2020 QUARTER 04

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

DM-02 - Data retrieval strategies

Analyze the relative performance of data retrieval strategies
Implement algorithms that retrieve geospatial data from a range of data structures
Describe the particular advantages of Morton addressing relative to geographic data representation
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different data structures (e.g., arrays, linked lists, binary trees, hash tables, indexes) for retrieving geospatial data
Compare and contrast direct and indirect access search and retrieval methods

KE-18 - Data sharing among public and private agencies, organizations, and individuals

Describe formal and informal arrangements that promote geospatial data sharing (e.g., FGDC, ESDI, memoranda of agreements, informal access arrangements, targeted funding support)
Describe a situation in which politics interferes with data sharing and exchange

DM-59 - Data warehouses

Differentiate between a data warehouse and a database
Describe the functions that gazetteers support
Differentiate the retrieval mechanisms of data warehouses and databases
Discuss the appropriate use of a data warehouse versus a database

DM-62 - Database administration

Describe how using standards can affect implementation of a GIS
Explain how validation and verification processes can be used to maintain database integrity
Summarize how data access processes can be a factor in development of an enterprise GIS implementation
Describe effective methods to get stakeholders to create, adopt, or develop and maintain metadata for shared datasets

FC-24 - Definitions within a conceptual model of uncertainty

Describe a stochastic error model for a natural phenomenon
Differentiate between the following concepts: vagueness and ambiguity, well defined and poorly defined objects, and fields or discord and non-specificity
Explain how the familiar concepts of geographic objects and fields affect the conceptualization of uncertainty

Design and aesthetics are fundamental to cartographic practice. Developing students’ skills in design and aesthetics is a critical part of cartography education, yet design is also one of the most difficult part of the cartographic process. The cartographic design process of planning, creating, critiquing, and revising maps provides a method for making maps with intentional design decisions, utilizing an understanding of aesthetics to promote clarity and cohesion to attract the user and facilitate an emotional response. In this entry, cartographic design and the cartographic design process are reviewed, and the concepts of aesthetics, style, and taste are explained in the context of cartographic design.

PD-05 - Design, Development, Testing, and Deployment of GIS Applications

A systems development life cycle (SDLC) denes and guides the activities and milestones in the design, development, testing, and de ployment of software applications & information systems. Various choices of SDLC are available for different types of software applications & information systems and compositions of development teams and stakeholders. While the choice of an SDLC for building geographic information system (GIS) applications is similar to that of other types of software applications, critical decisions in each phase of the GIS development life cycle (GiSDLC) should take into account essential questions concern ing the storage, access, and analysis of (geo)spatial data for the target application. This article aims to introduce various considerations in the GiSDLC, from the perspectives of handling (geo)spatial data. The article rst introduces several (geo)spatial processes and types as well as various modalities of GIS applications. Then the article gives a brief introduction to an SDLC, including explaining the role of (geo)spatial data in the SDLC. Finally, the article uses two existing real-world applications as an example to highlight critical considerations in the GiSDLC.

PD-03 - Development environments for geospatial applications

Develop a geospatial application using the most appropriate environment
Compare and contrast the relative merits of available environments for geospatial applications, including desktop software scripting (e.g., VBA), graphical modeling tools, geospatial components in standard environments, and “from-scratch” development in standard environments

DM-20 - Discrete entities

Discuss the human predilection to conceptualize geographic phenomena in terms of discrete entities
Compare and contrast differing epistemological and metaphysical viewpoints on the “reality” of geographic entities
Identify the types of features that need to be modeled in a particular GIS application or procedure
Identify phenomena that are difficult or impossible to conceptualize in terms of entities
Describe the difficulties in modeling entities with ill-defined edges
Describe the difficulties inherent in extending the “tabletop” metaphor of objects to the geographic environment
Evaluate the effectiveness of GIS data models for representing the identity, existence, and lifespan of entities
Justify or refute the conception of fields (e.g., temperature, density) as spatially-intensive attributes of (sometimes amorphous and anonymous) entities
Model “gray area” phenomena, such as categorical coverages (a.k.a. discrete fields), in terms of objects
Evaluate the influence of scale on the conceptualization of entities
Describe the perceptual processes (e.g., edge detection) that aid cognitive objectification
Describe particular entities in terms of space, time, and properties

FC-42 - Distance Operations

Distance is a central concept in geography, and consequently, there are various types of operations that leverage the concept of distance. This short article introduces common distance measures, the purpose of distance operations, different types of operations and considerations, as well as sample applications in the physical and social domains. Distance operations can be performed on both vector or raster data, but the operations and results may differ. While performing distance operations, it is important to remember how distance is conceptualized while performing the operation.