems] A reference system used to locate positions on the earth’s surface. Distances eastwest are measured with lines of longitude (also called meridians), which run northsouth and converge at … Read more

A representation of a surface using an array of regularly spaced sample points (mesh points) that are referenced to a common origin and have a constant sampling distance in the … Read more

1 [data structures] The visual representation of a geographic dataset in any digital map environment. Conceptually, a layer is a slice or stratum of the geographic reality in a particular … Read more

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

[Internet] A special file (layer_name.lpk) that contains a layer, a copy of the data, and an XML file that has a brief description of the layer. It can be opened … Read more

1 [map design] The arrangement of elements on a map, possibly including a title, legend, north arrow, scale bar, and geographic data. 2 [ESRI software] In ArcGIS, a presentation document … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcMap and ArcReader, a view that shows the virtual page upon which geographic data and map elements, such as titles, legends, and scale bars, are placed and … Read more