GGY 321 Midterm Exam Questions
And Answers
/. What is a GIS? - Answer-A GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, querying,
analyzing, and displaying of spatial (geographic) data
/.What are geospatial data? - Answer-Geospatial data describe both the locations and
characteristics of spatial features
/.GIS vs. ArcGIS Pro - Answer-GIS is NOT equal to ArcGIS Pro and other softwares
ArcGIS Pro is made by ESRI
/.The first GIS - Answer-The Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS);
conceptualized in the 1960s, became operational in 1971
/.The first GIS software package - Answer-ArcInfo; released by ESRI
ArcGIS Pro evolved from ArcInfo
/.Datum - Answer-A reference surface of earth that is used for plotting locations
anywhere on earth
Represents shape and size of earth by defining the position and shape of the Geoid or
Ellipsoid relative to the center of earth
/.Mean Sea Level (MSL) - Answer-Creates an approximation of earth's surface; known
as a Geoid
/.Ellipsoid - Answer-Since the Geoid surface is too complex to mathematically describe,
an ellipsoid is used to approximate the Geoid surface
/.GPS datum - Answer-GPS uses WGS84 (World Geodetic System of 1984)
/.Latitude - Answer-Measure of how far north or south a location is from the equator
Also known as "Parallels"
0-90 degrees, angular distance of equator
/.Longitude - Answer-Measure of how Far East or west a place is from the Prime
Meridian
Also known as "Meridians"
0-180 degrees, E (+) to W(-)
/.Great Circle - Answer-Circles that pass through earth center
And Answers
/. What is a GIS? - Answer-A GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, querying,
analyzing, and displaying of spatial (geographic) data
/.What are geospatial data? - Answer-Geospatial data describe both the locations and
characteristics of spatial features
/.GIS vs. ArcGIS Pro - Answer-GIS is NOT equal to ArcGIS Pro and other softwares
ArcGIS Pro is made by ESRI
/.The first GIS - Answer-The Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS);
conceptualized in the 1960s, became operational in 1971
/.The first GIS software package - Answer-ArcInfo; released by ESRI
ArcGIS Pro evolved from ArcInfo
/.Datum - Answer-A reference surface of earth that is used for plotting locations
anywhere on earth
Represents shape and size of earth by defining the position and shape of the Geoid or
Ellipsoid relative to the center of earth
/.Mean Sea Level (MSL) - Answer-Creates an approximation of earth's surface; known
as a Geoid
/.Ellipsoid - Answer-Since the Geoid surface is too complex to mathematically describe,
an ellipsoid is used to approximate the Geoid surface
/.GPS datum - Answer-GPS uses WGS84 (World Geodetic System of 1984)
/.Latitude - Answer-Measure of how far north or south a location is from the equator
Also known as "Parallels"
0-90 degrees, angular distance of equator
/.Longitude - Answer-Measure of how Far East or west a place is from the Prime
Meridian
Also known as "Meridians"
0-180 degrees, E (+) to W(-)
/.Great Circle - Answer-Circles that pass through earth center
