Name: gis data models for mapping places
Uploaded: 2025-03-26T15:42:02.000Z
Duration: 1 min 25 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

ohios-learning-standards-and-model-curriculum

Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum

9-12

Physical Geology

Plate Tectonics

Plate motion

Selected Data About Geographic Locations

Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, use two main types of data: spatial and attribute data. Spatial data defines the physical location of features like roads and buildings using coordinates such as latitude and longitude. Attribute data adds descriptive information, such as population numbers or road names, to these locations. For example, a road’s spatial data would include its start and end coordinates, and its attribute data could indicate its name, type, highway or residential, and condition. There are two primary models to represent spatial data: raster and vector models. The raster model divides an area into a grid of cells, each representing a specific feature, such as a road or building. In contrast, the vector model defines geographic features using points, lines, and polygons. Points represent locations, lines define linear features like highways, and polygons depict areas such as farms or parks. GIS integrates these data types to create thematic maps highlighting key features like roads, boundaries, and land use, which are critical for planning and management.

selected data about geographic locations

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) rely on two core types of data: spatial data and attribute data.Spatial Data Spatial data defines the physical location of features within a coordinate system, typically expressed in terms of latitude and longitude. It provides precise positioning for elements like roads, rivers, or buildings.Attribute Data Attribute data complements spatial data by adding descriptive information about these features. For example, a road's spatial data includes its start and end coordinates, while its attribute data provides details such as the road’s name, type (e.g., highway, arterial, or residential), surface material, and condition. Together, spatial and attribute data deliver a comprehensive view of geographic features.GIS uses two main models to represent spatial data: raster and vector.<ul><li>Raster Model The raster model divides a geographic area into a grid of cells or pixels, with each cell associated with a specific attribute, such as vegetation type, land cover, or temperature. This model is well-suited for continuous data, like elevation or precipitation gradients.</li><li>Vector Model The vector model employs geometric elements, such as points, lines, and polygons, to represent discrete features. Points indicate specific locations like wells or monuments; lines represent linear features such as highways or rivers; and polygons define areas like lakes, forests, or administrative boundaries.</li></ul>Integrating spatial and attribute data allows GIS to generate thematic maps, which reveal relationships between geographic features. For instance, GIS can overlay property boundaries with soil types or zoning regulations to aid urban planning. Similarly, traffic flow and accident data can be combined to pinpoint high-risk areas and enhance road safety.By organizing, analyzing, and displaying these datasets, GIS becomes an invaluable tool for planning, resource management, and decision-making across various fields, including urban development, environmental conservation, and disaster response.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) rely on two core types of data: spatial data and attribute data.Spatial DataSpatial data defines the physical ...

Education

JoVE Core

Civil Engineering

Unit 1

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

gis data models for mapping places

Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, use spatial data and attribute data to map places and features. Spatial data gives the physical location of a feature in a coordinate system, often as latitude and longitude. It helps place roads, rivers, and buildings in the right spot.

Attribute data adds details that describe those features. A road, for example, can be mapped by its start and end coordinates, then described by its name, type, surface material, and condition. Together, spatial and attribute data create a fuller picture of a geographic feature.

GIS represents spatial data with two main models: raster and vector. The raster model divides an area into a grid of cells, or pixels. Each cell holds an attribute such as vegetation type, land cover, or temperature. This model works well for continuous data, including elevation and precipitation gradients.

The vector model uses points, lines, and polygons. Points mark exact locations such as wells or monuments. Lines show linear features like highways or rivers, and polygons outline areas such as lakes, forests, or administrative boundaries.

When spatial and attribute data are combined, GIS can build thematic maps. These maps show relationships between geographic features. For example, GIS can overlay property boundaries with soil types or zoning rules for urban planning. It can also combine traffic flow and accident data to find high-risk areas and support road safety. By organizing, analyzing, and displaying data this way, GIS supports planning, resource management, and decision-making in urban development, environmental conservation, and disaster response.

GIS Data Models for Mapping Places

introduction to gis

GIS Mapping and Spatial Analysis

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to map, store, and analyze spatial data. Spatial data is information tied to a location. GIS also keeps related attributes, which are details about that location or feature. This lets users ask questions such as where something is and how far apart places are. GIS can connect many kinds of information to a map. For example, housing data can be linked to zip codes to study population density and housing distribution. The results are often shown with...

thematic layering in gis

GIS Maps for Site Planning

GIS maps help planners organize and compare geographic data for site planning. Before GIS, projects such as schools and public facilities required many separate data sources. Teams had to gather property boundaries, soil characteristics, road networks, zoning rules, and flood zones from courthouses, utility providers, and registry offices. Putting all of that information together often took several months. Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, changed that process. GIS is a computer-based...

levels of use of a gis

GIS for Data, Analysis, and Prediction

Geographic information systems, or GIS, support data management, analysis, and prediction. These three levels show how GIS becomes more powerful as it handles spatial data for different uses. The same system can store information, study patterns, and help estimate future outcomes. At the most basic level, GIS is used for data management. It can input, store, retrieve, and organize spatial data. This is common in infrastructure systems, such as sewer networks. GIS can also keep details like...

Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, use spatial data and attribute data to map places and features. Spatial data gives the physical location of a feature in a coordinate system, often as latitude and longitude. It helps place roads, rivers, and buildings in the right spot. Attribute data adds details that describe those features. A road, for example, can be mapped by its start and end coordinates, then described by its name, type, surface material, and condition. Together, spatial and...

gis software, hardware, and sources of gis data

gis-software-hardware-and-sources-of-gis-data

GIS Tools, Devices, and Data Sources

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) use software, hardware, and data sources to manage and study spatial information. GIS software helps users move through the system, store spatial and attribute data, and find information quickly. It also includes tools for analysis and display, so users can turn raw data into useful maps and reports. Some GIS programs also add advanced features such as network analysis. Network analysis helps with tasks like routing and logistics. The best software choice...

manipulation and analysis

GIS Spatial Analysis for Planning

GIS spatial analysis supports planning and decision-making by turning map data into useful answers. It includes simple data retrieval, such as selecting records by specific criteria, and more advanced methods for solving spatial problems. These tools help users compare places, measure relationships, and present results clearly. Overlaying is one key GIS method. It combines multiple data layers so users can study how one feature affects another. For example, overlaying a river-dammed lake...

coordinates and map projections

Latitude, Longitude, and Flat Maps

Latitude, longitude, and map projections are the tools cartographers use to place Earth on a map. Latitude tells how far a point is north or south of the equator. Longitude tells how far it is east or west of the prime meridian. Together, they create a grid that can locate any place on Earth and support GPS and other global navigation systems. Map projections solve the problem of showing Earth’s curved surface on a flat page. That change always creates some distortion. Because of that,...

applications of gis: disaster management and emergency response

applications-of-gis-disaster-management-and-emergency-response

GIS for Flood Risk and Relief Planning

Geographic Information System (GIS) technology helps emergency teams plan for floods and other natural disasters. It combines spatial data, which shows where things are, with demographic data, which shows who lives there. This gives planners a clear way to identify risk, choose actions, and use resources well during critical events. GIS can build flood risk maps by layering rainfall intensity, topography, elevation profiles, and river levels. These layers help show areas that may flood because...

design example: alignment of a road line using gis

design-example-alignment-of-a-road-line-using-gis

Using GIS to Compare Road Route Options

GIS can help engineers compare road route options before a road is built. Geographic Information Systems use geospatial data, which is location-based information, to study the land and plan a safe and practical route. The route study starts with data on land cover, geomorphology, drainage patterns, slope, and contour details. This information is often gathered from satellite imagery and GIS tools. Together, these layers show how the terrain changes across the project area. After the data is...

key terms and concepts

Explore how GIS uses spatial data, attribute data, raster grids, and vector shapes to map places, build thematic maps, and support planning decisions.

GIS Data Models for Mapping Places | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Civil Engineering offers a foundational exploration of essential construction materials such as bricks, stones, steel, wood, and concrete, along with fluid mechanics topics like flow over immersed bodies, open channel flow, and dimensional modeling. It also covers key surveying concepts, including leveling, traverse adjustments, curve design, topographic mapping, and geospatial technologies (GPS & GIS). Science-in-action videos showcase laboratory research on materials, fluids, and surveying practices in real-world engineering systems.

civil engineering

Glacial Geology

Glaciers and glaciation

Virginia  Standards of Learning

HIgh School

Earth Science

ES.7

ES.7.d

determining-spatial-orientation-rock-layers-with-brunton

Determining Spatial Orientation of Rock Layers with the Brunton Compass

Source: Laboratory of Alan Lester - University of Colorado Boulder
Most rock units exhibit some form of planar surfaces or linear features. Examples ...

Using GIS to Investigate Urban Forestry

Source: Laboratories of Margaret Workman and Kimberly Frye - Depaul University
Urban forests broadly include urban parks, street trees, landscaped ...

Dynamics of Structures

Source:&#160;Roberto Leon, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
It is rare nowadays that a whole year goes by ...

data-processing-methods-for-3d-seismic-imaging-subsurface-volcanoes

Data Processing Methods for 3D Seismic Imaging of Subsurface Volcanoes: Applications to the Tarim Flood Basalt

The morphology and structure of plumbing systems can provide key information on the eruption rate and style of basalt lava fields. The most powerful way ...

Igneous Volcanic Rock

Source: Laboratory of Alan Lester - University of Colorado Boulder
Igneous rocks are the products of cooling and crystallization of magma. Volcanic rocks ...

Making a Geologic Cross Section

Source: Laboratory of Alan Lester - University of Colorado Boulder
Geologic maps were first made and utilized in Europe, in the mid-to-late 18th century. ...

using-topographic-maps-to-generate-topographic-profiles

Using Topographic Maps to Generate Topographic Profiles

Source: Laboratory of Alan Lester - University of Colorado Boulder
Topographic maps are &#34;plan-view&#34; representations of Earth&#39;s ...

Energy and Power of a Wave

The total energy associated with a wavelength is the sum of the potential energy and the kinetic energy. The average rate of energy transfer associated ...

using-generative-art-to-convey-past-and-future-climate-transitions

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions

The ability to understand modern day climate relies on a foundational understanding of past climate variability and the ways in which the planet is ...

an-overview-of-alkenone-biomarker-analysis-for-paleothermometry

An Overview of Alkenone Biomarker Analysis for Paleothermometry

Source: Laboratory of Jeff Salacup&#160;- University of Massachusetts Amherst
Throughout this series of videos, natural samples were extracted and ...

Reflection of Waves

When a wave travels from one medium to another, it gets reflected at the boundary of the second medium. A common example of this is when a person yells at ...

Propagation of Waves

When a wave propagates from one medium to another, part of it may get reflected in the first medium, and part of it may get transmitted to the second ...

Reflection and Refraction

Source: Derek Wilson,&#160;Asantha Cooray, PhD, Department of Physics &#38; Astronomy, School of Physical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA
...

Internal Earth
• Seismic waves
    ◦ S and P waves
    ◦ Velocities, reflection, refraction of waves

Content elaboration: This unit builds upon a variety of topics studied in middle school. In the Earth and Space Science strand, plate tectonics is studied in grade 8. Topics include plate motion (evidence and causes, characteristics of oceanic and continental plates), seismic waves, continental drift, seafloor spreading, the structure of Earth's surface and interior (including specific layers) and paleomagnetism. In the Life Science strand, fossils and depositional environments are included. In the Physical Science strand, density, convection, conductivity, motion, kinetic energy, radiometric dating, seismic waves, thermal energy, pressure and gravity are explored. In this course, Earth's interior and plate tectonics are investigated at greater depth using models, simulations, actual seismic data, real-time data, satellite data and remote sensing. Relationships between energy, tectonic activity levels and earthquake or volcano predictions, and calculations to obtain the magnitude, focus and epicenter of an earthquake are included. Evidence and data analysis are key in understanding this part of the Earth system. For example, GIS/GPS and/or satellite data provide evidence for moving plates and changing landscapes (due to tectonic activity). The causes for plate motion, the evidence of moving plates and the results of plate tectonics must be related to Earth's past, present and future. The use of evidence to support conclusions and predictions pertaining to plate motion is an important part of this unit.

Internal Earth

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions

Consider an external electric field propagating through a homogeneous medium. When the electric field crosses the surface boundary of the medium, it ...

Gravity between Spherical Bodies

Newton&#39;s law of gravitation describes the gravitational force between any two point masses. However, for extended spherical objects like the Earth, ...

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among ...

The Soil Ecosystem

Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not ...

Igneous Intrusive Rock

Source: Laboratory of Alan Lester - University of Colorado Boulder
Igneous rocks are products of the cooling and crystallization of high temperature ...

What are Biogeochemical Cycles?

The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited ...

Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation

Source: Ketron Mitchell-Wynne, PhD,&#160;Asantha Cooray, PhD, Department of Physics &#38; Astronomy, School of Physical Sciences, University of ...

Newton's Law of Gravitation

Our everyday observation tells us that all objects close to the Earth naturally tend to fall to the ground. Early philosophers assumed that this downward ...

Structure of Earth (Note: specific layers were part of grade 8)
• Asthenosphere
• Lithosphere
• Mohorovicic boundary (Moho)
• Composition of each of the layers of Earth
• Gravity, magnetism and isostasy
• Thermal energy (geothermal gradient and heat flow)

Content elaboration: This unit builds upon a variety of topics studied in middle school. In the Earth and Space Science strand, plate tectonics is studied in grade 8. Topics include plate motion (evidence and causes, characteristics of oceanic and continental plates), seismic waves, continental drift, seafloor spreading, the structure of Earth's surface and interior (including specific layers) and paleomagnetism. In the Life Science strand, fossils and depositional environments are included. In the Physical Science strand, density, convection, conductivity, motion, kinetic energy, radiometric dating, seismic waves, thermal energy, pressure and gravity are explored. In this course, Earth's interior and plate tectonics are investigated at greater depth using models, simulations, actual seismic data, real-time data, satellite data and remote sensing. Relationships between energy, tectonic activity levels and earthquake or volcano predictions, and calculations to obtain the magnitude, focus and epicenter of an earthquake are included. Evidence and data analysis are key in understanding this part of the Earth system. For example, GIS/GPS and/or satellite data provide evidence for moving plates and changing landscapes (due to tectonic activity). The causes for plate motion, the evidence of moving plates and the results of plate tectonics must be related to Earth's past, present and future. The use of evidence to support conclusions and predictions pertaining to plate motion is an important part of this unit.

Structure of Earth

an-overview-of-bgdgt-biomarker-analysis-for-paleoclimatology

An Overview of bGDGT Biomarker Analysis for Paleoclimatology

sonication-extraction-of-lipid-biomarkers-from-sediment

Sonication Extraction of Lipid Biomarkers from Sediment

Source: Laboratory of Jeff Salacup&#160;- University of Massachusetts Amherst
The material comprising the living &#34;organic&#34; share of any ecosystem ...

soxhlet-extraction-of-lipid-biomarkers-from-sediment

Soxhlet Extraction of Lipid Biomarkers from Sediment

Source: Laboratory of Jeff Salacup&#160;- University of Massachusetts Amherst
Every lab needs standards that track the performance, accuracy, and ...

extraction-of-biomarkers-from-sediments-accelerated-solvent-extraction

Extraction of Biomarkers from Sediments - Accelerated Solvent Extraction

Source: Laboratory of Jeff Salacup&#160;- University of Massachusetts Amherst
The distribution of a group of organic biomarkers called glycerol-dialkyl ...

conversion-fatty-acid-methyl-esters-saponification-for-uk-37

Conversion of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters by Saponification for Uk'37 Paleothermometry

Source: Laboratory of Jeff Salacup&#160;- University of Massachusetts Amherst
The product of an organic solvent extraction, a total lipid extract (TLE), ...

Historical review (Note: this would include a review of continental drift and seafloor spreading found in grade 8)
• Paleomagnetism and magnetic anomalies
• Paleoclimatology

Content elaboration: This unit builds upon a variety of topics studied in middle school. In the Earth and Space Science strand, plate tectonics is studied in grade 8. Topics include plate motion (evidence and causes, characteristics of oceanic and continental plates), seismic waves, continental drift, seafloor spreading, the structure of Earth's surface and interior (including specific layers) and paleomagnetism. In the Life Science strand, fossils and depositional environments are included. In the Physical Science strand, density, convection, conductivity, motion, kinetic energy, radiometric dating, seismic waves, thermal energy, pressure and gravity are explored. In this course, Earth's interior and plate tectonics are investigated at greater depth using models, simulations, actual seismic data, real-time data, satellite data and remote sensing. Relationships between energy, tectonic activity levels and earthquake or volcano predictions, and calculations to obtain the magnitude, focus and epicenter of an earthquake are included. Evidence and data analysis are key in understanding this part of the Earth system. For example, GIS/GPS and/or satellite data provide evidence for moving plates and changing landscapes (due to tectonic activity). The causes for plate motion, the evidence of moving plates and the results of plate tectonics must be related to Earth's past, present and future. The use of evidence to support conclusions and predictions pertaining to plate motion is an important part of this unit.

Historical review

Introduction to GIS

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are tools for storing, analyzing, and displaying spatial data alongside related attributes. Unlike traditional ...

introduction-to-global-positioning-system

Introduction to Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) revolutionized positioning on Earth, providing precise location data through satellite ranging. The GPS system was ...

Plate motion (Note: introduced in grade 8)
• Causes and evidence of plate motion
• Measuring plate motion
• Characteristics of oceanic and continental plates
• Relationship of plate movement and geologic events
• Mantle plumes

Content elaboration: This unit builds upon a variety of topics studied in middle school. In the Earth and Space Science strand, plate tectonics is studied in grade 8. Topics include plate motion (evidence and causes, characteristics of oceanic and continental plates), seismic waves, continental drift, seafloor spreading, the structure of Earth's surface and interior (including specific layers) and paleomagnetism. In the Life Science strand, fossils and depositional environments are included. In the Physical Science strand, density, convection, conductivity, motion, kinetic energy, radiometric dating, seismic waves, thermal energy, pressure and gravity are explored. In this course, Earth's interior and plate tectonics are investigated at greater depth using models, simulations, actual seismic data, real-time data, satellite data and remote sensing. Relationships between energy, tectonic activity levels and earthquake or volcano predictions, and calculations to obtain the magnitude, focus and epicenter of an earthquake are included. Evidence and data analysis are key in understanding this part of the Earth system. For example, GIS/GPS and/or satellite data provide evidence for moving plates and changing landscapes (due to tectonic activity). The causes for plate motion, the evidence of moving plates and the results of plate tectonics must be related to Earth's past, present and future. The use of evidence to support conclusions and predictions pertaining to plate motion is an important part of this unit.

GIS Data Models for Mapping Places

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