Indicates questions asking about the use and meaning of specific technical words in GIS.
19
votes
3answers
988 views
Why do we use the terms “longitude” and “latitude” for a spherical body?
To specify a geographic coordinate we use the terms “longitude” and “latitude”. Far as I know, these terms derive from the Latin latitudo (=
breadth) and longitudo (= length). In German we use the ...
14
votes
3answers
255 views
When did the word “geospatial” first come into usage?
For historical reasons, I'm trying to figure out when the term "geospatial" came into use? The earliest usages I can find are from around 1994, but I would be really surprised if it wasn't used ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the difference between Vector and Raster data models? [duplicate]
From: http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/GISDictionary/term/vector%20data%20model
vector data model: [data models] A representation of the world using points, lines, and polygons. Vector ...
0
votes
0answers
46 views
Important terminology for beginners in GIS [duplicate]
I'm just starting in GIS, and looking to get familiar with the overall aspect of the discipline. Every discipline has it's terms that need to be understood when working with other professionals, or ...
10
votes
2answers
406 views
How do I describe a special relationship between connected edges?
Consider this simple situation where three edges connect at a node:
I’d like to write a succinct and clear description of the relationship between A and B in such a way that differentiates it from ...
5
votes
1answer
50 views
Proper name for area defined by coordinate pair and radius
In defining geography objects within software, I have things such as a City Area, which is an area defined by the bounds of a city, or a County Area, defined by the county boundary.
What is the ...
6
votes
3answers
659 views
Spatial data? Geodata? Geographic Data? Geospatial data?
Language changes all the time and I see various uses of the words defining the data we use in GIS in our day-to-day lives.
But what's right? Is there a right answer out there that we would all agree ...
1
vote
0answers
27 views
What's the usual term for “ground plan based”
I don't know if "ground plan based" is the right word in the following context:
A computer program reads a ground plan and produces a result ground plan. The result groundplan's deviation from the ...
4
votes
3answers
244 views
Difference between lon and lng
When browsing the web and documentation I see the abbreviation lon and lng used for the longitude part of geometry.
I was wondering if there is any difference between lng and lon.
1
vote
1answer
61 views
Continents and islands
What would you call the polygon corresponding to a coastline theme? Land mass? It corresponds to continents and islands, but I'm not sure about the best word. The opposite of the sea.
4
votes
1answer
231 views
Correct use of the terms geographic, path, and Euclidean distance
I often use the terms geographic and Euclidean distance interchangeably when referring to the length of the shortest straight-line distance between two points on a map. Is this correct?
I use the ...
7
votes
3answers
197 views
What's a term for Sea Level Distance which is usable by novice users?
I've been using the term Sea Level Distance to describe the total length of a line string where I ignore the elevation and just calculate the distance from point to point along the ellipsoid and sum ...
