MIDTERM TAKE-HOME EXAM. DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 28, MIDNIGHT.
Estimated maximum time for the exam completion = 10 hours
All answers deliver via e-mail in Microsoft Word, FrameMaker or WordPerfect.
I. Theoretical and Practical Basis of GIS (24 pts, each question = 1 pt)
Please, describe in few paragraphs or phrases the following :
1. Geographic Information System definition and its main components.
2. Main geographical projection systems and their units.
3. What is the difference between large and small scale ?
4. Raster Data Structure. Advantages. Disadvantages.
5. Vector Data Structure. Advantages. Disadvantages.
6. What is topology ? Fuzzy tolerance ?
7. What is the difference between ARCINFO coverage and ARCVIEW shapefile ?
8. What is a "flat file" ? Why is it convenient to use ?
9. Name and briefly describe three (3) different techniques of your choice that provide GIS data.
10. Discuss scanning versus digitizing. Advantages, disadvantages.
12. What kind of functionality the ideal database should provide ?
13. Name and briefly describe main functions of DBMS.
14. Describe briefly main map elements.
15. Name at least four map types and give examples.
16. Name few principles of a good map design.
17. What is interpolation ? What is the purpose of interpolation ?
18. Discuss one global and one local method of interpolation, their advantages and disadvantages.
20. What is the difference between DEM and DTM ?
22. Methods of the sampling technique for DEM interpolation.
23. Accuracy of DEM. Which factors influence the accuracy of DEM ?
24. What is the difference between slope, aspect and hillshade ?
II. Practical Use of the GIS software (ARCINFO, ARCVIEW).
(24 pts, each question = 3 pts)
Please, provide explanation in few phrases or paragraphs:
4. Which function in ARCVIEW would you use to import a flat file with X and Y coordinates ?
5. What purpose serves the ARCEDIT module of ARCINFO ?
6. Which main steps would you go through to digitize a map ?
7. Which command in ARCINFO you would use to generate a point file ?
8. Name a command from ARCINFO that deals with topology management.
III. Practical Problem ( 52 pts.)
For this problem use ARCVIEW software. Download files and use command "unzip filename" on
workstation. Then view them in ARCVIEW.
Using WEB, find Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site containing GIS data for New York:
http://www.epa.gov/region02/gis/atlas/online.htm#New York
1. download data and read description on Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) for New York area and:
a. Using EPA description, describe TRI database. (2 pts)
b. find names of the facilities located within New York City watershed area (5 pts)
(for the NYC watershed area use the watershed boundary file from my
"/usr/manhattan/gis_class/yxg/data" sub-directory).
2. download data and read description on AIR Facility Subsystem Locations and do the following:
a. Using EPA description, describe AIR Facility data. (2 pts)
b. How many air pollution locations are within NYC watershed ? (5 pts)
3. download data and read description on Superfund sites and do the following:
a. Using EPA description, describe Superfund Facility data. (1 pt)
b. How many superfund sites are within NYC watershed area ? (1 pt)
c. Create a table that would show number of superfund sites per basin. Export it into
the file "your username.dbf"(for example "ak622.dbf") and attach to your e-mail (9 pts)
d. Which basin has the most superfund sites ? (1 pt)
e. Which basin has the least number of superfund sites ? (1 pt)
4. Make a map of the NYC watershed that would show basins, categorized according to the number of superfund sites. Use the gray monochromatic color ramp for this. Export it into "username_map.eps" file (for example "ak622_map.eps") and attach it to e-mail. Use all information you learned about map design to make map look good. (25 pts)
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- WRITTEN ANSWERS (WordPerf or Microsoft Word or FrameMaker)