ANSWER KEY (GIS) 23/09/2024

1. Discriminate the three basic topological relationships of Geo relational data models.

Disjoint: This relationship indicates that two geometries do not share any points. For
example, two separate polygons that do not touch or overlap fall into this category.

Intersect: When two geometries share some points, they are said to intersect. This can
mean that they overlap partially or that one geometry lies within another. For instance, a
line crossing through a polygon is an example of an intersection.

Touch: This relationship occurs when two geometries share boundary points but do
not overlap. For example, two polygons that meet at a single edge or point exemplify this
relationship.

2. Define scanning.
In GIS, scanning refers to the process of converting physical maps or documents into
digital formats using optical scanners. This involves capturing the visual data from paper
maps, blueprints, or photographs, and creating raster images that can be further processed
or analyzed in GIS software. Scanning is essential for digitizing historical data or
integrating various sources of geographic information into a cohesive digital database.

3. What are all the different types of Encodings?

Run-Length Encoding (RLE): Effective for compressing long runs of identical

values in raster data.
Quadtree Encoding: Useful for hierarchical spatial partitioning and indexing.
Block Encoding: Divides data into fixed-size blocks for efficient processing.
Chain Encoding: Represents contours and boundaries in raster images by encoding
directional movements.

4. What is meant by TIN and GRID GIS?

A TIN is a vector-based representation of the terrain that uses irregularly spaced points to
create a network of triangles.
Composed of vertices (points) connected by edges to form triangles.
More efficient for representing complex terrains with varying elevations.

A GRID is a raster-based representation of spatial data, where the area is divided into a
uniform grid of cells (pixels), each containing a value (e.g., elevation).
Each cell in the grid represents a specific area, and the values can represent various
phenomena (e.g., elevation, temperature).
5. Give the methods of raster data compression with examples.
Lossless Compression:
Run-Length Encoding (RLE): This technique compresses consecutive pixels of the
same value into a single value and count. For example, instead of storing 10 consecutive
white pixels as "WWWWWWWWWW," it stores "10W."
LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch): A dictionary-based method that replaces repeating patterns
with shorter codes. Commonly used in formats like GIF.
Lossy Compression:
JPEG: This method reduces file size by discarding some data, particularly in high-
frequency areas. It's widely used for photographs.
Wavelet Compression: This approach uses mathematical wavelets to represent data at
various resolutions, allowing for efficient storage while maintaining quality. It’s often
used in formats like MrSID.

6. Explain in detail about the three different types of scanner with example.

In GIS, different types of scanners are used to digitize paper maps and other spatial data.
Each type has its advantages and applications. Here are three common types of scanners:
1. Flatbed Scanners
Description: Flatbed scanners have a flat surface where documents are placed. The
scanning head moves across the surface to capture images.
Examples in GIS:
 Use Case: Digitizing large maps or historical documents.
 Advantages: High resolution and detail; can accommodate large, flat objects without
folding or damaging them.
 Example: A cartographer might use a flatbed scanner to scan a historical topographic
map for digitization and analysis.
2. Sheet-Fed Scanners
Description: Sheet-fed scanners allow multiple sheets of paper to be fed through the
scanner automatically. They can scan one page at a time and are typically faster than
flatbed scanners.
Examples in GIS:
 Use Case: Scanning smaller documents, such as administrative maps or legal documents.
 Advantages: Speed and efficiency for bulk scanning; often used in offices for processing
multiple documents quickly.
 Example: An organization might use a sheet-fed scanner to digitize a series of city
zoning maps that are too small for flatbed scanning.
3. Drum Scanners
 Description: Drum scanners use a cylindrical drum to hold the document and utilize a
laser or photomultiplier to scan the image. This type provides extremely high-quality
images.
Examples in GIS:
 Use Case: Scanning high-resolution images, such as aerial photographs or fine art maps.
 Advantages: Exceptional detail and color accuracy; ideal for professional applications
requiring high-quality output.
 Example: An environmental agency might use a drum scanner to digitize high-resolution
aerial imagery for detailed land use analysis.

7. Describe in detail about the GRID and TIN model of GIS with necessary diagram.

• Triangular irregular networks (TIN) have been used by the GIS community for many
years and are a digital means to represent surface morphology.
• TINs are a form of vector-based digital geographic data and are constructed by
triangulating a set of vertices (points).
• The vertices are connected with a series of edges to form a network of triangles.
• There are different methods of interpolation to form these triangles, such as Delaunay
triangulation or distance ordering. ArcGIS supports the Delaunay triangulation method.
• Advantages of TIN models
• Users can describe a surface at different levels of resolution based on the points that were
collected.
• • TIN interpolation gives GIS users greater analytical capabilities. TIN models are easy to
create and use.
• • They provide users a simplified model that represents collected data points.
• • Using a TIN surface in conjunction with Arc-Map extensions such as Spatial Analysis
and 3D Analyst, TIN users can also derive slope, aspect, elevation, contour lines, hill
shades, etc.
 • STRUCTURE OF TIN DATA MODEL
• The triangle number
• • The numbers of each adjacent triangle
• • The three nodes defining the triangle
• • The x, y coordinates of each node
• • The surface z value of each node
• • The edge type of each triangle edge (hard or soft)
• COMPONENTS OF TIN
• Nodes:
• Nodes are the fundamental building blocks of the TIN. The nodes originate from the
points and arc vertices contained in the input data sources. Every node is incorporated in
the TIN triangulation. Every node in the TIN surface model must have a z value.
• Edges:
• Every node is joined with its nearest neighbors by edges to form triangles, which satisfy
the Delaunay criterion. Each edge has two nodes, but a node may have two or more
edges.
• FOUR MODELS OF TIN

• Node Table it lists each triangle and the nodes which define it.
• Edge Table it lists three triangles adjacent to each facets. The triangles that border the
boundary of the TIN show only two adjacent facets.
• XY Co-ordinate Table it lists the co-ordinate values of each node.
• Z Table it is the altitude value of each node.

.GRID DATA MODELS

• A grid data model in a Geographic Information System (GIS) is a raster data model that
divides geographic space into a grid of cells.
• GRID
• A grid is a raster data storage format.
• two types of grids:
 Integer grid - Discrete data
 Floating point grid - continuous data.
• Integer grid
• Integer grid are stored in a value attribute table (VAT).
• A VAT has one record for each unique value in the grid. The record stores the
unique value and the number of cells in the grid represented by that
value.
• Grids are implemented using a tiled raster data structure in which the basic unit of
data storage is a rectangular block of cells.
• Blocks are stored on disk in compressed form in a variable-length file structure referred
to as a tile.
• Each block is stored as one variable-length record.
• Polygons (triangles), points (nodes), and lines (edges).