GIS Dictionary

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS, a type of parameter exposed in a geoprocessing model that displays in a model’s dialog box and allows for input.

[ESRI software] The interface used to build and edit geoprocessing models in ArcGIS.

[ESRI software] In MOLE, text or graphics that display around a symbol, or a value that changes the appearance of a symbol. In some military specifications, attributes are referred to … Read more

[satellite imaging] Acronym for moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer. A bundle of remote-sensing equipment housed on two NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) satellites, Terra and Aqua, in orbit around Earth. … Read more

[ESRI software] Acronym for Military Overlay Editor. An ESRI software application that allows users to create, display, and edit military symbology in their maps.

1 [physics] Related to a single wavelength or a very narrow band of wavelengths. 2 [graphics computing] A color scheme made up of lighter and darker shades of the same … Read more

[modeling] An algorithm for computing solutions to problems that contain a large number of variables by performing iterations with different sets of random numbers until the best solution is found. … Read more

1 [remote sensing] A raster dataset composed of two or more merged raster datasetsfor example, one image created by merging several individual images or photographs of adjacent areas. 2 [visualization] … Read more

[data management] In ArcGIS, a collection of raster datasets (images) stored as a catalog and viewed as a mosaicked image.

[data capture] A way of using a digitizing tablet in which the digitizer puck behaves like a mouse; the puck is used to point to interface elements rather than to … Read more

[ESRI software] Acronym for Map Production System. The cartographic component of the Production Line Tool Set (PLTS). MPS is designed to facilitate large-volume cartographic production by providing the ability to … Read more

[non-ESRI software] Acronym for Microsoft Developer Network. A set of services designed to help developers write applications using Microsoft products and technologies.

[programming] Acronym for multiple threaded apartment. An apartment that can have multiple threads running. A process can only have one MTA.

[remote sensing] A receiver that tracks several satellites at a time, using one channel for each satellite.

[data models] Data that is comprised of multiple dimensions, such as space and time. For example, a temperature dataset could have dimensions of latitude, longitude, altitude, and time.

[network analysis] A network in which two or more types of transportation modes (such as walking, riding a train, or driving a car) are modeled. In a network dataset, multiple … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS, a digital representation of a place or thing that has more than one part but is defined as one feature because it references one set of … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS, a type of geometry consisting of planar three-dimensional rings and triangles, used in combination to model objects that occupy discrete area or volume in three-dimensional space. … Read more

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS, a real-world geographic feature modeled using multipatch geometry.

[satellite imaging] Errors caused when a satellite signal reaches the receiver from two or more paths, one directly from the satellite and the others reflected from nearby buildings or other … Read more

[statistics] Regression in which the dependent variable is measured against two or more independent variables.

[ESRI software] In the Survey Analyst for field measurements Survey Explorer, one of two types of setup pages. The Multiple Setup page is used for computations that process more than … Read more

[remote sensing] A receiver that tracks several satellite signals using a single channel.

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS software, a geometric element defined by an unordered set of x,y coordinate pairs.

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS software, a digital map feature that represents a place or thing that has neither area nor length at a given scale, and that is treated as … Read more

[3D GIS] A feature class that can store many points per shape or row, thereby saving storage space and improving read-write performance.

[physics] Related to two or more frequencies or wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.

[remote sensing] An image created from several narrow spectral bands.

[satellite imaging] A device carried on satellites and aircraft that records energy from multiple portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

[database structures] A geodatabase managed in an RDBMS server by ArcSDE. Multiuser geodatabases can be very large and support multiple concurrent editors. They are supported on a variety of commercial … Read more

[statistics] Any statistical method for evaluating the relationship between two or more variables.

[ESRI software] In ArcGIS and ArcSDE, a view that uses stored procedures and triggers to access a specified version of data in a single business table in the geodatabase. A … Read more

[ESRI software] A computer file that contains all the work done in Business Analyst: study areas; analyses; and customer, store, and extracted data.

[ESRI software] In the catalog tree, a convenient place for creating and managing custom toolboxes.