{"id":5501,"date":"2015-11-09T18:24:22","date_gmt":"2015-11-10T00:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gisgeography.com\/?p=5501"},"modified":"2025-04-09T05:11:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T10:11:23","slug":"gis-dictionary-definition-glossary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gisgeography.com\/gis-dictionary-definition-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"GIS Dictionary – Geospatial Definition Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"GIS<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Ultimate GIS Dictionary: Your Complete Guide to GIS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

GIS is more than just “maps and data”<\/em>. Instead, it’s multi-disciplinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It impacts various sectors and uses different skill sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why we\u2019ve put together this list of GIS definitions to give you 20\/20 vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From A to Z, sharpen your GIS knowledge with these GIS dictionary<\/strong> definitions and meanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jump to Letter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A<\/a> | B<\/a> | C<\/a> | D<\/a> | E<\/a> | F<\/a> | G<\/a> | H<\/a> | I<\/a> | J<\/a> | K<\/a> | L<\/a> | M<\/a> | N<\/a> | O<\/a> | P<\/a> | Q<\/a> | R<\/a> | S<\/a> | T<\/a> | U<\/a> | V<\/a> | W<\/a> | X<\/a> | Y<\/a> | Z<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"Passive<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Active Sensors<\/strong>: [Remote sensing]<\/em> Active sensors illuminates their target and measure the reflected backscatter that returns back to the sensor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Adjacency\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Adjacency<\/strong>: [geometry]<\/em> Adjacency occurs when two objects share the same boundary and are next to or adjoining with a common side or vertex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"AVHRR<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)<\/strong>: [Remote sensing]<\/em> AVHRR collects infrared, visible, and thermal images with an approximate 1-kilometer spatial resolution cell size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Affine<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Affine transformation<\/strong>: [geometry]<\/em> An affine transformation scales, rotates, skews, or translates points, polylines, and polygons preserving points, straight lines, and planes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Arc\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Arc<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> Arcs are lines or polygon boundaries, represented as a series of vertices or coordinate points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"ArcCatalog\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

ArcCatalog<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> ArcCatalog is an application in the ArcGIS suite for managing geographic data \u2013 similar to windows file explorer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Esri<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

ArcGIS<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> ArcGIS is a GIS software package produced by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri) which allows you to collect, store, manage, visualize, export, analyze and map geographic data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"esri<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

ArcGIS Pro<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> ArcGIS Pro is Esri’s latest GIS software with a ribbon-based user interface, project files and 64-bit processing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"ArcGlobe\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

ArcGlobe<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> ArcGlobe is a 3D visualization and analysis environment as part of the Esri ArcGIS suite (3D analyst), specializing in global datasets and larger study areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"ArcScene\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

ArcScene<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> ArcScene is a 3D feature and raster viewer part of the Esri ArcGIS suite of applications (3D analyst) specializing in small study area scenes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"ascii\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)<\/strong>: [file format]<\/em> ASCII uses a set of numbers between 0 and 255 for information storage and processing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Aspect<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Aspect<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> Aspect is the slope direction on a terrain surface measured clockwise starting north as 0\u00b0 to 360\u00b0 north again with flat areas given a value of -1 or 0 degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Atmospheric<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Atmospheric window<\/strong>: [remote sensing]<\/em> An atmospheric window are wavelengths at which electromagnetic radiation (sunlight) from the sun will penetrate the Earth\u2019s atmosphere overall constricting these spectrum bands from reaching the Earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"attribute<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Attribute table<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> An attribute table stores non-spatial information in columns and rows about geographic data \u2013 similar to spreadsheets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"azimuth\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Azimuth<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> An azimuth is an angle between 0\u00b0 and 360\u00b0 measured clockwise from north based on true north – Magnetic azimuths are based on magnetic north. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

B<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"survey<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Base station<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> A base station is a precisely surveyed location used as a fixed Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) recording station, typically used in differential correction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Basemap\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Basemap<\/strong>: [cartography]<\/em> A basemap is a background, non-editable, georeferenced image that gives a point of reference on a map, providing aesthetic appeal such as aerial imagery, topography, terrain, and street layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Bearing\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Bearing<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> A bearing is a direction expressed as a geographic angle measured from a baseline used in surveying and navigation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Geodetic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Benchmark<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> Benchmarks are precisely surveyed points usually marked with brass or metal disk in the ground also genetically called survey marks, geodetic marks, and control stations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Bilinear<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Bilinear interpolation<\/strong>: [mathematics]<\/em> Bilinear interpolation is a technique for calculating values of a grid location by taking the weighted average of the four neighboring cells in an image to generate new values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Boolean<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Boolean Algebra<\/strong>: [mathematics]<\/em> Boolean algebra are conditions used to select features with a set of algebraic conditions including AND, OR, or NOT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Buffer<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Buffer<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> The buffer tool is a proximity function that creates a polygon at a set distance surrounding a selected feature or features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Bundle<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Bundle adjustment<\/strong>: [geometry]<\/em> Bundle adjustments remove geometric distortions given a set of images of three-dimensional points at different viewpoints, minimizing the error between observed and predicted image points during reprojection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

C<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"Carrier<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Carrier-phase GPS<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> Carrier-phase GPS signals are relatively slow but are very accurate (within 10cm or better) to determine position on the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Cartesian<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cartesian coordinate<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> A Cartesian coordinate system specifies each point uniquely with a pair of numerical coordinates or tripless for three-dimensional coordinate spaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Cartography\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cartography<\/strong>: [GIS dictionary]<\/em> Cartography is the study, aesthetics and science of representing real-world entities on maps by communicating spatial information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Cartometry\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cartometry<\/strong>: [GIS dictionary]<\/em> Cartometry is a division of cartography concerned with depicting objects with a high level of spatial accuracy such as measuring the perimeter of coasts, areas of countries, volumes, slopes, and densities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Centroid\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Centroid<\/strong>: [geometry]<\/em> A centroid (or geometric center) is a central point of an area feature that represents the average position of all the points in the shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Clip<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Clip<\/strong>: [geometry]<\/em> A clip is an overlay tool that involves clipping an input layer to the extent of a defined feature boundary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Code-Phase<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Code-Phase GPS<\/strong>: [GPS]<\/em> The coarse acquisition (C\/A) code or code-phase GPS, which is available to the general public, is a GPS signal that delivers rapid, low accuracy position estimates in tens of meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Editing<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Coordinate Geometry (COGO)<\/strong>: [editing]<\/em> COGO involves the entry of spatial coordinate data points, usually obtained from field survey equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"CAD<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Computer Aided Design\/Drafting (CAD)<\/strong>: [GIS dictionary]<\/em> CAD is primarily used by engineers and architects for the purpose of producing two and three-dimensional drawings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"World<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Conformal Projection<\/strong>: [map projection]<\/em> A conformal map projection preserves the correct shapes of small areas with the scale being the same in all directions and greatly distorted areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Equidistant<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Conic Projection<\/strong>: [map projection]<\/em> A conic projection uses a cone to develop its surface on a plane with meridians converging at a single point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Connectivity\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Connectivity<\/strong>: [geometry]<\/em> Connectivity is the representation of the connectedness of linear features when arcs share a common node. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Continuous<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Continuous raster<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> Continuous rasters are grid cells with gradually changing data such as Digital Elevation Models (DEM), temperature data or distance from features. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Contours\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Contour Line<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> A contour line is a constant value for mapping any variable such as elevation, temperature, isopleth or isoline maps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"National<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Control point<\/strong>: [coordinate system]<\/em> Control points are locations known to have a high degree of accuracy that are used to convert digitized coordinates from paper maps and georeferencing to standard map projection coordinates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Coordinate<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Coordinate Transformation<\/strong>: [coordinate system]<\/em> A coordinate transformation is the conversion from a non-projected coordinate system to a coordinate system using a series of mathematical equations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Coordinates<\/strong>: [coordinate system]<\/em> Coordinates are pairs (X, Y) or triplets (X, Y, Z) of values that are used to represent points and features in a two and three-dimensional space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Cubic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cubic Convolution Interpolation<\/strong>: [mathematics]<\/em> Cubic convolution interpolation averages the 16 nearest cells, which is generally used for continuous surfaces where much noise exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Plate<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Cylindrical Projection<\/strong>: [map projection]<\/em> A cylindrical projection uses a cylinder to develop a plane surface such as Mercator and Plate Carree projections. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

D<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"Vector<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Data Model<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> The two main GIS data models are rasters (pixels with a specific cell size) and vectors (points, lines and polygons).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Database<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Database Management System (DBMS)<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> A DBMS is a collection of tools that allows the entry, storage, input, output and organization of data, serving as an interface between users and a database. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Database<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Database Schema<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> A database schema is supported in relational database management systems (RDBMS) and acts as blueprints for how database entries will be constructed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Developable<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Developable Surface<\/strong>: [map projection]<\/em> A developable surface (cylinders, cones, planes, etc) is the geometric shape that a map projection can be mathematically built on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Differential<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Differential Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> Differential GNSS is a highly accurate (within centimeters) conventional surveying technique that uses a known location from a receiver to determine an unknown position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Digital<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digital Elevation Model (DEM)<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a bare earth elevation model representing the surface of the Earth without features like houses, bridges, and trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Digital<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digital Line Graph (DLG)<\/strong>: [file format]<\/em> DLG is vector data format developed and distributed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) depicting geographic features like terrain, hydrography, transportation and man-made features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"DOQ\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digital Orthophotos Quadrangle (DOQ)<\/strong>: [file format]<\/em> DOQ is a geometrically-corrected photograph produced by the USGS with a scale of 1:40,000 and spatial resolution of about 1-meter pixels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"DRG\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digital Raster Graphics (DRG)<\/strong>: [file format]<\/em> DRG is a digital version map of USGS topographic maps including imagery (NAIP), roads, place names, hydrography, elevation contours, and boundaries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Digital<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digital Surface Model (DSM)<\/strong>: [file format]<\/em> A digital surface model is an elevation model that includes the top of buildings, tree canopy, powerlines and other features above the bare earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Digital<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digital Terrain Model (DTM)<\/strong>: [file format]<\/em> DTM is a bare earth representation of the Earth\u2019s surface that is augmented by natural features such as ridges and breaklines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Digitize\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Digitize<\/strong>: [editing]<\/em> When you digitize in a GIS, you are creating geographic computer-compatible stored data with lines, points, and polygons in a spatial database. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Dissolve<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Dissolve tool<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> The dissolve tool is a common GIS processing task where boundaries are merged with neighboring boundaries based on common attribute values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"Easting\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Easting<\/strong>: [coordinate system]<\/em> Eastings refer to the x-axis (eastward) points approximately parallel to lines of equal latitude commonly used in the Universal Transverse Mercator map projection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Electromagnetic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Electromagnetic (EM) Spectrum<\/strong>: [remote sensing]<\/em> The EM spectrum refers to the range of energy wavelengths or frequencies from x-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and microwave to radio waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Ellipsoid\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ellipsoid<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> Reference ellipsoids are mathematical models of the shape of the Earth with the major axis along the equatorial radius, primarily used as a surface to specify point coordinates such as latitude (north\/south), longitude (east\/west) and elevation (height). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Ellipsoid<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Ellipsoid Height<\/strong>: [surveying]<\/em> The ellipsoid height is the height measured from an ellipsoidal surface to a point on the surface of the Earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Flightline<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Endlap<\/strong>: [remote sensing]<\/em> Endlap is the coverage overlap in aerial photographs from end to end between flight lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Landsat-7\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+)<\/strong>: [remote sensing]<\/em> ETM+ is a sensor equipped on Landsat-7 which produces images of Earth in 8 spectral bands (blue, green, red, NIR, MIR, panchromatic, and thermal band). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Point<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Entity<\/strong>: [cartography]<\/em> Entities represent a real-world point, line, or polygon features with a geographic location such as fire hydrants, hospitals, state boundaries, roads, rivers, lakes, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Equal<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Equal Interval Classification<\/strong>: [cartography]<\/em> The equal interval classification method divides attribute values into equal size ranges such as 0-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, and 81-100. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"ERDAS<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) Imagine<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> ERDAS Imagine is a leading remote sensing software owned by Hexagon Geospatial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"esri<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute)<\/strong>: [software]<\/em> Esri is the largest global supplier and developer of GIS software based in Redlands, California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

F<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"Facet\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Facet<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> A facet is a triangular face in a Triangular Irregular Network (TIN). TINs are three-dimensional coordinates depicting elevation surfaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"UTM<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

False northing<\/strong>: [coordinate system]<\/em> A false northing is a number added in a map projection in the y direction to avoid negative coordinate locations within the specified area of that map projection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Feature\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Feature<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> A feature is a cartographic point, line, or polygon object with a spatial location in the real-world landscape that can be used in a GIS for storage, visualization, and analysis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"attribute<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Field (Attribute Table)<\/strong>: [data structure]<\/em> An attribute field (or item) are characteristics used to describe each feature in a geographic data set usually viewed as columns in a table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"US<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)<\/strong>: [organization]<\/em> FIPS is a federal unique identifier code used to define political or physical features in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Flow<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Flow direction<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> Flow direction calculates the direction water will flow using the slope from neighboring cells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Focal<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Focal Operation<\/strong>: [mathematics]<\/em> The focal operation is a spatial function that computes an output value of each cell using neighborhood values such as convolution, kernel, and moving windows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

G<\/h4>\n\n\n
\n
\"GDAL\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

GDAL<\/strong>: [GIS software]<\/em> Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) is a C++ library for reading and writing raster geospatial data formats, implementing common GIS operations (unions, intersections, joins, clipping, etc.) with command line utilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Generalization<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Generalization Tool<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> The generalization tool is an editing process that simplifies the shapes by reducing the number of vertices in a line or polygon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Geocentric\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Geocentric<\/strong>: [geodesy]<\/em> Geocentric is a measuring system that uses the center of the Earth as its origin, such as the WGS 1984 datum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Geocoding\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Geocoding<\/strong>: [GIS processing]<\/em> Geocoding is the process of assigning geographic coordinates to places based on street address, town\/city, province\/state and country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"geodesy\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Geodesy<\/strong>: [GIS dictionary]<\/em> Geodesy (or Geodetics) is a branch of applied mathematics and earth science of locating and assigning three-dimensional points on Earth by measuring the shape of the Earth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"geofence<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Geofencing<\/strong>: [GIS dictionary]<\/em> A virtual geographic boundary designed to give real-time alerts and increase awareness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Geographic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)<\/strong>: [GIS dictionary]<\/em> GIS is a computer-based tool that analyzes, stores, manipulates and visualizes geographic information on a map, good for finding spatial patterns, relationships and trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\"Geoid\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Geoid<\/strong>: [geodesy]<\/em> A geoid is a measurement-based equipotential surface model of the shape of the Earth primarily used as a basis of assigning terrain height. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n