GISP ACTUAL EXAM PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ 501 If an image file doesn't store georeferencing information in the header,
how is it usually stored?.
Answer: As a separate ASCII file
◍ external directional relations.
Answer: where an object is located outside of the reference object
◍ 802 ==.
Answer: Equal
◍ 302 What are the three types of scales that can be used on a map?.
Answer: 1. Bar scale2. Verbal scale ("1 inch is 200 feet")3. Representational
fractions (1:200)
◍ 103 When do you use geodesic measurements?.
Answer: 1. In an unprojected map2. For a very large distance where the
curvature of the Earth may impact figures; couple hundred+ miles
◍ 208 Give 4 Examples of File Based Standards from the OGC.
Answer: KML/KMZ, GML, OGC and ISO Simple Features, Geopackage
◍ 101 What cartesian coordinate system is best for preserving area?.
Answer: Albers Equal Area
◍ 503 What does an .LAS file store? What is it from?.
Answer: It stores velocities from LiDAR data
◍ 5 types of measurements.
Answer: 1. Physical measurement-recording physical properties of the earth
ex: sizes temperature2. observation of behavior-observable actions 3.
archives-records that have been collected for non research purposes4.
, explicit reports-beliefs people express about things 5. Computer
Modeling-models as simplified representations or portions of reality
◍ 204 What is the difference between signed and unsigned bits in a raster?.
Answer: Unsigned bits do not include a negative value. So a 256 bit raster
would go from 0-255. A signed 8 bit raster would go from -128 to -127
◍ 401 What percentage of points on a map have to match the horizontal
accuracy to pass the NMAS standard?.
Answer: 90% for both smaller or larger than 1:20,000
◍ 604 When would you choose the Kriging interpolation method?.
Answer: Kriging is good at predicting data if no points exist, and good if
there are clusters of data with large gaps in between. Cons: Takes a
significant amount of processing
◍ 208 FGDC endorsed metadata standards?.
Answer: 1. FGDC CSDGM, 2. ISO 19115 Original ISO, 3. ISO 19115 NAP
North American Profile, 4. ISO 19139 XML schema implementation. ISO
19115 is a content standard that defines what information should exist in a
metadata document. ISO 19139 produces an XML Schema defining how
metadata conforming to ISO 19115 should be stored in XML format
◍ 801 What is an API? What is it for?.
Answer: application programming interfaces. developed to move data
between systems and to reuse data
◍ 203 What is the Precision of 123.123456?.
Answer: 9 (can store 9 total digits)
◍ 404 What are the six types of passive sensors?.
Answer: photographicthermalelectric field sensingchemicalinfraredseismic
◍ 302 What format are USGS Topo maps available in?.
Answer: 1. Geotiff2. JPEG3. KMZ
◍ 404 What are the four basic types of imaging?.
Answer: Visiblepixels composed of color values of red, green, and blue to
, make three bands of data on a raster imageInfraredimages that include the
visible channels as well as some range of the infrared
spectrumMultispectralinclude up to 7-12 channels of data collected over
discrete bandwidths of the electromagnetic spectrumHyperspectralup to 50
bands or more of data collected over discrete bandwidths ofthe
electromagnetic spectrum
◍ 201 Goodchild Dynamic modeling.
Answer: iterative, sets of initial conditions, apply transformations to obtain a
series of predictions at time intervals
◍ 1004 What do geodesists do?.
Answer: Geodesists use datums to shift the spheroid so that it fits one spot
on the Earth really well
◍ 302 What is shown on a Small Scale Map?.
Answer: Maps that cover larger areas. Easy way to remember: A building on
a small scale map is smallSmall scale - large ratio between map units and
ground unitDepict large areas such as countries or continentsZOOM
OUTSmaller features
◍ 201 A point in North America would have what latitude and longitude
values? (+ or -).
Answer: Lat = Positive, Long= Negative
◍ 201 What are the edges of a TIN good at representing?.
Answer: Linear features on the ground
◍ 603 What are the two types of MAUP? Explain..
Answer: Zone Effect and Scale Effect. Zone Effect - Analysis using the
same data aggregated into 1 mile grids will differ from analysis using 1 mile
hexagon cells. Scale Effect - Analysis using the same data will differ based
on the scale of analysis. A county level analysis will result in different
results than a census tract, even though the same dataset was used.
◍ 203 How do you determine raster resolution?.
Answer: It is the size of the individual pixel (if a pixel is 2ft X 2ft it is a 2ft
, resolution raster)
◍ 404 What is NDVI? What is it used for?.
Answer: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Used to assess plant
health. Actively growing vegetation will reflect lots of IR, sick will reflect
little IR
◍ 302 What would RGB color 155, 0, 155 be?.
Answer: Purple
◍ 701 Coded Value Domain.
Answer: attribute domain that defines a set of permissible values for an
attribute in a geodatabase - it has a code and its equivalent valueThe coded
value domain includes both the actual value that is stored in the database
(for example, 1 for pavement) and a description of what the code value
means (for example, pavement).A coded value domain which specifies a
valid set of values for an attribute can apply to any type of attribute—text,
numeric, date, and so on. For example, a coded value list for a text attribute
might include valid pipe material values: CL - cast iron pipe; DL - ductile
iron pipe; ACP - asbestos concrete pipe, or a coded value list might include
the numeric values representing valid pipe diameters: .75–3/4"; 2–2";
24–24"; and 30–30".
◍ 704 What are the 3 A's of database security?.
Answer: Authenticationsetting up user accounts to control logins to the
databaseAuthorizationsetting permissions on various parts of the
databaseAuditingtracking who did what with the database*There are
regulatory laws that have reporting requirements such as HIPAA
◍ 1100 GNSS.
Answer: Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the term used for navigational
satellites
◍ 703 What are the best practices for storage and capacity planning?.
Answer: Disk storage is needed and disk space needs to be monitoredMust
watch out for growth trends
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ 501 If an image file doesn't store georeferencing information in the header,
how is it usually stored?.
Answer: As a separate ASCII file
◍ external directional relations.
Answer: where an object is located outside of the reference object
◍ 802 ==.
Answer: Equal
◍ 302 What are the three types of scales that can be used on a map?.
Answer: 1. Bar scale2. Verbal scale ("1 inch is 200 feet")3. Representational
fractions (1:200)
◍ 103 When do you use geodesic measurements?.
Answer: 1. In an unprojected map2. For a very large distance where the
curvature of the Earth may impact figures; couple hundred+ miles
◍ 208 Give 4 Examples of File Based Standards from the OGC.
Answer: KML/KMZ, GML, OGC and ISO Simple Features, Geopackage
◍ 101 What cartesian coordinate system is best for preserving area?.
Answer: Albers Equal Area
◍ 503 What does an .LAS file store? What is it from?.
Answer: It stores velocities from LiDAR data
◍ 5 types of measurements.
Answer: 1. Physical measurement-recording physical properties of the earth
ex: sizes temperature2. observation of behavior-observable actions 3.
archives-records that have been collected for non research purposes4.
, explicit reports-beliefs people express about things 5. Computer
Modeling-models as simplified representations or portions of reality
◍ 204 What is the difference between signed and unsigned bits in a raster?.
Answer: Unsigned bits do not include a negative value. So a 256 bit raster
would go from 0-255. A signed 8 bit raster would go from -128 to -127
◍ 401 What percentage of points on a map have to match the horizontal
accuracy to pass the NMAS standard?.
Answer: 90% for both smaller or larger than 1:20,000
◍ 604 When would you choose the Kriging interpolation method?.
Answer: Kriging is good at predicting data if no points exist, and good if
there are clusters of data with large gaps in between. Cons: Takes a
significant amount of processing
◍ 208 FGDC endorsed metadata standards?.
Answer: 1. FGDC CSDGM, 2. ISO 19115 Original ISO, 3. ISO 19115 NAP
North American Profile, 4. ISO 19139 XML schema implementation. ISO
19115 is a content standard that defines what information should exist in a
metadata document. ISO 19139 produces an XML Schema defining how
metadata conforming to ISO 19115 should be stored in XML format
◍ 801 What is an API? What is it for?.
Answer: application programming interfaces. developed to move data
between systems and to reuse data
◍ 203 What is the Precision of 123.123456?.
Answer: 9 (can store 9 total digits)
◍ 404 What are the six types of passive sensors?.
Answer: photographicthermalelectric field sensingchemicalinfraredseismic
◍ 302 What format are USGS Topo maps available in?.
Answer: 1. Geotiff2. JPEG3. KMZ
◍ 404 What are the four basic types of imaging?.
Answer: Visiblepixels composed of color values of red, green, and blue to
, make three bands of data on a raster imageInfraredimages that include the
visible channels as well as some range of the infrared
spectrumMultispectralinclude up to 7-12 channels of data collected over
discrete bandwidths of the electromagnetic spectrumHyperspectralup to 50
bands or more of data collected over discrete bandwidths ofthe
electromagnetic spectrum
◍ 201 Goodchild Dynamic modeling.
Answer: iterative, sets of initial conditions, apply transformations to obtain a
series of predictions at time intervals
◍ 1004 What do geodesists do?.
Answer: Geodesists use datums to shift the spheroid so that it fits one spot
on the Earth really well
◍ 302 What is shown on a Small Scale Map?.
Answer: Maps that cover larger areas. Easy way to remember: A building on
a small scale map is smallSmall scale - large ratio between map units and
ground unitDepict large areas such as countries or continentsZOOM
OUTSmaller features
◍ 201 A point in North America would have what latitude and longitude
values? (+ or -).
Answer: Lat = Positive, Long= Negative
◍ 201 What are the edges of a TIN good at representing?.
Answer: Linear features on the ground
◍ 603 What are the two types of MAUP? Explain..
Answer: Zone Effect and Scale Effect. Zone Effect - Analysis using the
same data aggregated into 1 mile grids will differ from analysis using 1 mile
hexagon cells. Scale Effect - Analysis using the same data will differ based
on the scale of analysis. A county level analysis will result in different
results than a census tract, even though the same dataset was used.
◍ 203 How do you determine raster resolution?.
Answer: It is the size of the individual pixel (if a pixel is 2ft X 2ft it is a 2ft
, resolution raster)
◍ 404 What is NDVI? What is it used for?.
Answer: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. Used to assess plant
health. Actively growing vegetation will reflect lots of IR, sick will reflect
little IR
◍ 302 What would RGB color 155, 0, 155 be?.
Answer: Purple
◍ 701 Coded Value Domain.
Answer: attribute domain that defines a set of permissible values for an
attribute in a geodatabase - it has a code and its equivalent valueThe coded
value domain includes both the actual value that is stored in the database
(for example, 1 for pavement) and a description of what the code value
means (for example, pavement).A coded value domain which specifies a
valid set of values for an attribute can apply to any type of attribute—text,
numeric, date, and so on. For example, a coded value list for a text attribute
might include valid pipe material values: CL - cast iron pipe; DL - ductile
iron pipe; ACP - asbestos concrete pipe, or a coded value list might include
the numeric values representing valid pipe diameters: .75–3/4"; 2–2";
24–24"; and 30–30".
◍ 704 What are the 3 A's of database security?.
Answer: Authenticationsetting up user accounts to control logins to the
databaseAuthorizationsetting permissions on various parts of the
databaseAuditingtracking who did what with the database*There are
regulatory laws that have reporting requirements such as HIPAA
◍ 1100 GNSS.
Answer: Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the term used for navigational
satellites
◍ 703 What are the best practices for storage and capacity planning?.
Answer: Disk storage is needed and disk space needs to be monitoredMust
watch out for growth trends
